Homemade Laundry Soap

So, here is the laundry soap I mention in my opening. Since that was what I talked about first I figured I would give this one to you first. It is pretty easy to make and it fairly cheap. 

Ingredients:
4 Cups of Hot water
1 Bar of Fels Naptha Soap
1 Cup Washing Soda (Arm & Hammer, not baking soda)
1/2 Cup of Borax
Essential Oil or Fabric Softener (which is what I prefer)

Finished product

Directions:

• Grate the Fels Naptha bar soap and add to saucepan with the 4 cups of water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves.
• Remove from heat and add the washing soda and borax. Mix well. 
• Pour the soaps into the 5 gallon bucket. Fill bucket to the top with tap water. Stir again until completely mixed.
• Cover the bucket with foil, plastic wrap or a lid.
• Place the laundry soap in a cool place over night until it becomes thick. Between 12-24 hours. It will look like gel. Don't panic, this is the way it is suppose to look. 

Your soap is now done. Recipes that I have read call for this soap to be divided into half. However, I do not have the room to store two 5 gallons. What I do is prepare only what  need at that time. 

Take a old milk gallon and fill it half way with the soap and the remaining with water. For the fragrance I use fabric softener. I add about a 1/4 cup to a gallon. A little less will work fine but I love the smell of Downy :) If you use essential oil, use about 10 drops of your favorite oil. You must shake the bottle each time you use it. However, I did learn a new trick. I blend my soap and water in the blender before I add it to the milk bottle. Then I add the scent. It tends to stay creamy that way and I do not need to shake it all the time. 

This recipe will make 10 gallons of liquid laundry soap.