Homemade Laundry Soap

I have laundry on my brain since the breakdown and flooding today from my washing machine. Darn. I'm finally back in order and typing away to the humming of the fans in my hallway. One thing about using your own recipes is that you can be frugal and save a bit from the prepackaged and premade. The other side is that you know what you put in it. This goes the same for Laundry Soap. A couple of my children have some allergies to laundry soap. An allergy free soap is a bit spendy for me and my budget and is limited in the type you can buy. Out of necessity I started combing the internet. I finally decided I would try to make my own. I settled on this recipe from the Duggar Family, you know, the ones with 19 kids? If they have time to make it then so do I. I only have 4 you know... What do I have to lose? About $2.80 a batch that's what. Yeah, it is frugal. And really really easy to make. I like it better than the store bought and it is gentle on my clothes. It is low sud so it can be used in a High Efficiency machine. Now it may not be for everyone but for me it is just what I was looking for. By the way I don't dilute a second time, I just use it in concentrated form. Also, I have found that the Fels-Naptha bar soap is a really good stain stick. I just keep an extra bar around and rub it on when I can't use bleach. AND a last note.. I found that they carry all three ingredients at every associated food stores. Ok, on to the recipe...

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, peppermint.

-Yield: Makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load HE Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!