Homemade Laundry Soap

So, it was time to make laundry soap, I decided to take some pictures of how to do it. It is really easy and without any distractions you can be done in under 15 minutes! I am going to run through the how to’s first with pictures and then at the end list ingredients and measurements. To start with I have gathered together my Borax, Washing Soda, Sunlight bar soap, (I included a bar of Linda soap in this picture as you can use it instead of the Sunlight) Grater and measuring cup.
Next I put my grater into a pot and grate both bars of the sunlight into the pot. (The Sunlight comes as a two pack.)
Here is a quick look at the soap grated in the pot.
Next, I take my 2 cup measuring cup and put one cup of Borax and one cup of Washing Soda in it and set it aside.
Add 12 cups of water to the grated soap and heat the water to melt the soap. You want it all to dissolve in the water.
Once it has all dissolved remove from the heat grab your cup with the Borax and Soda and add to the soap mixture, stir until dissolved.
I knew I would forget something you need a 5 gallon pail you are going to add 8 cups of hot water to your pail. Now add your dissolved soap mixture. Stirring as you go add 44 cups of water. (2 gallons and 12 cups of water = 44 cups) Can you guess where I got my bucket.
Stir. Stir.
Put the kids to work stirring Joshua is my stirring guy. Joel helps out too but Josh seems to be my laundry soap guy. If the kids are helping just be careful with little ones because you are using hot liquids 🙂 Put a lid on and set aside for about 24 hours. Although, I have made it one night and used it the next morning.
After it has sat for 24 hours you will have soap that is very gel like there will be soapy water in the bucket too. I know some people take a hand mixer to it, to make it more of a liquid than a gel.
Know if you live in the US where you can get Fels Naptha that is apparently excellent in this recipe. You would use 2/3 of a bar in this recipe. Also, if you wash with cold water I would suggest smushing the gel first.

So here is the run down;

Sunlight Bar Soap (Use both bars in the double pack) or 1 bar of Linda soap
1 Cup Washing Soda
1 Cup Borax
5 gallon pail

Grate the soap in to a pot then add 12 cups of water and begin heating until soap melts. Remove from heat and add Borax and Soda stir until dissolved. Pour 8 cups of very hot water into bucket now add your soap mixture. Begin stirring then add 44 cups of hot water continue to stir. You can add in about an ounce of essential oils if you like. Some ideas would be lemon, orange, lavendar or vanilla, whatever you like. Cover with lid and let stand for 24 hours. Use a 1/2 cup per load if you have a front load washer use 1/4 cup. For really heavily soiled items I up it to about a cup. I guestimate when I am in the laundry room.

Try it and save some money!!