You will need:

One container with a lid that can hold up to three gallons of water.

A large pot that can hold over two gallons of water.

Ingredients:

2 gallons of hot tap water

1 cup washing soda (different that baking soda)

1 1/2 cups borax 

1 1/2 cups powder Clorox2 (or store brand equivalent if you use liquid it doesn’t mix together right.)

1 bar Ivory soap (or what ever soap you prefer, just nothing too scented)

In large pot add 1 1/2 inches of water and grate bar soap in. Heat until melted. Slowly add the washing soda, borax, Clorox2, and the rest of the water, stirring until dissolved. Keep over medium heat until it just starts to boil. If it boils it will over flow!

Stir and let stand with the lid off over night or until gelled. Use approximately 1/4 – 1/3 a cup of detergent to a load of laundry.

I put mine in an old cat litter bucket with lid. It works great.

Another place that has a different recipe and some great how-to pictures is The Nest. They compare homemade to Tide with Bleach (with before and after pics–very cool). If you want to look at 10 different recipes go to  Tip Nut. Just do your homework before you start.

I learned a few things in making this… This is poisonous. Please don’t eat it. Ivory is easy to grate. Washing soda is different from baking soda. Washing soda is also called soda ash or sodium carbonate, it’s used in pools to bring up the pH. So guess what? You can buy it at a pool supply store or online. This will not suds up like soap or smell unless you put essentials oils in it (which you can if you want.) If you can’t stand the thought of no suds, take that into consideration before you make it.

I know it’s only a few cents a load, but in a year…I will save $70. If I hang the clothes on the line, I’ll save more. I can hear some of you saying ‘big whup– ten cents a load’! That is okay, but let me ask you this. What would happen if we looked at ever thing we buy and ask ourselves, “Can I do better?” If you could find something just as good or better for less money, would you switch? It just maybe life changing. Life is about baby steps. The real winners in life don’t die with the most toys, they were the slow and steady plodders that figured out early want their passion was and pursued it.

What do you think? Do you think I belong to a weird laundry cult? Do you think it’s cool? Are you willing to give up bubbles  and coloring, for clean clothes at a fraction of the price? Please comment below and tell me what you think of this.

Simply,

Sis