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Homemade Powered Laundry Soap

Powdered Laundry Detergent - Top load machine

1   Fels-Naptha soap bar
1  Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½  Cup Borax

-Grate soap or break into pieces and process in a food processor until powdered. Mix all ingredients. For light load, use 1 Tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 Tablespoons. Yields: 3 Cups detergent. (Approx. 40 loads)

* This recipe also comes from the Duggars! 

Homemade baby wipes!!!
So I was searching the web for other cost saving measures. I came upon a recipe for homemade baby wipes. Now this won't necessarily save me money as I do not have baby's anymore, however, the savings for a new mom is going to be terrific! I think I am going to make some just to see how they turn out, I do have grandbabies, and a new one on the way so this could be something I can do for them to save their moms and dads money! Here is the recipe:

1/2 roll Bounty paper towels

1 1/2 cups warm water (2 cups if using wipe warmer)

2 tablespoons baby oil

2 tablespoons baby wash

Find a cylinder or similar Rubbermaid or Tupperware type container that will fit half a roll of paper towels.  The first step is to cut a roll of paper towels in half.  (Cut in the direction that will make it look like two toilet paper rolls.)  Place the cut half upright in the container.  Mix water, oil, and baby wash in a measuring cup and pour the mixture evenly over the paper towels.  Wait about 5 minutes for the towels to be saturated and then remove the brown paper towel cylinder from the center.  (It really does just pull right out if you wait long enough!)  When using, pull wipes from the center.  A friend's baby had sensitivities and she only used water, so you can leave out whatever you want to or modify the amounts as you prefer.

Or, another idea from an email I just received . . .   "I put mine in a plastic water pitcher with a lid and don't have to cut the roll at all."  Great idea!

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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!