Homemade Laundry Detergent

One of my favorite blogs is Young House Love. They are now working on their second house renovation and blog about all the details. I love seeing their projects take shape and turn out beautifully. Another aspect of their blog that I have really liked is the extensive list of homemade cleaners and detergents. I have tried several and all have turned out well. A few weeks ago, I decided to try their recipe for liquid laundry detergent. Not only will it save money but it is much better for our skin. I was able to buy all the ingredients at our local Publix supermarket on the laundry detergent aisle. My cereal keeper on the right has a box of Borax. I had already opened and wanted to store in a sealed container. I used something I already had on hand. The 3-gallon bucket I purchased at Home Depot. 

Liquid Laundry Detergent:

• 3 pints water
• 1/3 bar Fels Naptha soap, grated
• ½ c. washing soda
• ½ c. borax
• 2 gallon bucket
• 1 quart hot water

Mix soap in saucepan with 3 pints of water. Heat on low until dissolved. Stir in soda and borax until thickened. Remove from heat. Add 1 quart hot water to bucket, then soap mixture, mix well. Fill rest of bucket with hot water, mix and let sit for 24 hours. Use ½ c. per laundry load.

I also added a few drops of lavender essential oil to each container of detergent.

Grated Fels-Naptha. I love the way this bar smells!

                         

It took longer than expected for the grated bar to dissolve.

All mixed and poured in to the bucket for overnight wait.

I waited to pour my detergent up for several days. When I did open the bucket I noticed the detergent had separated some. I used my wooden spoon to try and stir but it wasn't an easy task. I eventually used my immersion mixer which took about two minutes. I then poured the contents into plastic containers.I bought three of these 3 Quart plastic containers at Dollar Tree. 

This batch made almost three containers full.

I am finding that the detergent tends to continue to separate. I just give a shake when I need to use it and it mixes easily.

http://www.younghouselove.com/2009/10/clean-up-your-act-all-natural-homemade-cleaners/ 

is a huge compilation of recipes.

Linking up with: http://www.ishouldbemoppingthefloor.com/; http://www.niftythriftythings.com/; http://anoriginalbelle.blogspot.com/2012/02/make-it-yourself-monday-17-link-up.html; http://craftomaniac.blogspot.com/