Cheapskate Monday: Homemade Liquid and Powder Laundry Soap

I'm going to throw it out on the table.... I'm not ashamed. I, my friends, am a cheapskate. For the past year I've been making my own laundry soap and saving lots of money. I've debated whether or not to share the recipe with you since it's not food, but I thought you wouldn't mind this once if it saved you money too.... and who doesn't like saving money? I've made both the liquid and dry and while the liquid has a few more steps, it's the best value coming at 1 cent per load. Yes, you read right. It cost 1 CENT PER LOAD!!! I would recommend using Nels-Naptha soap (you can see it in the picture). I have used Ivory, but felt it left a residue on the clothing making them look worn faster. I switched to Fels-Naptha and have not had that problem again. Our local Wal-mart doesn't carry Fels-Naptha or Washing Soda (not baking soda), but a local grocery store does down the isle with the regular laundry soap. I found the recipe for this soap on the Duggar Family website along with a lot of great food recipes. Enjoy... saving money by using this, not eating it :)

LIQUID LAUNDRY SOAP
4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil. (I did not do this)

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

POWDER LAUNDRY SOAP
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

-Grate soap or break into pieces and process in a food processor until powdered. Mix all ingredients. For light load, use 1 Tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 Tablespoons. Yields: 3 Cups detergent. (Approx. 40 loads)

*I store my powdered laundry soap in an empty oatmeal container.