On saving money, laundry detergent style

Did you know there are tons of recipes online on how to make your own laundry detergent?  If you're wondering how I consider this prepping, simple, #1 it's a lot cheaper than store bought stuff, and again saving money on necessities = more money for good stuff, like big ass emergency candles lol.  #2 The way I figure it, each batch of this will make enough detergent for one person for a year.  Do some quick and dirty math, and for about $100 invested today, you'll be able to supply yourself with laundry detergent literally for the rest of your life.  #3 If we end up with a real crash this could very well be a little business opportunity for yourself...run your own little laundromat. 

Now I know what you're thinking: "there's no way this works as well as store bought stuff."  That's what I thought at least.  I was proven wrong.  To test how well this stuff works I rubbed some common stain makers into an old pair of jeans and let them sit for 48 hours before washing.

Before:

 After: 

Perfect?  No, but better than I expected, and more than good enough for me!

So here's the recipe I used:

TIPS FOR LAUNDRY SOAP: We use Fels-Naptha bar soap in the homemade soap recipes, but you can use Ivory, Sunlight, Kirk's Hardwater Castile or Zote bars. Don't use heavily perfumed soaps. We buy Fels-Naptha by the case from our local grocer or online. Washing Soda and Borax can normally be found on the laundry or cleaning aisle. Recipe cost approx. $2.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4 Cups hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup 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.

-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.


The one thing I would do differently is just to use two five gallon buckets in the beginning - it's a pain because when you put everything in one five gallon bucket it thickens into an almost pudding like consistency, and it becomes a pain trying to get half of the soap pudding and half water into your containers.  Just divide the heated soap solution in half, and dump it into your two buckets and add hot water to them and be done with it.