Homemade Laundry Soap

Reader Question: How did you choose the soap you grated for your homemade laundry soap?


In short, a lot of research and advice from others. It was important to me that the soap I chose to use wouldn't leave a residue. From my experience thus far, the Dr. Bronners and Fels Naptha work great. I've also heard Ivory and Zote work well too. Some people prefer their clothes to have a fragrance from their soap, so my best advice is to experiment and over time you will find what you like best. You can also experiment adding in a few drops of essential oils to the mix.   

My recipe:

3 Gallons Water

1 Cup Borax (5 oz dry weight)

1 Cup Super Washing Soda (10 oz dry weight)

1 Bar Fels Naptha Soap (5 1/2 oz dry weight) 

This batch will last us at least 6 months & only cost me $1.22 to make! I use about 1/3 cup each load. Ingredients were purchased at Walmart.

Walmart Prices on Ingredients:
Fels Naptha Soap- $0.97 
Box of Borax- $2.98
Box of Washing Soda- $2.68

Coupons I used: 
$1.00 off any 2 Arm & Hammer Laundry Items from 4/10/11 Smart Source Newspaper Insert.
$0.35 off any Fels Naptha Bar Soaps (Got this one by emailing the company for current coupons)

To make a long story short, here is my cost breakdown for each batch:
Fels Naptha Soap- $0.62

Box of Borax- $0.20
Box of Washing Soda- $0.40
----------------------------------
That's a total of only $1.22!