Here is a recipe for making your own laundry soap. Tried and true by a gal whose hubbie has been out of work off and on for the past 3 years. She is very frugal and a great advocate of homemade laundry detergent and extreme couponing (she even teaches classes on them in Londonderry NH
http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm
This recipe makes enough for 64 loads at a penny a load.