Laundry Detergent Recipes

[Guest guest]

Most of the ingredients for these recipes can be purchased at your

local grocery in the laundry section. Borax and Washing Soda are

usually together on the shelf, powders in a box. Fels Naptha Laundry

Bar is sold as one large, wrapped soap type bar in the same area as the

Borax but you may have to ask to find it.

It's best to wear a good dust mask or scarf over your nose and mouth

when making the powdered detergent. Sift ingredients if lumpy.

 

 

Laundry Gel

 

3 pints water

1/3 bar Fels Naptha Soap OR old fashioned handmade lye soap- grated to

measure 1 cup

1/2 cup Washing Soda

1/2 cup Borax

 

Mix grated soap in a sauce pan with 3 pints of water. Heat on low

until dissolved. Stir in Washing Soda and Borax. Stir until thickened

and remove from heat.

In a 2 gallon bucket or container add 2 quarts HOT water. Add soap

mixture and mix well. Set aside until cool stirring every so often.

Optional: scent soap mixture with 2 teaspoons of essential oils-

orange, lemon, etc.

Use 1/4 to 1/2 cup of mixture per load. Add to machine first, then

water and clothes.

 

 

 

Powdered Detergent

 

4 cups finely grated, dried soap

1 1/2 cup Borax

1 1/2 Washing Soda

1 1/2 Baking Soda

1 1/2 Tablespoon Orange Essential Oil (optional)

 

Mix the powders together. Add grated soap threads and stir well.

 

I use a food processor to blend this really well. The powders will

cling to the soap and make tiny pellets if you run it thru a food

processor.

 

The orange oil leaves a fresh scent and is a natural degreaser.

 

Add a splash of white vinegar to the rinse cycle to remove the soap

residue and soften the fabric.

 

 

This is Sandy Maine's soap recipe. It makes a lot and cleans very well.

Of course, this can be cut down.

 

1/4 cup clay powder

13 cups borax

12 cups baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)

4 cups sodium lauryl sulfate (available on line)

 

Scent: 2-3 tablespoons essential oil of your choice

 

Using a small whisk or fork, mix the essential oils with the clay

powder. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well in a 2-3 gallon

pail. Store in a covered container. Use about 1/8 to 1/4 cup per load.

 

Cindy