Homemade liquid laundry detergent

I made laundry detergent today and it was so much easier than I expected. Since I am anal about the products I purchase, I have a hard time living with in our means. We aren't rich, but I spend like we are. I buy expensive organic groceries and expensive organic cleaning products.

Today I made a 5 gallon batch of laundry detergent. Each load gets 1/2 - 1 cup of detergent. That means I have made 80-160 loads of detergent for around $6.00, using expensive $5 organic bar soap.  In comparison I spend about $20 a month for my usual store brand. I can't believe I haven't gone this route before.

THE RECIPE:

1 cup Borax

1 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda

1 bar of soap (I used Dr. Bronner's, but Ivory or any plain soap will do)

Equipment:

food processor or grater

2 Quart pot

5 gallon bucket with lid (for free at grocery store bakery)

1 cup measuring cup

First - 1 bar of soap grated
I used Dr. Bronner's Pure-castile soup. The soap is made with organic oils and it is safe for the environment... but Ivory or any other plain soap will do the trick. I found the Dr. Bronner's soap at Whole Foods. After chopping the bar with a knife, I threw it in my food processor.

Second - Melt the soap in 2 quarts of water (8 cups)
Simple! Poured the chopped or shredded bar of soap in a pot with 8 cups of water and heated it until the soap melted. This took only a few minutes.

Third - Fill a 5 gallon bucket with 4.5 gallons of hot tap water. 
You can get a 5 gallon bucket for free at any grocery store bakery. The day I asked for one, they didn't have any with lids. It would be easier to use one with a lid... I just forgot to ask last time I was grocery shopping. I will have to improvise. I filled the bucket while I was melting the soap in 2 quarts of water.

Fourth - Add melted soap water, 1 cup Borax and 1 cup of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda to 5 gallon bucket.
Stir these ingredients until every thing is melted and blended. I couldn't find Borax at Whole Foods or the Arm & Hammer Washing Soda, but you can find them at any grocery store.


Fifth - Cover solution and let it sit for 24 hours
This was the hardest step for me, because I waited to make the laundry detergent until I ran out of the store brand I have been buying.


Sixth - After 24 hours stir or shake solution and pour into 1 gallon containers. 
I will use old empty water jugs we have around the house.

Last - Wash some clothes
Each load gets 1/2 - 1 cup of detergent. If I want some scent I might add a drop or two of essential oil to individual laundry loads, but probably not. I think you could add scent to an entire batch if you want, but I prefer mine unscented. Also, the pure essential oils I use (do terra) can break down plastic over time, so I don't want to add scent to my precious 5 gallon bucket.




Here is the financial break down... a really rough estimate
You can probably find these products for less and use a less expensive bar soap, if money is your only motivation.

$5 for a 3.5 lb box of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (8+cups = >$60 for a 5 gallon batch)
$5 for a 4 lb box of Borax (10+cups =  >$.50 for a 5 gallon batch of detergent)
$5 Dr. Bonner's soap (1 bar)
$0 5 gallon bucket is free at local a grocery store bakery
$0 5 individual 1 gallon buckets - left over laundry containers and water/milk jugs

= @$6.00 for 80-160 loads of laundry.  This 5 gallon batch will last me over two months.