Laundry Detergent Recipe

I made a batch of laundry detergent in January and haven't had to make a new batch until today!

Here's what I do:

64 oz. box of baking soda
55 oz. box of washing soda
76 oz. box Borax
3 bars Kirk's Castille soap

I grate up my bars of soap in my Cuisinart then mix the baking soda and Borax together with it in a big bowl.  I then pour my detergent through my canning funnel on top of my old pickle jar.  I use about 1 T for each load, but if it's a light load (rarely happens around here!) then I'll use a bit less.  Sometimes I'll pour in a little extra Borax if it's a really dirty batch (like dirty, sweaty outdoor work clothes), but most of the time 1 T. will do it.

I use vinegar for my fabric softener.  Less than 1/4 cup will do just fine for a regular load.  The clothes don't smell like vinegar after they've been dried, either.

I use Kirk's Castille soap because it's a natural soap and great for the sensitive skin of a few of our children. 

Total cost: less than $10 for the bar soap, the baking soda, and the Borax.  That's less than $1.70 a month for our laundry detergent!  And figuring that we usually do about 12 loads a week that's about 3 cents per load!

*I edited this to add 1 55 oz. box of washing soda.  I found it got clothes cleaner and made the recipe go further.  Those bars of Castille soap are expensive!

Homemade All Purpose Spray

My mom is kind enough at this season in my life to clean the toilets and the sinks for me.  It's not in anyone's best interest for me to clean those right now, anyway.  I have an instant gag reflex just thinking about it!  I can handle the tub/shower, but that's about it...with a house full of kiddos the toilet can get pretty stinky.  I was training the oldest kiddos to clean them at one point but they all came down with a stomach virus so mom was convinced that it was from them cleaning the cammode so she decided they shouldn't do it.  *sigh*  They'll learn some day I suppose.  So...back to my story...since my mom comes from a generation of a chemical for all things and a pill for what ails you she's a hard one to switch over to natural products.  She's coming along, though.  She's used to my Homemade Laundry Soap (I use something like Amy's HERE) and my Homemade Dishwasher Soap.  She's even using baking soda and vinegar to clean the toilet bowl instead of the blue chemical that ends up who knows where.  Today will be the test.  This morning she asked if hubby could pick up some L*sol All Purpose cleaner spray on his way home.  I really don't like paying the price for a bottle full of chemicals I can't pronounce that (once again) end up who knows where.  I know I can get a pretty good deal with sales and coupons, but I don't think it's worth it.  I've found a few recipes and made my own concoction for an all purpose cleaner...a very inexpensive one. 

Homemade All Purpose Cleaner Spray
2 T. vinegar
1 tsp. borax
2 drops of dish soap
16 oz. very hot water


Using a funnel pour vinegar, borax, and hot water into a clean spray bottle.  Shake it up very well until the borax is dissolved.  (It will clog the sprayer nozzle if it's not.)  Add 2 drops of dish soap of choice and shake.  Use it to clean the sinks, the counters, the tub, the shower, the toilet seats, the floor, etc.
 

Let me know what you think!