Liquid Laundry Soap--My Own Brand

After making and using my own DRY laundry soap for about 6 months, it was finally time to try the LIQUID.   So about a week ago, after gathering a 5 gallon bucket and an empty liquid laundry soap container, I did it.

I actually thought that it would take a long time to melt the Fels-Naptha in water, but it went surprisingly fast. I had some kitchen jobs lined up to do while I stirred and melted the soap, but only got a couple of them done. My one mistake came when I didn’t plan how to get the 5 gallon bucket full of hot water. I filled it part way in the kitchen but not all the way—I wanted to be able to carry it outside to the laundry room. Then I used the backyard hose to finish filling the bucket. During an Arizona summer, this would probably be fine, but not in a nice cool April. Next time I’ll know to just carry a pot of boiling water out to the bucket.

This liquid has been wonderful as a spot remover as things are checked before washing and so far! It doesn’t leave any soap marks or residue on the clothes, which I got with the dry soap if I didn’t dissolve it completely before adding the clothes.

I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised that it turned out white. Nothing that went into it had any color.

I also added a few drops of Lavender Oil. Next time, I’ll add a lot more! I didn’t take into account that the 5 gallons would actually make 10 gallons! So the lavender smell is all but gone for this batch, but I still know it’s there somewhere.

The cost for this was so minimal, that it is really easy to share with neighbors when they run out!

This is the recipe I used and it can be found at http://www.duggarfamily.com/recipes.html



Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4 Cups - hot tap water

1 Fels-Naptha soap 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 laundry section. Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!