Bubbles

alternatively titled bub....bu as Makayla would say it... 

So I did it... I went all Laura Ingalls Wilder on it and made my own laundry detergent. 

I was skeptical.... and may still be a bit skeptical... We have only been using for right at a week and so far so good.  But to be so cheap.... This is just silly! 

Supplies: 

5 gallon bucket with lid from Home Depot - $4.00

box of Borax - $2.00

box of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda - $3.00

1 bar of Fels Naptha soap ( stain fighter) - $1.00

Thats right everything you need for $10!!!! 

I read that this would make enough to last a family of 3 for a year... either that is WAY off or I do A LOT of Laundry!  But this makes 5 gallons of concentrate = 10 gallons of detergent and I have gone through 1 gallon in a week.... however I was doing a lot of extra laundry due to the stomach virus :) 

so do you feel daring? 

this is what you need to do... 

1. grate the Fels Naptha bar until you have a full 

pile of what looks like a lot of cheddar cheese but smells way stronger

2. cover with water and simmer until completely melted, constantly stirring( do yourself a favor and open a window, or a door, and have stirring backup!)

(she really did not help but she REALLY wanted too!) 

3.  pour 1 cup of Washing soda, 1/2 cup of Borax into 5 Gallon Bucket. 

4. add melted soap and stir until all powder is dissolved

5. fill bucket with water

6. cover and let be overnight

When you use you will use one part of the bucket concentrate to 1 part of water.  The directions I followed claimed that this would be all very liquidy.... Ours turned into a 5 gallon bucket of jello :) easily stirred and dissolved when needed though. 

So far I can tell a major differnece of the cleanliness of the clothing, although it does not leave laundry smelling fresh.  Now there is no bad smell there is just not any smell at all... but I can tell how clean it is getting things by the towels... no more icky smelling towels!

so far I say this is a win... it ideally will last us 4 months or more for $10... I normally but the large liquid from Costco for $12 and it lasts 2 months... :) Happy Mama.  

Happy Soap Making!