Homemade Laundry Detergent by Housewife Anna Stewart

My family has started the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University and in a way to save money (and have fun making it with my son!) I researched homemade everyday products that I can make very inexpensive and easily. Here’s what I have been using for the last two weeks on our laundry…

What you will need:

Washing soda, borax, cheap soap… I used some free hotel soaps!

To get started: Grate your bar of soap on a grater, food processor, or just shave it with a knife. Be careful not to grate your knuckles too!

This is what it should look like…

Pour in 4 cups of warm water into a large pot and bring to a boil. Simmer until all chunks are dissolved.
Stir, stir, stir…

Fill a 5 gallon bucket halfway with VERY warm water. (I bought mine at Lowes for about $5 with the lid, but if you’re smart you can get a free one from a deli or bakery!) Then pour in soap mixture and stir. Fill the rest of the way with more warm water and stir…

Place the bucket (with lid on) in a safe place away from children (drowning hazard!), wait 24 hours…

In the morning you will find this awesome bucket of goo! My son loved getting to wake up and see what had happened overnight!

Stir it to combine the goo with the water (it will separate) and funnel into a used laundry detergent bottle.

Here is the recipe I used…

Ingredients:

1 bar of Ivory soap (or any cheap soap that’s white will work)

4 cups water

1 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (sodium carbonate)

½ cup 20 Mule Team Borax

Grate or shave the soap, put in large pot with 4 cups water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low/medium heat and simmer until all the soap is melted while stirring often. Fill a 5 gallon bucket half way with VERY warm water. Add the melted soap mixture. Stir in the washing soda and borax. Top off with more VERY warm water until the mixture is about 4 inches from top. Place lid on bucket and put it in a safe place away from small children (drowning hazard!). After 24 hours you will be able to see the chemical reaction and the mixture will be gelled, stir well again. Pour into a used laundry detergent bottle and shake well before each use. If desired you can dilute the mixture 1 part detergent/1 part water.

Use ½ cup per load for top loading washers and ¼ cup for front loading washers.

Happy Birthday Jane Strickland!!

Recipe of the Day

Black Bean Salsa

Ingredients

3 (15 ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed

1 (11 ounce) can Mexican-style corn, drained

2 (10 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chile peppers, partially drained

2 tomatoes, diced

2 bunches green onions, chopped

cilantro leaves, for garnish

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix together black beans, Mexican-style corn, diced tomatoes with green chile peppers, tomatoes and green onion stalks. Garnish with desired amount of cilantro leaves. Chill in the refrigerator at least 8 hours, or overnight, before serving.