Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap ~ Under a Penny per Load! ~ (as in 1¢!)
How does paying under a penny ($0.004 to be exact!) for the soap in each load of laundry sound?
A big thanks to Janae at The Grocery Queen for allowing me to post her information here. I read it on her blog and figured it was too good to keep to myself. Currently, I'm in the position she started in . . . stocked on laundry detergent, but when I run out I think I'm going to give this try. Not even half a penny? I have to! (See her post for the full cost breakdown.)
I asked if it works for machines that need HE soap. She said that she's read that it does, though she doesn't have an HE machine.
Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap
You will need a 5 gallon bucket and lid
I went to Lowes, paid $0.99 for the lid, $2.54 for the bucket = total w/ tax $3.85
INGREDIENTS:
~2 cups grated Ivory bar soap (can also use Fels Naptha, Zote, or Castile)
~1/2 cup Borax Natural Laundry Booster
~1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
~*optional* 1 capful liquid laundry soap of your choice (for your favorite scent, I used 3 Tide travel size pouches)
In a large saucepan on medium heat boil 4 cups hot tap water. Grate bar soap in to the water (I blended my soap up in my Bullet/blender and it made a very fine powder, then I added it to the water a little at a time to avoid clumping). Stir until soap is completely dissolved. Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full with very hot tap water.
Add Borax and Arm & Hammer Washing Soda to water in the 5 gallon bucket. Stir well then add the soap mix from saucepan to the 5 gallon bucket. Continue stirring until completely dissolved. Stir in liquid laundry soap (I added 3 of the travel size Tide that I got free w/ MQ @ Target). Then fill the bucket almost to the top with hot tap water. Stir again, cover and leave overnight. During that time it will cool and thicken.
*Use 1/4 cup per laundry load. This recipe will wash about 240 loads and Great for all kinds of stains!
Cost Breakdown *based on what I found at my local Fry's
Borax $4.69……………………………….76oz box makes 19 batches…………. $0.25 per batch
A&H Washing Soda $2.99……………55oz box makes 6.5 batches………… $0.46 per batch
Ivory Bars $1.00 (on sale)……………one 3-pack makes 1.5 batches……… $0.67 per batch
*EACH BATCH MAKES 5 GALLONS! :)
When she broke it down even further, it comes out to under a penny a load! You can read her full post for the details! Amazing!
Categories:Misc.
Nevermind……I must have missed it at the top!! lol
Guess our messages are crossing each other! :) I'm trying to fully convince myself that I want to let myself run out of soap (it'll be awhile!) and try this myself. I have an HE machine, so if you find anything that says not to, let me know!
Can this be used in an HE machine?
Thanks :)
I asked Janae the same question and she said she doesn't have and HE machine, but read that you could. Sorry, but that's the best answer I have for you. I guessing you could do some digging around online and find a more definitive answer . . . since I certainly don't want to be responsible for ruining your machine!! Good luck!
I can't wait to try this out! I started shopping for supplies at WalMart. The bucket and lid were $2.64 and the borax was $2.69, so if you shop at WalMart anyway, you can save a few pennies by picking those up there. They didn't have super washing soda, so that'll have to come from Fry's. Ivory was $1.07 for 3 bars, so not bad if it's not on sale at Fry's at the time.
Thank you and thanks to Janae for this recipe! I can't wait to wash my clothes for about 1/2 a penny a load!
I have been using a very similar recipe like this for several years and LOVE it! I can't imagine paying for a bottle of laundry detergent! I have also made the powdered kind when I have forgotten to make the liquid in time to do laundry:-) It works well, too, but not as economical.
Thanks for spotlighting my post! I really wish I could take credit for all the info, but really I can only take credit for the pictures :p hehehe… (taken with my awful little camera) :D But I'm like you…
This is a great way to save money & people need to know!!! :D
Thanks for making it so super easy for me to do! :)