Domestic Diva: Takes on the Laundry

 

I was elated to find out that Martha Stewart was a fraud. I mean she isn’t perfect. I am far from perfection but I always pictured her having the right everything for every occasion. I have my moments of greatness and several that are pitiful. I did however decide once a week I will cook a different meal  which appears in my Wednesday column and I am now adding Domestic chores to my list of talents. This week I will attempt to tackle the laundry. The laundry pile is larger than my son standing up. This is caused by the messiest children ever. I am also Madame Deals so tackling the laundry means doing so “with in” the budget. I can buy laundry detergent using coupons for a lot less than most. The problem is my youngest has an adverse reaction to laundry soap. I decided this week I was going to make my own. I went to Walmart and was able to buy all the ingredients. I then ran into Lowes and bought a 5 gallon bucket and top.

Dial Corp. 04303 Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar Soap

Church & Dwight Co 03020 Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda

Dial Corporation 76Oz 20 Mule Team Borax Laundry Pretreater

The total price is $20.14. I would buy several Fel Naptha Laundry Bar soaps at $1.42.  That will bring your total up to $25. I believe if you buy 5 bars total that you will have enough ingredients to make your laundry soap for an entire year. That breaks down to $2.00 a month. You could also split the cost between 3 or 4 friends.  This would honestly make a great gift to someone who who is trying to make ends meet or to someone who just had a baby or someone who is using expensive laundry soap because they have allergies.

Here is the recipe:

I used The Duggar Recipe for my first try.

• 4  Cups – hot tap water
• 1  Fels-Naptha soap bar
• 1 Cup – Arm &Hamme Super Washing Machine Soda
• ½ Cup Borax

 

I decided to make the yield of 10 gallons into two different 5 gallon buckets so I didn’t have to worry about watering it down later. I was also attempting to make my friend a bucket at the same time. If you only want to make a 5 gallon option and then water it down prior to use then do not do what I am doing.

 

Grate one bar of the Fel Naphta soap into a sauce pan of water.  You will need to set the temperature at medium heat. You can also use your food processor to grate the soap. You will do so until the soap dissolves.

I filled the bucket with the 2 cups of hot tap water. (Do 4 in one bucket if you are going to transfer your mixture to a laundry bottle and add water)

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add 1/2 of the melted soap in each bucket,  with 1/2 cup of the washing soda in each bucket and 1/4 cup of the Borax.

Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

If you did not make two 5 gallon buckets then: