Homemade Laundry Detergent

We are always looking for ways to save some money, which means we try all sorts of things homemade.  We always laugh when we say someone else is weird, because really; we are most likely the weird ones.  So since today is laundry day, well a laundry day, (it never ends...)  I thought we'd share our HOMEMADE laundry detergent. This is absolutely a money saver and really easy!

Here's all you need:

4 cups hot tap water

1 Fels-Naptha soap bar

1 cup Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda

1/2 cup Borax

All of these ingredients are very inexpensive.
Grate Fels-Naptha and add to saucepan with water.  Stir continually on medium low heat until soap is melted and dissolved.

 Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full with hot tap water.   We use a 5 gallon gas container.  We thought it would make pouring easier than a bucket.  After using it for 3-4 batches though, we think a 5 gallon bucket might better so you can stir it. It gets a little lumpy.  We (mostly Jay because it's heavy) just shake the gas container to stir.  Next, add melted soap, washing soda and Borax.  Stir well until all powder is dissolved.  Fill bucket to top with more hot  water.  Stir (or shake) cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

 Stir again, then fill a used laundry dispenser with your new laundry detergent!  You can dilute it more if you choose by adding half water, half detergent to your actual laundry dispenser. I like it more concentrated, but that's just my preference:)  Shake well before each use because it does get lumpy.

You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons once soap has cooled.  We never have though because we like the smell of Fels-Naptha.  It's kind of a citrus, clean smell. (I actually use a ratio of 3/4 homemade and 1/4 Gain in each load because I love how Gain makes our clothes smell; and 1/4 Gain is plenty to scent my laundry how I like:)
USE:   top load machine-1/3 cup per load.  Front load machine-1/4 cup per load
Each batch lasts me about 8 months!

NOTE:  It has to be Arm and Hammer "Super Washing Soda."  Baking soda, or Arm and Hammer Detergent will not work.  It has to be sodium carbonate.
Yeild:  makes 10 gallons