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How to Make Home Made Laundry Soap - Super Inexpensive

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Make Home Made Laundry Soap - super inexpensive

How to Make Home Made Laundry Soap - Super Inexpensive

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Step 1 of 14
Storage container from the pet section of Target, it keeps moisture out & was around $9. Fels Naptha $.80 a bar, Borax $3.38, washing soda $3.24 Purex $4.76 1 batch of this will last 6 months or more

Storage container from the pet section of Target, it keeps moisture out & was around $9. Fels Naptha $.80 a bar, Borax $3.38, washing soda $3.24 Purex $4.76 1 batch of this will last 6 months or more

Step 2 of 14
Grate your Fels Naptha soap bars. Use 2-4 bars. Last batch I used 4, here I used 2 because that's what I had on hand. If you don't have a food processor use a grater (watch your fingers).

Grate your Fels Naptha soap bars. Use 2-4 bars. Last batch I used 4, here I used 2 because that's what I had on hand. If you don't have a food processor use a grater (watch your fingers).

Step 3 of 14
Grating the soap breaks it down into thin strips. Last batch I stopped grating after this step, but the laundry soap works better if the soap pieces are smaller.

Grating the soap breaks it down into thin strips. Last batch I stopped grating after this step, but the laundry soap works better if the soap pieces are smaller.

Step 4 of 14
Once you're bar has been grated switch to this blade in your food processor, or add your grated soap to a blender and mix till you have finer pieces.

Once you're bar has been grated switch to this blade in your food processor, or add your grated soap to a blender and mix till you have finer pieces.

Step 5 of 14
Remnants of my last batch of soap in my storage container which was purchased from the pet food isle of Target. It was intended to store pet food and is available in multiple sizes.

Remnants of my last batch of soap in my storage container which was purchased from the pet food isle of Target. It was intended to store pet food and is available in multiple sizes.

Step 6 of 14
Add your box of Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda to your container. You can mix as you add ingredients if you like. It might make your final product more even.

Add your box of Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda to your container. You can mix as you add ingredients if you like. It might make your final product more even.

Step 7 of 14
Add the entire box of Borax to your storage container. Mix again if you like.

Add the entire box of Borax to your storage container. Mix again if you like.

Step 8 of 14

The soap has a pleasant scent without the Purex and it's not a vital ingredient at all. It's use is totally up to you. The Fels Naptha soap is key. Try not to skimp on that like I did in this batch.

Step 9 of 14
Add entire bottle of Purex Crystals. These add scent. They aren't necessary, but if you like your laundry to have scent you should use one of these types of additives.

Add entire bottle of Purex Crystals. These add scent. They aren't necessary, but if you like your laundry to have scent you should use one of these types of additives.

Step 10 of 14

If you are going to refill your laundry container periodically make sure that you either buy the same scent of additive or wait till your container is empty. Mixing scents could turn out badly.

Step 11 of 14
Add your finely ground Fels Naptha soap to the rest of your ingredients. Get to mixing. Everything needs to be evenly distributed.

Add your finely ground Fels Naptha soap to the rest of your ingredients. Get to mixing. Everything needs to be evenly distributed.

Step 12 of 14
I used a slotted spoon because it seemed to make it go faster. The adding ingredients & mixing will be messy & smelly. The particles are small and become airborne easily. There will be some cleanup.

I used a slotted spoon because it seemed to make it go faster. The adding ingredients & mixing will be messy & smelly. The particles are small and become airborne easily. There will be some cleanup.

Step 13 of 14
I use the cap from the Purex as my measuring scoop and usually only use half a lid full for large loads. Save your Purex container and fill with soap if you will be going to the laundromat.

I use the cap from the Purex as my measuring scoop and usually only use half a lid full for large loads. Save your Purex container and fill with soap if you will be going to the laundromat.

Step 14 of 14

There are lots of recipes for laundry soap on the Internet, feel free to adjust ratios to fit your needs. You can adjust the amount of soap you use per load as well.

Start Over

266
20 Comments
Supplies
Embed

Fels Naptha soap 2-4 bars

Borax

Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda

Pyrex Crystals (laundry enhancer)

Food processor or grater and blender

Storage container

Mixing spoon

Norma Neri

Thank you, I'll try it very soon!!!

Norma Neri last month

Jenny Smith Woodruff

Best part is Fels Naptha is only 98 Cents a bar here, baking soda $2.19 for 5 pounds and the Borax about $2.00~ I love this recipe been using it for years and only spend about $50 a Year on laundry detergent for family of 9! Altho at times I have added Oxiclean powder to it also $1.00 for the spring and winter pack always!

Jenny Smith Woodruff last month

Tiffany Tarnowski

You should be able to find it at Walmart. It's always in the laundry isle. I've seen it at some Giant Eagle groceries stores. Maybe see if Fels Naptha has a website where they list the locations that sell it.

(author) 8 months ago

Erica Flores

Where can I find the soap?

Erica Flores 8 months ago

Michelle Marie

Thank you for this simple recipe. I added some baking soda and Lemon and tea tree essential oil... This recipe works GREAT!

Michelle Marie 9 months ago

Tiffany Shaw

Thanks so much

Tiffany Shaw 11 months ago

Erin D

Wow thanks so much for this.

Erin D 11 months ago

Tiffany Tarnowski

Amanda: this recipe is not for you. Sorry kid- Arm and Hammer tests on animals. Bob's sells baking soda which should be safe. Here's an awesome vegan blog with tons of great research. Read the comments, they're the key. If you find a great recipe send it my way!

(author) 11 months ago

Amanda Greensworth

Oh ok great. Thank you!!! And I do appreciate your willingness to look into it. I look forward to hearing what you find! Thanks for this great guide!!

Amanda Greensworth 11 months ago

Tiffany Tarnowski

Amanda, here's a vegan alternative: http://www.drbronner.com/DBMS/OBPE05/PeppermintOrganicBarSoap.htm

(author) 11 months ago

Tiffany Tarnowski

Amanda, I haven't tried it, but I've read that you can use Ivory soap or pure Castile soap, and one called Zote. I'll research a bit more. Aubrey, you could do that, but with the dry ingredients it could clump up. It smells good without the added scent anyway, but try it and let us know how it goes!

(author) 11 months ago

Amanda Greensworth

Tiffany, is there a substitute I could use for the bar soap? (I don't buy anything from the Dial Co. as they do animal testing.)

Amanda Greensworth 11 months ago

Aubrey Farella

Oils to scent the soap. :)

Aubrey Farella 11 months ago

Aubrey Farella

Love it! I might suggest using essential

Aubrey Farella 11 months ago

Amanda Greensworth

Y P, could maybe you buy them online? Maybe amazon.com? I'm headed over there to look for the bar soap - never heard of it and not sure if I can find it in a store in my area.

Amanda Greensworth 11 months ago

Y P

Wish I could try this but they don't have most of the supplies in Singapore...*sigh...

Y P 11 months ago

Robyn Edwards

THANK YOU

Robyn Edwards 11 months ago

Tiffany Tarnowski

I just did a little research and so far this is what I've learned: it may void your warranty ( check first) but tons of people use it and have had no problems. Since HE machines use less water you might need to adjust the amount of mix you use. This soap will either not suds, or suds very very little, and that's normal. Google for more info. Good luck!

(author) 11 months ago

Tiffany Tarnowski

I have no idea. You'd probably need to call the numbers on the products you mixed together. Sorry. Or- maybe google it? This is a pretty common recipe for home made soap, the answer is sure to be on there.

(author) 11 months ago

Ismael Chavez

Can I use this I'm my HE machine.

Ismael Chavez 11 months ago

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Tiffany Tarnowski

Yes sir. Thank you! I just love the combination of tiny screens and auto correct. fixing it now. 👍

(author) 11 months ago

Ben Wipperman

Should that be "rest of"?

Ben Wipperman 11 months ago

Be first to comment on Step 12.

Rachel Miller

If your container is designed for pet food storage, then it probably has a lid that secures tightly. If so, add the ingredients, secure the lid, then using your lower legs as a base (lying on your back with your shins parallel to the ground), you can "rock" back and forth to mix your soap with no airborne particles at all. I also recommended a five gallon paint bucket, since it will have a handle that you can tether down as you rock away...works great!

Rachel Miller 4 months ago

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