Our MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group at church has been making their own laundry soap for the past year and some of the mothers were discussing it on Facebook the other day. They shared the recipe with me, so I thought I would give it a try. I picked up the ingredients today while grocery shopping but still need a 5 gallon bucket to mix it in.

The ingredients cost me $12.27 and the bucket is on sale at a local hardware store for $3.99. The ingredients should make at least 4 batches of soap, so it should last a while. One of the moms told me that the last batch she made lasted her 6 months. They have 4 small children so I'm sure she does a LOT of laundry!

They say it is an excellent detergent for high-efficiency machines since it is low-sudsing.

I'm anxious to give this a try!

Here is the recipe for those interested:

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap (front or top-load machine: best value)

4 cups hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar (Ivory can be substituted for those with allergies)
1 cup washing soda
1/2 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: lavendar, rosemary, tea tree oil.

Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

Top load machine: 5/8 cup per load (approx. 180 loads)

Front load machine: 1/4 cup per load (approx. 640 loads)

Powdered Laundry Detergent- Top load machine

1 Fels-Naptha soap bar (or Ivory)
1 cup washing soda
1/2 cup Borax

Grate soap or break into pieces and process in food processor until powdered. Mix all ingredients. For light load, use 1 tablespoon. For heavy load or heavily soiled load, use 2 tablespoons. Yields: 3 cups detergent. (approx. 40 loads)