Recipes

Lately I have been having some fun making things to use around the house. 


Like home made laundry detergent : 

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4  Cups - hot tap water
1  Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online  (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!  This recipe is from the duggar family site.

I used Kirks castile soap available at most grocery stores, reason I used this was we have hard water and read for hard water this would work better, and I will say it grates much easier than the Fels Naptha.  Next time I make it I will probably use Dr. Bonners castile soap and the orange scent.  I will also make it 1 cup of the borax.  I really really like the way it works, and it's so cheap to make and I'm thinking probably better for the environment. If you don't like this recipe just google  "homemade laundry detergent" you will be amazed at how much there is out there. 

I will post a few other recipes later, one for homemade laundry softener and home made doggie treats!