I altered the recipe to my liking and have used it for the last couple years. Obviously I like it or I wouldn't go to the trouble of grinding, melting, mixing, and hauling the five-gallon buckets. The quality of the detergent is good, and it saves a little money. I rarely bought Tide, but if one compares the homemade to the price of Tide, then it is 3/4 less! But I love suds, so I buy whatever cheapie detergent is offered (usually I stock-up when they are $2 or so) and add a little to get more suds; plus the fragrance is a nice addition. I also add Tea Tree Oil and Lavender Oil to the detergent that I make - the first for more cleaning, the second for the smell!
This is the recipe from the Duggar's website: my additions are in Blue
4 Cups - hot tap water ( 1/2 full pasta pot)
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar ( I use 2 bars of Fels-Naptha and 2 Bars of Ivory; just better and still inexpensive)
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda* ( I use 2/3 c. washing soda)
½ Cup Borax ( I use 2/3 c. 20 Mule Team)
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar ( I use 2 bars of Fels-Naptha and 2 Bars of Ivory; just better and still inexpensive)
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda* ( I use 2/3 c. washing soda)
½ Cup Borax ( I use 2/3 c. 20 Mule Team)
- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted. ( I bought an old, small food processor at a resale for $3. I recommend doing this since it gets so caked with soap - smelly soap. I also don't stir continuously - I turn it to low and check it every few minutes so I can get more things done!)
-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap (doing it my way, add 1/2 the melted soap, saving the 2nd 1/2 for the 2nd pail), washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. ( Then I do this again with the second 5 gallon pail) Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken. ( After it's cool, add the Tree Tee Oil and Lavender Oil, 15 drops or so each, stir again, then let sit overnight, covered.)
-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) ( I don't do this - I leave it in the 2 five-gallon pails with lids and scoop directly from those.)
-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.
-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.
-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads) (This is my machine, but I put in 2 cups! + the 1/2 capful of the store bought stuff; like I said, I like suds and super clean clothes.)
-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)
*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!
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| The tiny grinder, FelsNaptha and Ivory soaps. |
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| Since our laundry room is pretty secluded, I don't mind using these pails. Stacked, they are easy to dip into. |
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| Two bars of each, ground/shredded and in the pot with 1/2 fill of water. |
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| 1/2 of the sauce pan of soap poured into the pail, water added to the top, plus the Borax and Washing Soda. Stir well. |
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| On low, stir every once in the while until soap is dissolved. |
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| Cooling, waiting for the drops of oil, then they'll be lidded and carried down to the laundry room; ready for use tomorrow. |
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| This is the good stuff to add to the pail of water and soap, stirring to dissolve. |
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| It helps to have Sir Buffness to muscle the pail from sink to floor. |
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| The oils - added after it cools, but before it sets overnight. |
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