Let's face it laundry is not only the task that never quite seems to be done but it can also be quite spendy. The companies that make laundry soap never seem to be quite satisfied their soap it is always 'new and improved' or 'now with even better stain fighters' or 'will wash itself while you get a mani-pedi'. They make laundry soap into this soapalayah that is so great and mystical that you, a layperson, could never dane to make it yourself. They do this so you will shell out major change for, really, a big bottle of soap. Well, let me demystify this. Making laundry soap is exceedingly easy and a 5 gallon bucket of it only costs about $3 to make. I have read that this detergent is perfectly safe for HE machines since the detergent is low sudsing, just use half the recommended amount. As for how it works, I was very impressed, my cloths came out clean and soft. On Thanksgiving Jack spilled cranberry sauce All over his white shirt sleeve. I rubbed a little of this into the stain and then washed the shirt the next day and the stain completely disappeared. I wish I had taken a before and after shot to show you, but you will just have to take my word for it. All of these ingredients can be found in the laundry aisle of your grocery store.
Laundry Soap
1 bar Fels Naptha laundry soap
Hot water
1c. washing soda
1/2 c. Borax
(optional) 25 -30 drops essential oils i.e. tea tree or lavender
5 gallon bucket
- Step one: Grate up your bar of Fels Naptha. I used a box grater but I have been told that you could also use a food processor. You will end up with these cheese-looking soapy curls.
- Step two: Heat some water on the stove in a large sauce pan, drop in the soap curls and cook over medium heat until all of the soap has dissolved. You will end up with a soapy soup.
- Step three: Fill your 5 gallon bucket half way with hot water then pour in your soap soup. Add the washing soda and borax, stir.
- Step four: Fill the bucket up the rest of the way.
- Step five: Cover bucket and let sit for 24 hours (I just stashed mine away in the laundry room).
- Step six: The next day you should find a gelatinous soap mass floating in some watery stuff, this is good. Just stir to break up the glops and you are ready to go. At this point, if you desired, you could add 25 -30 drops of essential oil for smell. detergent will remain gloppy just make sure to use some for the glop and watery stuff. Use 1 cup of detergent per load, about half of that if you have a HE machine.
So, how much water did you add with the Fels Naptha in the pot? I would love to know specifically, since I haven't done this before- you make it look really easy- where do you get 5 gallon buckets? Do you know if the Tillamook Ice Cream plastic buckets are 5 gallon? Sorry about all the questions.. thanks :)
ReplyDeleteI have no idea how big the Tillamook bucket is, but I just bought my bucket from Lowes, you can also get it from Home Depot. It is very easy, there is not a specific amount of water to add to the fels naptha, I just filled my pot half way. You just need enough to dissolve the soap because it is just going to get mixed with more water in the 5 gallon bucket anyway. Let me know how it goes, it really is very easy.
ReplyDeleteJust so you know if you get tangled up in some poison oak, fels naptha is the way to go. As soon as you get home put you clothes in the washer and take a shower using the fels naphtha, it take the oils from the poison oak off you. You won't get the poison oak. I am highly allergic to poison oak, when we are working on the ranch, it is everywhere, and since I found out about the fels naptha I haven't had a problem.
ReplyDeletegreat tip, thank you.
ReplyDeleteI'm making my second batch tonight. The first bucket lasted me 2 months. I was almost sad to see the bottom of it! Happy, though, knowing I can easily and inexpensively make more :)
ReplyDelete