Laundry Detergent

I just had a friend email me asking for my homemade laundry detergent recipe. I thought I would post it for those of you who might be interested. Although I have not made or bought laundry detergent for about 6 months now (due to freebies from coupons), I am coming to the end of my stockpile. So, I too will be using my food processor to grind bars of soap and make some detergent soon – unless of course, another coupon and sale combo brings more free detergent my way!

I have found the following recipe to be less expensive to make than the cheapest detergent I can purchase. An added bonus it that it cleans better than any of the less expensive detergents I have used. My husband being a chemist in his former life says it is the borax in the recipe which causes it to clean so thouroughly. Borax is a whitening agent which may be used to brighten your laundry.

It is tempting to use more than the 2 Tbs. per load of laundry which is called for in this recipe. In this case though more is not better, it is just a waste. I was skeptical and started with more but found that decreasing it with each load, 2 Tbs. really does clean our clothes very well.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Small Batch:

• 1 c grated bar soap (I have used Safeguard and Dial Soap but any will work)
• 1/2 c Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (not baking soda!)
• 1/2 c 20 Mule Team Borax

Large Batch:

• 12 bars soap
• 1 box 20 Mule Team Borax
• 2 boxes Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (not baking soda!)

Instructions:

1. Grate soap in a food processor.
2. Mix all ingredients and store in airtight container.
3. Use 2 Tbs. per load.
4. I use an old plastic scoop in the airtight container on which I have marked a fill line for the children (and myself) because 2 Tbsp is really all you need!