I’m using the ingredients (above) + water to make “homemade” laundry soap – and after several months of doing so, I’m still pretty satisfied with the results. I’d still use Tide if it showed up on my doorstep and I’d still use Downey if someone forced me to. ~wink~ But for the first time in my marriage, I’m more concerned with saving money than I am with the most *perfect* looking clothes. Our clothes are clean enough for me… and I’m sort of choosey.
So… for the soap, one more time:
I grate the Dr. Bronner’s Lavender pure castile soap and warm it up in a small pot of water on the stove. Then I put 2 cups of Borax and 2 Cups of Washing Soda in the 5-gallon pail (I use this pail bcz it has a sturdy handle and a gamma seal lid that’s *easy* for me to spin off). I fill the pail with hot water (about half way) and whisk like crazy until the Borax and Soda granules are all completely dissolved. Then I stir in the liquefied lavender soap. And I blend this for several minutes more. Then I add more hot water – nearly to the top of the bucket.
After I blend thoroughly again, I let this set for a day or so. Then I transfer the thick laundry soap to a gallon pail that I keep in the cabinet above my washing machine. It’s really easy and really inexpensive.
I use the gamma seal lid on all our pails… a bought a few a month for a year and have those spin-on / spin-off lids for all our pails. Everything stays fresh and tight this way!
