Homemade Laundry Detergent!

Last Tuesday a group of us from church got together and made our own laundry detergent. Susan was the instructor and she did a great job. I was amazed at how easy it was to make. I know we made over ten gallons in less than an hour. Susan and David figured up that it cost about $1.00 to make enough for 167 loads. It doesn't have a strong smell like tide or gain, but it has a clean smell. And think about it, you're paying all this extra money for scented detergent when you can just buy scented fabric sheets for your dryer. It almost makes me mad that for years I having been spending around $20 a month for laundry detergent when this is so easy. Anyway, if you have any interest in making your own, the recipe is below.

Directions:
1/3 bar of soap (Zote/Ivory)
1/2 cup of washing soda
1/2 cup of borax

Grate soap (use food processor if you have one) and place in pot with 6 cups of cold water. Stir on medium high heat until almost all of the soap is dissolved. Mix together washing soda and Borax. Add to soap mixture and stir until dissolved. Once mixture is dissolved, remove from heat. Add 4 cups of hot water in a bucket and add soap mixture and stir. As you are stirring, add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of cold water. Stir until all is well mixed. Let mixture sit for 24 hours. When ready to use, shake to mix. Mixture will separate when it sits so shake every time you use it. Use 1/2 cup in a load of laundry. This should be enough for over 75 loads.