Laundry Day at the OK!

Okay, so I didn’t actually keep my promise to post the week after my last blog.  Got sick and then sicker, but am feeling a little better now.  I actually was busy doing things when I was feeling okay in prep for my blog.  Let me share what I found!  Laundry soap!  

These ingredients cost me $7.58 cents at Winco.  Imagine making the equivalent of 10 gallons of laundry soap for that price.  Not only that, I will at least three more batches from the borax and super washing soda, only having to purchase the Fels-Naptha for $2.50 a bar for the next batches.  This means 30 gallons of laundry soap for 12.58…..crazy talk.  How can you do it too?  Well easy, here is the recipe and some pictures to follow along with.  I got this recipe from the Duggar Website, they have 19 children who all manage to look clean on TV, so I figured it must work and it does.  Here is their site, if you care to look. http://www.duggarfamily.com/recipes.html
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.  This takes about 20 minutes, so it's nice to have someone else around to take over in case your arm gets tired.  Mine got tired!

 -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".  Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!
If you have a stubborn stain, pour a little on the stain, rub in and let sit for at least 10 minutes before washing. Even worked for our daughter who has sensitive skin!  Good luck and enjoy the recipe and the clean clothes.