Making Your Own Laundry Detergent!

With six people living under one roof, laundry adds up, quick. Lots of laundry detergent means that the money also adds up quick. I was amazed at the idea of making your own laundry detergent for pennies per load and immediately put the task on my "to-do" list.

I found The Duggar Family Recipe of Laundry Soap  through Pinterest. Immediately I began searching for the products to make it. I couldn't find them at the local small grocery store or the local chain supermarket. Instead I found them at my local Whole Foods store. Occasionally I would find one or two of the items, but the local Whole Food store had all three. And right next to each other. I actually hugged the attendant who helped me to the aisle because I was so happy. What were the three ingredients I was so eager to find? Borax, Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda, and a Fels-Naptha bar.

For your quick viewing pleasure, here is the recipe from the Duggar's website:

4  Cups - hot tap water

1  Fels-Naptha soap bar

1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*

½ Cup Borax

Step 1.

Step 2.

And here are the directions to make your own laundry detergent:

Step 1. Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

Step 2. 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.

Step 3. 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)

You can add in some scents if you like, but I wanted to try a pure and simple recipe, so mine is just the basic. This recipe was super easy and super cheap. Originally I had kept milk gallons to fill them up with the detergent, but I figured this was anything but a space saver. So I have kept the detergent in the five gallon bucket and add it to an old detergent container I happened to have on hand. It has been very convenient for us. We will definitely be making more when we run out- no idea when that will be!


As far as to how well it works? I think it works just as good as any other detergent we've used. It gets out stains-and get things clean. And best of all-we haven't had to buy detergent in a long, long time. It's great. If you get a chance, I urge you to make your own stash.  Or you can buy ours- in stores Fall 2012. Only kidding- but check out this swanky picture!

Happy Mixing