Homemade Laundry Detergent

I recently had someone ask about a good recipe for homemade laundry detergent so here is what I use when I make it. 

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)

This is the basic recipe from the Duggar family website, however I usually use at least 1 1/2 bars of the Fels-Naptha soap (sometimes 2) and I also add more in my wash than they say. I usually use 1 cup per load but this is still a huge money saver! It costs around $2.00 per batch to make and it lasts my family of 4 around 1 month and we do ALOT of laundry. The other great thing about this recipe is that it is super easy and my kids help me make it.

I still buy gain detergent to keep on hand to use when needed and I still use either gain or downy fabric softener to make everything smell nice. 

UPDATE:  Click here to see what I use as a cheap fabric softener.