DIY Laundry Soap – Save Money
Do you want to save money?
Do you need some laundry soap?
Do you have about 1/2 hour?
This is the recipe I use – with a few alterations
Get your supplies gathered together
Supplies:
Washing Soda
Borax
bar of soap
big pot
pitcher
mixing spoon
cheese shredder
1/2 cup measuring cup
4 empty laundry soap containers.
I just keep an old pot, spoon, pitcher and measuring cup solely for this activity. I did buy a shredder for this task and keep that only for making soap, as well. It was only $1 at a dollar store.
First, I start by shredding my bar of soap. I used to use a smaller holed shredder and that took longer, then I got a bigger holed one…doesn’t take as long and soap still melts fine.
One bar of soap makes 2 batches. So divide your soap shavings in half.
Put 8 cups of water in your pot, add your soap shavings. Heat and stir until melted.
When soap is melted, add 1/2 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup borax and bring to a boil. Stir until dissolved.
Then add 8 cups of cold water. ( Since the bar of soap I use is a little bigger than an average one, I add about 6 more cups of water) If your laundry soap ends up too thick, just add more water.
Now a lot of other directions out there say to stir while cooling or I have even heard of people using a paint mixer on a drill while the soap is cooling. I am telling you that that is not a necessary step. I am all about saving time and here is my last steps.
Pour half of your batch into one empty laundry soap container and the other half into another. I do this right away, I don’t even wait for it to cool.
I use my pitcher to help with the pouring process.
Now make another batch while you still have all of the supplies out.
When my soap does cool in the containers, it does get thicker. So all I do is make sure the top is one, give the whole container about 10 big shakes and it is all ready to use. (This is also part of my workout routine! Shake your laundry soap 10 times before you use it to strengthen those muscles!) I saved time by not mixing the soap while it cools and got a workout instead.
Make sure you only fill each container half way, otherwise they will be too heavy or full for shaking.
Did you save money?
Each container of laundry soap I buy is at least $5-$6.
Washing soda – about $3.50
Borax – about $3.50
Bar of soap – $1.00
Since you only use 1/2 cup of washing soda and 1/2 cup of borax each time, that $7.00 lasts for quite a lot of batches. I haven’t figured out exactly how many batches I get out of each box, but I do know that I only buy one box of washing soda each year.
Have a great time making your own laundry soap!
My daughter loves to help shred the bar of soap and made her own batch of laundry soap one time to help complete a step for a Junior Girl Scout Badge – Independence .
