Sunday, October 26, 2008











Homemade Laundry Detergent

I try to find small ways to cut costs and this was one of those ideas that I just wasn't sure that I would like. However, after several months of making my own soap and using it daily in our laundry I can say that I really like it and it DOES save me money. I have also tried the liquid version but have found the dry to be much easier to store. To get started you will need a bucket or container with a lid, a cheese grater, food processor, Borax, baking soda and Ivory bar soap.


1. Grate a 4.5 oz. bar of Ivory soap on cheese grater.
2. Place the grated soap in the food processor & add 1 cup Borax and 1 cup baking soda.
3.Process several times till you get a fine powder.
4. Dump the powder into your storage container.
5. Repeat this process until you have the desired amount of detergent.


I use 1/4 cup for a large load of clothes and if they are extra dirty then I use 1/3 cup.


I usually get my bar soap at the Dollar Stores for $1.00 per bundle and pick up the rest at Walmart. I make 9 batches at a time and it costs me approximately $10.00 and will last me for a month to a month and a half.

1 comment:

nanasknoll said...

I used this very same recipe and procedure. I had trouble with the Ivory dissolving. It wanted to float. I worried that it was doing the same thing in my septic.
I found some zote bar soap and it worked great. Dissolved immediately and it has a nice smell. Cleans well to.
I do have very hard water living in Arizona. The water is full of minerals, so that may have been the problem.
Thought I would let you know just in case someone else has this problem.