step #1: Grate 1 bar of Kirks Castile soap (or Fels-Naptha) soap bar. We used our large-hole standing cheese grater, which worked great and went fast. You can find these soap bars usually in the laundry aisle at your grocery store. Our soap bar was about $1.50.
Step #2: Add grated bar of soap to saucepan with 4 Cups hot tap water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted completely.
Step #3: Meanwhile, while my husband stirred the soap on the stove, I filled a 5 gallon bucket (available at WalMart in the paint section for about $2.50) in the bathtub with hot water half-full.
Step #4: Then I added 1/2 Cup Borax (less than $2.00 in laundry aisle at grocery store), and 1 Cup washing soda (made by Arm & Hammer – less than $2.00 as well – in the laundry aisle, but not at Walmart this time).
Step #5: Make sure your husband is still stirring the soap on the stove. I love you, Babe!
Careful the bubbles don’t leave the pot…..ewww…need I say more? It was close for us, but it didn’t get messy after all….
Step #5: Pour the melted stove-top soap mixture into the half-filled 5 gallon bucket and stir.
Step #6: Keep stirring….and stirring (well, like for 5 minutes) until the soap is all dissolved.
Step #7: Place bucket back in shower, and fill bucket with additional hot water to top of bucket.
Step #8 to whatever… Stir once more. Put lid on bucket loosely. Let sit until water temp cooled down…about 8 hours. Mixture should start to gel. When cooled, you can add essential oils to add more fragrance. We used just 45 drops of fragrance oil (like the kind you add scent to candles with). After 24-48 hours mixture will be ready to use in your top-load or front-load washing machine. This soap mixture is concentrated, so it actually yields 10 gallons of laundry soap! Yes, that should last you well over 6 months…for us two…probably over a year… for less than $10! Now that’s what I call saving money!So, you can either add just 1/2 cup of soap gel to water at beginning of top-load washing cycle, or only use 1/4 cup in front-load machines. Are you ready to start saving over $100+/yr?
An extra special thanks to my sister, Amy, who gave me this recipe for homemade laundry soap, who taught me everything about couponing, and saving, and living in love! Thanks and I love you!
Now….Stay tuned for homemade fabric softener too!
