The Laundry Soap Experiment

 Estelle wrote in her blog about taking the plunge and attempting to make her own liquid laundry soap. Curious, I looked at the links/recipes that she posted, and came to the conclusion that I too wanted to give making our own soap a try. I bought up all of the ingredients during on the the daycare "field trips" to No Frills around the corner, and while the kids were sleeping that day, I grated the soap. It looked like cheese. (my bar of soap choice was  the Linda Bar, and its yellow)

I was telling my mom and dad about this venture as well, so I am going to post my picture version. (its major easy, but its fun to have a visual too)

Here is the recipe Estelle found on the Duggar Family's Website.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

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.

-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)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

 They have a whole bunch of neat recipes to try. I'm excited.

By the way... the soap works fine in our Kenmore high efficiency washer too. The soap it's self is very low-sudsing.