No-Fuss Homemade Laundry Detergent

For those who enjoy making products at home, this laundry soap works well and is so easy, fast, and convenient that anyone can make it. The finished product turns into a gel that you can keep right in the cooking pot on a shelf, or pour into jars. The result will be as good as most store-bought detergents and will save you money in the end.

Ingredients:

Soap ends (small pieces of bar soap; save these from several bars to make a batch of detergent)

1½ cups washing soda, such as Arm and Hammer. This looks a little like Arm and Hammer Baking Soda, but comes in a bigger box. Don’t confuse the two; while baking soda could substitute in a pinch, you’ll get much better results with washing soda.

1½ cups borax powder, such as 20 Mule Team Borax. This is also sold at large chains and some home improvement stores.

Reserve the following items only for making detergent:

Large cooking pot with lid, (8-10 quart)

Ladle and grater

(Hint: If you have old cooking utensils that are still serviceable, turn them into laundry equipment and treat yourself to a new utensils for cooking. The money you save on detergent will pay for the utensils within a few months.)

1. You’ll need a half-cup, more or less, of broken pieces from bar soaps. Instead of throwing small pieces in the trash, this is a great way to recycle. Grate the pieces to the consistency of finely grated cheese. Use any type of soap you prefer, however, soaps with a large percentage of cream (i.e., “beauty bars”) work less effectively than plain, cheap bars.

2. Fill the cooking pot ¾ full with water, then add grated soap pieces and put it on the stove to boil. You’ll have to boil until the soap dissolves, or about ten minutes. The water should be milky when you stir it, and you should see no pieces of soap.

3. Once the soap dissolves, add 1½ cups each of washing soda and borax to the pot. Stir well and continue to boil for another five minutes, stirring occasionally. The detergent may boil over if you walk away, so be careful.

4. Turn off the heat and put the lid on the pot. Let it cool down on the stove before you try to move it. Once the mixture is cool, you may transfer it to wide-mouthed jars or leave it in the covered pot. (I like to keep the pot and ladle on my laundry shelf.) Over the next couple of days, the liquid will turn into a thick gel. Whenever you want to do a laundry load, just stir the detergent and then scoop out 1/3 cup (or about two ladles full) and add to your washer. If you have an extra large or dirty load, use half a cup of detergent.

If your water is soft, you may be able to use less washing soda and borax, which will save you money. Experiment with the amounts shown to find the perfect gel consistency for your area’s water. You may also experiment with essential oils to add fragrance to your detergent. Enjoy your new skill as well as the extra change in your pocket!