Leader Of The Laundromat

(Hat Tip and "Vielen Dank" to Karyn "Shabang" Dudley for this recipe.)

(And more power to you if you know the source of the title. :-] )


Homemade Laundry Soap:
1/3 bar Fels Naptha Laundry Soap, grated
6 cups water
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup borax

Supplies/Equipment needed:
6-qt pan
stirring paddle
grater
½ cup plastic container

Heat 6 cups water and soap in a large pan until dissolved. Stir in Washing Soda and Borax. Mix and heat until dissolved. Boil 15 minutes. Remove from heat. (It will have the consistency of honey.*) In a 3- or 5-gallon bucket, add 1 quart of hot water, then add the soap mixture. Mix. Add enough cold water to make a 2-gallon mixture. Mix until well blended. Let sit 24 hours. The soap will gel*. Use 1/2 cup for each load.

Makes 2 gallons. (Approximately $ .40 per gallon)

*If the detergent doesn't gel or reach honey consistency, it will still work.

Notes:

Stir before each use, as this soap does separate. Detergent can be stored in a liquid detergent bottle. Just shake it up each time you use it.

This detergent will not suds up in the washer, but it is still getting your clothes clean.

If you have extra-hard water, the soap might not clean as well. Add 1/2 cup borax or washing soda to the load and that might help.