After researching the internet and You Tube, we decided to make our own laundry detergent. I ordered some of the soap supplies online and we also went to thrift stores.
For approximately $5 in soap ingredients, we made a year's worth of laundry detergent. And, it is great for sensitive skin. Plus, it smells great.
OUR LAUNDRY DETERGENT/SOAP RECIPE
1-bar of ZOTE (14 oz) or, for heavy duty cleaning, use 1 bar of NELS-ZAPTHA (7-oz) [i use ZOTE and keep NELS around for stains]
1/2 cup Borax (20 Mule Team Borax)
1/2 cup Washing Soda (Arm & Hammer Washing Soda - NOT baking soda)
1/2 cup Oxiclean (optional)
5-galons of water (filtered is best - or you can use distilled or tap - if your water is hard, it might not be as gentle)
you will also need:
1 grater (to grate the soap)
1 5-gal bucket with lid (got mine at ACE, you can get one at LOWES or HOME DEPOT)
1 gal container with lid to use for soap once it's done - or use a recycled laundry detergent jug with lid
1 wooden stick or long spoon/spatula to stir with - i use a large wooden stick
1 large stainless steel pot to melt soap in
1 measuring cup
1 large bowl to grate the cheese in
1 funnel (unless you are good at pouring without spilling)
DIRECTIONS:
--first, grate the soap bar
--boil 1 galon of water into large pot - then add grated soap
--stir constantly with spatula or wooden spoon till completely melted
--remove from heat
--put 3 galons of hot tap or filtered water into 5-gal bucket
--add melted soap
--stir well
--add 1/2 cup of Borax, Washing Soda and Oxiclean
--stir will with long wooden stick or spoon
--add last gal of water
--stir will
--put lid on bucket
--put bucket in garage or laundry room or like i did, my sunroom
--leave for minimum of 24 hours
--remove lid - should be gel-like - stir well with wooden stick or spoon
*now it's ready to pour into laundry detergent jug--use funnel to fill your jug half-way with the soap
--fill rest of way with water
--put lid on jug and shake till mixed well
READY TO USE - 1/2 cup or if you are using a recycled laundry detergent jug, 1/2 lid
if you find you need stronger cleaning - use 1-cup or 1 full lid
I found the ZOTE on ebay - got 4 bars for cheap - found the other items on www.drugstore.com
I spent a total of $25 on supplies which I used only maybe 1/10th of the supplies - estimating could make over 50 galons of laundry detergent - you can also use the leftover supplies for making your own all-purpose cleaners and things like that - so it goes a long long way - total cost for a 5-gal bucket is LESS than $5
IMPORTANT - I found my large pot, spatula/spoon, etc. at a thrift store - if you have an extra pot and equipment you can dedicate just for soap making, then you won't need to buy anything.
1-bar of ZOTE (14 oz) or, for heavy duty cleaning, use 1 bar of NELS-ZAPTHA (7-oz) [i use ZOTE and keep NELS around for stains]
1/2 cup Borax (20 Mule Team Borax)
1/2 cup Washing Soda (Arm & Hammer Washing Soda - NOT baking soda)
1/2 cup Oxiclean (optional)
5-galons of water (filtered is best - or you can use distilled or tap - if your water is hard, it might not be as gentle)
you will also need:
1 grater (to grate the soap)
1 5-gal bucket with lid (got mine at ACE, you can get one at LOWES or HOME DEPOT)
1 gal container with lid to use for soap once it's done - or use a recycled laundry detergent jug with lid
1 wooden stick or long spoon/spatula to stir with - i use a large wooden stick
1 large stainless steel pot to melt soap in
1 measuring cup
1 large bowl to grate the cheese in
1 funnel (unless you are good at pouring without spilling)
DIRECTIONS:
--first, grate the soap bar
--boil 1 galon of water into large pot - then add grated soap
--stir constantly with spatula or wooden spoon till completely melted
--remove from heat
--put 3 galons of hot tap or filtered water into 5-gal bucket
--add melted soap
--stir well
--add 1/2 cup of Borax, Washing Soda and Oxiclean
--stir will with long wooden stick or spoon
--add last gal of water
--stir will
--put lid on bucket
--put bucket in garage or laundry room or like i did, my sunroom
--leave for minimum of 24 hours
--remove lid - should be gel-like - stir well with wooden stick or spoon
*now it's ready to pour into laundry detergent jug--use funnel to fill your jug half-way with the soap
--fill rest of way with water
--put lid on jug and shake till mixed well
READY TO USE - 1/2 cup or if you are using a recycled laundry detergent jug, 1/2 lid
if you find you need stronger cleaning - use 1-cup or 1 full lid
I found the ZOTE on ebay - got 4 bars for cheap - found the other items on www.drugstore.com
I spent a total of $25 on supplies which I used only maybe 1/10th of the supplies - estimating could make over 50 galons of laundry detergent - you can also use the leftover supplies for making your own all-purpose cleaners and things like that - so it goes a long long way - total cost for a 5-gal bucket is LESS than $5
IMPORTANT - I found my large pot, spatula/spoon, etc. at a thrift store - if you have an extra pot and equipment you can dedicate just for soap making, then you won't need to buy anything.
DO NOT use the same equipment for food that you use for soap making - can be toxic - so, if you don't have extra, go to thrift stores and get something you can set outside in your garage or in a separate room that you know will never be used for cooking with. I set mine outside on my sunroom. ALSO - all the videos I watched said to stay away from aluminum because soaps can eat away at it - so use a stainless steel pot only.
PS - I watched several tutorials on how to do the laundry detergent - one called for ZELS-NAPTHA, which is heavy duty and for 1 full cup of Borax - I felt this might be too strong - you may try it that way if you wish - I also watched one that only used ZOTE and 1 cup of Borax only, which would also work if my recipe turns out to be too strong for my sensitive skin - I decided to make my own recipe and go inbetween the two methods and see how it works.
PS - I watched several tutorials on how to do the laundry detergent - one called for ZELS-NAPTHA, which is heavy duty and for 1 full cup of Borax - I felt this might be too strong - you may try it that way if you wish - I also watched one that only used ZOTE and 1 cup of Borax only, which would also work if my recipe turns out to be too strong for my sensitive skin - I decided to make my own recipe and go inbetween the two methods and see how it works.
NOTE - we have been using this for a couple of months now - and this stuff works GREAT and smells GREAT - let me know if you try it and how it works for you
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