How To Save Money By Making Your Own Laundry Detergent

Ingredients

• Water
• A bar of soap
• A cup of washing soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate
• A half a cup of Borax
• A box of baking soda
• Four cups of soap flakes
• A covered glass jar

Steps

1. Heat four cups of water - Heat four cups of water in a large pot on the stove. (28 sec. )
2. Shave some soap - Start shaving a regular-sized bar of bath soap, and begin adding the shavings as the water gets to just below a boil. Maintaining the water at that level, keep adding soap shavings and stirring until the entire bar is dissolved. (33 sec. )
3. Boil more water - Boil three gallons of water, put them into a five-gallon bucket, and add the soapy water. Stir for a few minutes, and then add a cup of washing soda. Stir for a few more minutes; then add a half a cup of Borax. Stir a while longer; then let the mixture sit overnight. Use one cup per laundry load. (46 sec. )
4. If you can’t find washing soda, buy sodium carbonate from a pool supply store; it’s the same thing. (67 sec. )
5. Make dry detergent - If you’d prefer dry detergent, mix four cups of soap flakes with two cups of washing soda and two cups of Borax. Store it in a covered glass jar. (73 sec. )
6. Save on fabric softener - And while you’re at it, save on fabric softener by adding a half a cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle. (83 sec. )
7. The average American family does 400 loads of laundry each year. (90 sec. )