This cost saving formula for laundy soap makes 2 gallons for about $.77. Takes less than 1/2 hour to make and uses only 3 ingredients that you can find in the laundry section at the store.

Ingredients:
One bar FelsNaptha Soap (Cut into thirds)
1/2 cup Arm and Hammer Washing soda
1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax

Step 1:
Grate 1/3 bar of Soap into a sauce pan. Add 6 cups of water, heat and stir until soap is all melted. Remove from heat and pour 4 cups hot tap water into the pan. Stir.

Step 2:
Add 1/2 cup of washing soda and 1/2 cup Borax to the pan and mix well.

Step 3:
Pour mixture into pail fo some sort and add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of tap water. Let stand 24 hours in pail, stirring a couple of times during that period.

Soap will be the consistency of an "egg noodle soup" Pour into containers to store. I use a funnel to get it into my containers. Use 1/2 cup per load. You can add a little bleach to your whites in addition to this. This will not make suds in the machine so don't think you need to add more. I have been doing this about one year now and still have Borax and Wash Soda. I've had to buy the FelsNaptha.

Thank you for sharing this with us :D:D:D

That sounds great. Is it fragrance free. My DD can not have any fragrance in her soaps.

It is just the natural smell of the ingredients used. Not much a smell. The box of Borax and Wash soda say all natural. (Don't they mine the Borax out of the ground??) I don't have the wrapper off the FelsNaptha but I think it is all natural. I know these product have been around since I was little girl, and that is a long time ago.

Thanks for sharing. I'll have to try this, it sounds very cost savings. :thumbup:

wow, making our own laundry soap and using treadle sewing machines -- our grandmothers would be proud!!

I save old hand soap scraps, add to water (on top of wood stove) add to wash--smells great

I'm going to try this recipe. I like natural products, and this sounds like it will fit the bill. Thanks for sharing your recipe with us.

wow. 77 cents...I need to try this

I have also been doing this for quite awhile now -- LOVE the savings! And it really does clean. My recipe called for only 1/4 cup & that amount works fine. I've also used just the slivers of leftover bar soap instead of the Fels & it works just fine. Only problem is slivers are hard to ome by as only DH uses bar soap - all others use body wash:)
Beside the savings, there's something special about the feeling you get using something you've made (even simple laundry detergent). Yes, our grandmothers would be proud!:)

I checked the bar of Fels-Naptha I have on hand and it says it has perfume as an ingredient. (FYI)

I to have been using this and its great...there is a girl who makes this and sells it to the Health food store for $20 for a 5 gallon pail..she is really making some money...lol

What a great idea, must try it. thank you.

I make this using Ivory, so littlehud, you could find a fragrance free soap to use.

I, too, have been using this recipe, using water to make 2 gallons at a time. I am impressed with the results and that it only costs about 1-2 cents per load. I found that the more finely you grate the Fels Naphtha, the smoother the finished soap solution. I dedicate an old pot to use just for soap-making, so my soup doesn't taste like soap!

Thanks for this recipe. I'm going to try it. I've made lye soap before and really love it, but it's sort of hard to make, and sort of dangerous, if you spill or splash any of the lye on you. This sounds great, though.

I've done this also. I might add that I had to go to our local recycle facility and recycled some extra empty plastic laundry bottles as this makes ALOT!!!!!
If you want scent, you can add a small bottle of the scents (by the candles at Wal-Mart) as you are doing the final stir.
Melinda

I've been using this recipe too, and it does work great. So nice not to lug heavy soap containers home from the store. I just save my empty milk jugs.

So, are you all saying that any bar of soap will do if I can't find the fels naptha (spelling) ????????????????? I don't think I've ever heard of that brand before. Please let me know, I'm giving this a try. I have said for years that all we are washing out of the clothes now days is the odors or smells.

I think the Fels Naphtha soap is, by itself, meant to be a laundry soap. It's been around forever. It's been used for years for laundry and even to help prevent poison oak outbreaks. I think you may use any bar soap, but Ivory is the brand I've seen most used. I've also heard Zote as another popular choice, but have never found it locally. I know one can buy in online.

You can ususally find the Fels Naptha in the laundry section. If you can't find that my recipe says you can use Dove, but use the whole bar instead of 1/3 of it. As someone else suggested you could use a bar of Ivory.

Is washing soda the same as baking soda? If not where can you find it?

No it is not the same. Washing soda is a detergent booster laundry cleaner. Mine is made by Arm and Hammer and I found it in the laundry section at the grocery store. I found all the ingredients in the laundry section.

Borax is mined near Death Valley National Park. It is very alkaline. It is a very effective deodorizer and cleaning agent.

Fels Naptha has been around for a very long time! Just try a different store if you don't find it in one. Grocery stores or variety/drug stores may have it.

very interesting, I am gonna try this. :)

I came up with a dry version of this soap about a year ago. It works very well. :)

I use:

1 - Bar of VERY FINELY grated Fels Naptha Soap
2 - Cups Borax
2 - Cups Washing Soda

Mix together. Use 1 tablespoon for regular loads, or 2 tablespoons for heavily soiled loads.

I have to order the washing soda and Fels Naptha soap online, but even with shipping, it's still cheaper than buying ready-made soap at the store. And sometimes it's possible to get free shipping if you check around.

Also, I've substituted Octagon soap or Ivory soap instead of the Fels Naptha, and they worked just fine.

I also have a method for stretching my liquid fabric softener. A bottle lasts at least a year. I get an empty spray bottle, and put 2 parts of hot water and 1 part of fabric softener. Shake well. When I'm ready to dry a load of clothes, I just spray 10-12 sprays into the dryer, and dry the clothes as normal. Works just fine! :)

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I used to make my own soap also because of fragrance allergies that my grand daughter had. My son casually commented that I could be raided for having all the ingredients for a meth lab. I told him that didn't bother me nearly as much as that he knew what the ingredients for meth were! I think I will try this one. Saves all the caustic ingredients.

I've had problems finding washing soda, but recently found it on the top shelf of a Kroger grocery store. It is in a yellow & white Arm & Hammer box, but is shaped more like a Cascade box than a laundry detergent box.

Where can you buy Fels Naptha soap???? I have not seen it in years. CT newbie

thank you for sharing this!

I also found the Fels soap at Kroger, but I usually can't find it either. I stock up when it's available.

I actually can find it at this hardware store that I go to. They carry it at Meijer, Walmart and my local grocery store etc. in the laundry section.

Thank you to all for the wonderful tips. I will do this. ct newbie

I make my own detergent using Ivory soap. Also, I do not add the water and use it in a powder form. Love it!!!!
Jo Ann

Thank you to all for the tips on making this inexpensive laundry soap. I found Fels-Naptha soap on line. I bought a large quantity and will split it with my daughter. I expect the grandchildren will want it also. The other ingredients are easily available.

I have been using this recipe for nearly two years. I works very well and is very inexpensive.

What is washing Soda? I want to try this. Thank you

Its made by Arm and Hammer, but instead of being baking soda.........its washing soda. Should be with other detergent products. Small grocery stores might not have this, but Walmart does.
Good Luck,
Jo Ann

Actually, my local Walmart didn't have washing soda but had the extra large box of baking soda sitting next to the 20 Mule Team Borax. I found the washing soda at my local Ace Hardware. Ann in TN