I have tried several different powdered and liquid laundry detergents, and the outcome has been okay until this recipe. I will never go back to conventional laundry detergent again. I took my smelliest kids’ laundry, and it came out smelling like…nothing! That’s right…no over-powering perfumes, not left-over residue of foul odor…just nothing.
Getting Started (Equipment):
- one 5-gallon bucket with lid (I used a plastic cat litter container…it’s like a 5-gallon bucket only it was free and recycled)
- cheese grater
- measuring cups
- large stainless cooking pot
- mixing utensils
Ingredients:
- 1 bar of soap (I use Kirk’s original Castile soap because it is inexpensive and a softer to shave down)
- 1 box of Super Washing Soda (you will find this in the laundry aisle)
- 4 cups Baking Soda
- 1 cup liquid soap (I use Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Castile)
- 3.5 gallons of water (plus 4 cups for melting the soap)
- 60 drops of Essential oil (I used Bergamot and Lemon)
First, put four cups of water into a pot and turn the heat on medium-high. You want to heat it up, but not boiling. While the water is heating up you can begin to grate the soap with your cheese grater. It will take a few minutes. I choose to use my manual cheese grater because the clean-up is much faster. Once the water starts to show a few bubbles, begin adding small handfuls of soap into the water. Stir the water while the soap dissolves. Then you will have soapy water.
Next, add three and a half gallons of warm tap water to your bucket, along with the soap/water mixture from the stove. I added the essential oils, 30 drops of Bergamot and 30 drops of Lemon. Then add 4 cups of Super Washing Soda, 4 cups of Baking Soda and 1 cup of liquid Castile Soap. I used a stainless-steel BBQ spatula to stir the mixture.
Let the mixture sit for at least 24 hours (covered). 36 hours is even better. The extra time will allow the Super Washing Soda to absorb the water and the next morning, white soap will raise to the top. Just give the mixture a good stir to incorporate the soap and water mixture. Also, I tried recycled detergent containers, but I did not like them as much as a regular plastic container with a measuring scoop.
I have a high efficiency washer; therefore, I use about 1/4 cup per load or 1/2 cup for really grungy laundry. It smells good, cleans your clothes and is economical. Enjoy!
