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Around the House, Homekeeping, Homemade, In the Laundry Room

Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe

June 17, 2011

Laundry Detergent

Homemade Laundry DetergentMaking your own liquid homemade laundry detergent is an inexpensive way to get your clothes clean.  I have been using this recipe for several years now, and I love it.  Store-bought pre-made laundry detergent is so expensive, the savings  is significant.  Plus, it gets our clothes just as clean!

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Ingredients for Homemade Laundry Detergent:

1/3 bar Fels Naptha Laundry Bar and Stain Remover, Zote Laundry Soap, or you can use a whole bar of Ivory or your favorite homemade soap 

1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda

1/2 cup Borax

1 small bucket, about 2 gallon size

Instructions for Homemade Laundry Detergent:

Grate the Fels Naptha Laundry Bar and put it in a saucepan.  I use a box grater or if I am doing a larger quantity, a food processor to do this.

Next, add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts.

Then add the washing soda and the borax; stir until it is dissolved.  Remove from heat.

Pour 4 cups hot water into your bucket.

Now, add your soap mixture and stir.

Then, add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir.

Allow the soap cool for about 24 hours and it will make a  gel surrounded by a liquid.

Use ½ cup per load.

Note: This is low sudsing, so don’t worry that your clothes aren’t getting clean if you don’t see lots of bubbles…trust me, they are.

Laundry Detergent

Mama’s Little Helper

Homemade Laundry Detergent
2014-06-18 14:36:30
Making your own Laundry Detergent is an inexpensive way to get your clothes clean. I have been using this recipe for several years now, and I love it.
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Ingredients for Homemade Laundry Detergent
  1. 1/3 bar Fels Naptha or you can use a whole bar of Ivory or your favorite homemade soap
  2. 1/2 cup washing soda
  3. 1/2 cup borax powder
  4. 1 small bucket, about 2 gallon size
Instructions for Homemade Laundry Detergent
  1. Grate the Fels Naptha Soap and put it in a saucepan. I use a box grater or if I am doing a larger quantity, a food processor.
  2. Next, add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts.
  3. Then add the washing soda and the borax; stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat.
  4. Pour 4 cups hot water into your bucket.
  5. Now, add your soap mixture and stir.
  6. Then, add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir.
  7. Allow the soap cool for about 24 hours and it will make a gel surrounded by a liquid.
  8. Use ½ cup per load.
Notes
  1. This is low sudsing, so don't worry that your clothes aren't getting clean if you don't see lots of bubbles...trust me, they are.
By Nelle
Mama’s Homestead http://www.mamashomestead.com/
homemade laundry detergent recipe laundry
by Nelle 
7 Comments

About Nelle

I am Nelle. I grew up in rural, small town, Ohio. When I was young, I learned a lot about homesteading from my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, 4-H, FFA, and others around me. Now, I’m all grown up, have 6 children of my own, and plan to teach them everything I know. Here on Mama’s Homestead, we talk and write about homesteading, homeschooling, and kidsteading (homesteading with kids). We teach our kids about survival, self-sufficiency, gardening (vegetable, herb, flower), orchard, beekeeping, home keeping, soap making, harvesting, cooking, food preservation, livestock, nature, crafts, homesteading tools and wares, and more… Welcome to my homestead…come and learn with us!

View all posts by Nelle

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Comments

  1. Tracy says: November 22, 2011 at 11:37 am

    what is washing soda, I’ve never heard of it???

    Reply
    • Mama says: November 22, 2011 at 12:06 pm

      Washing Soda is made by Arm and Hammer. It is a natural laundry detergent booster that helps to remove dirt and stains plus, neutralize and eliminate odors. It is found in the laundry aisle at the grocery store, close to the Borax. It has many other uses around the house.

      Reply
  2. Ann says: June 25, 2012 at 11:15 pm

    Do you have a recipe for stain/spot remover?

    Reply
  3. Sheila McGee says: February 18, 2014 at 11:04 pm

    Can you use this in high efficiency washers?

    Reply
    • Nelle says: February 19, 2014 at 12:09 pm

      Yes! We have an high efficiency washer and use it all the time with no problem. It is a very low sudsing detergent, which seems to be the concern for HE machines.

      Reply

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Welcome to my homestead!

Hello, I'm Nelle Weaver!
I grew up on a small farm in Ohio and experienced various aspects of homesteading. I learned many skills from my grandparents and parents and from being involved in 4-H and FFA.  
My husband and I write about our simple life here on Mama's Homestead and teach classes on our homestead in central Ohio, where we raise goats, chickens, and rabbits, have an orchard, garden, keep bees, and much more. Read More…

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