HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN LAUNDRY DETERGENT ($20 a year approx)

Frugal Friday Tip: HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN LAUNDRY DETERGENT

I have been using the liquid version for over 12 years now. When all the kids were home, $20 got me just over a year's worth of laundry detergent. With only 4 home now, it lasts me about 2 years. When I want to "scent" my detergent, I put about 20-30 drops of the essential oil of my choice in my 5 gallon bucket of detergent. I mix it before use.

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For Liquid Laundry Detergent:

1 quart boiling hot water
2 gallons hot water
2 cups of grated bar soap (you want "pure" soap...many use Fels Naptha)
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda (this is NOT Baking Soda)

Grate the bar of soap up very fine. In large pot, boil a quart of water. Once it reaches boiling, turn the heat down to low. Add the grated up soap to the boiling water and stir until the soap is completely melted. Keep on low heat until soap is melted. Take the pot off heat and poor the liquid into a large bucket. Add the Borax and Washing Soda. Stir well until it is all dissolved. Add 2 gallons of hot water and stir until it is well mixed. Let it cool and then place air tight lid on bucket for storage. The mixture will gel and that is okay. Just stir it each time you use your detergent. Use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry.

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For Dry Granules Laundry Detergent:

1 bar of soap Fels Naptha, finely grated
1 cup of Borax
1 cup of the washing soda (this is NOT Baking Soda)

Mix thorougly.
Use one tablespoon of the mix for each load of laundry.

**This also works for h/e machines.**

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NOTE: When vinegar is cheaper than softener, I put a cup of vinegar in the laundry softener dispenser along with 3 drops of the essential oil of my choice for scent. This helps with softener and static cling reduction.