D-I-Y Laundry Soap update!

Remember that Pin Busters post I did about making your own laundry soap? (You can see it here.) Well, we've been using that laundry soap since November.


WE LOVE IT!!!

It works really well, smells wonderful, and costs a lot less than pre-mixed! What's not to love?

We just made a second batch - and almost ruined it.

In the original batch, we used pink Zote soap. I had read that a lot of people use fels naptha instead - so since I could get that at my local store (and the Zote I have to order on amazon), I thought I would just get the fels naptha. (Update: I can now get Pink Zote bars at my local Walmart for 97 cents/bar!)

BIG MISTAKE!!!

Fels naptha smells like nasty chemicals. Pink Zote smells like fresh, clean laundry. Which would you rather use?


Since we had already mixed everything together, I decided that I would make a second batch, mix it with the first, and add enough pink Zote for two batches. I know that gives me a little "extra" soap because of the fels naptha, but since these soaps (fels naptha & Zote) don't produce bubbles/suds, I think it will be okay.

Luckily, it worked - and you can't smell the fels naptha at all now! Yay!!


I also have switched out the Oxi-Clean for my local store brand - it works just as well and costs half as much! So now my yearly cost for this soap is just $99!!

Here is the "recipe" we love:

1 (4 lb. 12 oz.) box of Borax - at my store it's on the bottom shelf, under the fabric softeners, instead of with the laundry soap; it's much cheaper at my local store than on Amazon.

1 (3 lb. 7 oz.) box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda - at my store, it's next to the Borax; again, much cheaper at my local store than on Amazon.

1 (3 lb.) container of OxiClean- also in the detergent aisle. Amazon's price is comparable. I've used my store brand, too, which seems to work just as well and is half the price.

2 (14.1 oz.) bars of Zote Soap- my local store didn't have this, so I purchase this on Amazon.(I can now get this at my local Walmart for 97 cents/bar.)

1 (4 lb.) box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda - this was in the baking aisle of my local store. They don't have 4 lb. boxes, so I buy two 2 lb. boxes. They're much cheaper locally than on Amazon. (the link is a 1 lb. box - almost $5 for a 1 lb. box? I paid a little over $2 each for my 2 lb. boxes!!) (My local Walmart now has 4 lb. boxes!)

2 (13.2 oz.) bottles Gain Fireworks "Sweet Sizzle" In-wash Scent Booster - found with the laundry soap & fabric softener in my local store. This was the most expensive ingredient, and is entirely optional. You could just use one bottle or none at all.
 
Mixing:
I use a large Rubbermaid container as my mixing container. Gus uses a kitchen hand grater to grate the two bars of Zote soap. I add half of everything and stir with a slotted spoon until evenly mixed. Then I add the rest and mix again. Super easy! Just don't stick your face too close while mixing, because there is a fine, powdery dust that gets kicked up.

How to use:
You only need to use 1-2 TBSP. per load of laundry. The #1 line on the OxiClean scoop is 1 TBSP., and the #2 line is 2 TBSP. Same with the Gain lid - first line, 1 TBSP., second line 2 TBSP. I use those containers to store some of the laundry soap for immediate use, and leave the rest of it in the large Rubbermaid container.

Seriously - you need to give this stuff a try!!