Not Your Typical Recipe

Grated Soap

     I'm looking to cut costs any way I can, AND cut out unnecessary ingredients in ANYTHING. Lately, I got interested in making my own laundry detergent. So I got online and found a page FULL of different recipes. For my first try, I did the one below. This is a LIQUID/GEL version. You can also do a dry powder version or try any of the ten recipes found here: http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/

1 quart Water (boiling)
2 cups Bar soap (grated) - I used ZOTE. Fels Naptha and Ivory are good ones, too.
2 cups Borax (also known as Boric Acid - Yes, the stuff you use to get rid of roaches! I know, it's weird, but boric acid is also a well-known detergent ingredient.)
2 cups Washing Soda (This may be a little harder to find. I found some on Amazon.com and at Walmart in a yellow box by Arm and Hammer.)

• Add finely grated bar soap to the boiling water and stir until soap is melted. You can keep on low heat until soap is melted. It is important that you BOIL the water. Just hot water alone will not melt the soap.
• Pour the soap water into a large, clean pail and add the Borax and Washing Soda. Stir well until all is dissolved. (while the soap was boiling in the pan, I went ahead and put the other ingredients in the bucket along with the 2 gallons of water... no harm done.)
• Add 2 gallons of water, stir until well mixed.
• Cover pail and use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry. Stir the soap each time you use it (will gel). I use a paint stirrer.

NOTE: You can make one gallon at a time if you like. I keep mine in a gallon jug. Boil about 3 cups water and add about 1/2-1 cup grated soap. Dissolve. Add your borax and washing soda and stir until dissolved.

Another tip: A load of laundry washed with this soap will sour more quickly. Be sure to switch clothes to the dryer within a couple hours of washing.

Melting the Soap

Finished product.