Save Money on Laundry

So Ive decided to try to save money in other ways besides groceries. Today I made my first batch of laundry soap. It is sitting gelling up right now and tomorrow I will bottle it up. The batch only cost me about $2.00 to make. Everyone I have talked to says the same thing, this is the greatest stuff. It really cleans and you can make it any fragrance you want just by adding essential oils! The recipes I use for the laundry soap and the fabric softener come from the Duggars of 19 Kids and Counting Fame. With 19 children you know they are doing everything they can to save money!


Here is the recipe for the laundry soap:

4  Cups - hot tap water
1  Fels-Naptha soap bar (or Ivory Snow Bar)
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

I was pleasantly surprised that I found the Arm n Hammer at my local Meijer store for $2.99 and the Borax for $3.99. The Ivory Snow was $1.57 at Walmart for 4 -4.5 oz bars. I also did purchase a new/clean bucket from Lowes and a small grater.

So all in all I have about $10 to begin with. As you will be making this in 5 gallon batches (produces 10 gallons) the initial supplies will last quite a while! So maybe not even $2.00 a batch to make and I'm not sure how much you actually use, but this will last me several months saving me tons on my budget!

Now for the fabric softener:

1  Container of Name Brand Fabric Softener
4  Inexpensive sponges, cut in half

Pour entire container of softener into a 5 gallon bucket. Fill empty softener container with water twice. (2 parts water to 1 part softener) Add sponges to softener/water mixture. When ready to use wring out extra mixture from one sponge and add to the dryer as you would a dryer sheet. 

I plan on trying this out as soon as my dryer bar is gone. I know I will see a difference in my budget thanks to these recipes. 

I'm going to start using my savings for a trip to Disney World for my husband and I as a graduation present for myself :)

We'll see where I get in about a year!

Have fun with these and let me know if you try them or find others that you like as well!

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