Laundry Detergent update

I used the following recipe:

Laundry Detergent Recipe
4 quarts water
3 gallons Hot water
1 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1 Soap bar
a 5 gallon bucket with lid

First you grate up a bar of soap. I used Kirk's Castile soap. I had planned to use Fels Naptha but the bar I have is currently being used as a pretreater for stains. It is approximately $1.50 maybe for a bar and so far it has been the best thing I have found to pre-treat stains. I used my kitchen stand up grater that I use to grate cheese.

Bring 4 quarts of water to boil and slowly add little handfuls of the grated soap into the water until it is all melted and mixed up.

Fill the 5 gallon bucket with 3 gallons of hot tap water. Add the melted soap, Washing Soda, and Borax into the bucket and stir until it is all dissolved.

Put the lid on and let it sit overnight. The next day stir it up and it is ready to use.

1 cup per load of laundry

It will look something like the picture above. I also found fresh linen essential oil to add before every load for a stronger scent. I liked it without the oil but I like a stronger fresh smell.

My first test was towels. I added the oil before adding the towels and then added my one cup. The towels came out clean, fluffy, and smell like fresh laundry.

My next test was clothes that had a few items with stains. All the clothes came out clean. :-)

I am sold on homemade laundry detergent. I think I might try the powered version next time.