95% Less For Cleaner, Greener Clothes

95% Less For Cleaner, Greener Clothes

How much do you spend on laundry detergent each month?  I would venture to guess that it could be as much as $20, but that is probably a low estimate, depending on the size of your family.

What if I told you that you could save 95% of your laundry detergent cost per month?  Would you be interested in knowing how? Here's how.

Make your own!  Yes!  I said, "Make your own".  Now you might say, "I didn't know that I could make my own detergent."  Or you might say, "I don't have time for that!"  Well, I'm here to tell you that, yes, you can make it and yes, you do have the time as long as you have about 30 minutes. 

There are several different recipes for homemade liquid laundry detergent; however, they are all very similar.  Here is the recipe that I use.  This recipe will make approximately 10 regular sized liquid laundry detergent bottles full.

                                Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

1 large saucepan or Dutch oven
2 bars of soap, grated (Use Ivory, Castile, Zote or Fels-Naptha) (I use my food processor to grate them.)
4 cups of hot tap water
1 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (NOT baking soda) (MUST BE Sodium Carbonate) (Found in the laundry aisle)
½ - 1 cup Borax
2 cups of white vinegar (optional) (Works as fabric softener)
2-- 5 gallon buckets WITH lids (These can be picked up at your local bakery for free.  Just ask for them.)

Grate soap bars and add to saucepan or Dutch oven with hot tap water.  Stir over medium-low heat until soap is dissolved.

Fill a 5-gallon bucket halfway full of hot tap water.  Add the melted soap, washing soda, Borax and vinegar. 
(NOTE: When the vinegar is poured into the bucket there will be a lot of bubbling happening for a second or two, but don't worry about it.  It is okay.)

Fill bucket to the top with hot tap water.  Stir.  Let sit to cool if you have something else to do, OR you can now pour half of your soap mixture into the 2^nd bucket and then fill both to top with hot tap water.  Stir.  Fill your laundry detergent bottles.  Laundry detergent is now ready to use.  You will need to shake the bottle before you pour it because the detergent will gel when it cools.

Don't have the laundry bottles?  Ask your friends and family to save theirs OR you can leave the detergent in the 5 gallon buckets.

Optional – After the detergent has cooled, you can add 5-10 drops of essential oil (Lavender, Rosemary, Tea Tree, or your preference) per bottle.

Yield:  This liquid detergent recipe makes 10 gallons.  Approximate Cost per 10 gallons:  $2.00

Top Load Machines – Use 5/8 cup per load (Approximately 180 loads)

Front Load Machines – Use ¼ cup per load (Approximately 640 loads)

Now, if you would prefer powdered laundry detergent, here is the recipe.

                                Homemade Powdered Laundry Detergent

1 bar of soap, grated (Use Ivory, Castile, Zote or Fels-Naptha) (I use my food processor to grate them.)
1 cup Washing Soda (NOT baking soda) (MUST BE Sodium Carbonate)
                (Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda can be found in the laundry aisle.)
½ - 1 cup Borax

Grate soap bars until powdered.  Mix all ingredients in a small container.

For a light load, use 1 Tablespoon.  For a heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 Tablespoons. 

Yield:  3 cups powdered detergent (Approximately 40 loads)

This article is brought to you by the PJ'S Team at Miller Housing Group.

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