You know you are a Grocery Geek when....
You sit up late at night making laundry detergent because you are way too excited about how cheap it is!
At one of my classes a few weeks ago, my friend Shannon gave me a recipe for laundry detergent that she swears by and is super cheap and easy to make. Honestly, my first thought was - sounds good, but will I ever really do it?! However, seeing as how laundry for a family of 7 has begun to rule my life, and laundry detergent isn't cheap (even with coupons and sales), I figured I would give it a whirl. So, I went to Glaziers to pick up the key ingredients - then I saw them at a Smiths by my house too if you don't want to drive that far, and there they sat for like 4 days. All the while, every load of laundry I was doing I was thinking in the back of my mind how much cheaper it will be once I just MAKE the dang stuff! So I did. I made 2 batches. I used it. I love it! And then I sat up very late one night calculating how many loads I was gonna get out of those 2 batches (I told you I'm a geek - I do math while laying in bed...lame). So, here ya go...
Most Excellent Laundry Detergent
1 Cup Washing Soda
1 Cup Borax
2 Cups Fels-Naptha Soap
Directions: Cut up the Fels-Naptha and put in your food processor (about 1 1/2 bars will be your 2 cups). Blend it until the soap forms tiny little balls. Then add 1 cup of Borax and 1 cup of Washing soda to the food processor. (Tip: Use a damp hand towel and wrap it around the food processor so you don't get any "dust" floating around the kitchen). Blend it for about a minute and you will have a nice light yellow fine powder. Store it in an airtight container.
Guess what?! You will only use 2 TBSP per LOAD of laundry!!
Now, the whole box of Washing Soda, Borax, and 4 bars of soap cost me about $12 and with using only 2 Tbsp of powder per load, I am looking at 128 loads of laundry!! Then when I run out - I'm gonna keep track - I will only have to spend about $3 for a few bars of Fels-Naptha and BAM another 128 loads! You can't beat that deal anywhere!!
Don't have a food processor to make this soap? Don't worry... check back VERY soon for our first GIVEAWAY and you could WIN ONE!!!
(I feel like we have finally "made it" in the blogging world now that we are doing a giveaway - stay tuned)
Does this work in HE machines as well?
ReplyDeleteOkay, we need you to keep us posted on this. I've heard that it is very harsh on clothes . . . do you have a water softener? Do you still use dryer sheets/liquid fabric conditioner? Just curious. I have a water softener and so I just use 1/2 detergent. I get 53 loads out of the ALL free/clear I got at smith's on sale for $1.75. Sorry for all the questions . . . but if there is a cheaper way you know that I'm a GG too and want to get on the bandwagon!! Can't wait for more info on the giveaway!!!!
ReplyDeleteYES!! The gal I got the recipe from uses it in her HE machine and loves it!
ReplyDeleteMokeymamma - I will keep you posted. So far, I haven't seen a difference at all from the Tide I was using. I use vinegar as my fabric softener anyway (especially in the summer) and I am still using fabric sheets in the dryer. We do not have soft water so time will tell I guess with the "harshness"
ReplyDeleteI've been making my own for a year now...although my recipe is for liquid detergent...which works well in my HE machine. I LOVE IT!! My clothes look so much cleaner, and feel so much better. Not sure why that is. I still use a dryer sheet, but that's all for fabric softener. Best part about it is I think it averages out to about $.02 per load of wash!!
ReplyDeleteCould us HE machine users have your recipe for liquid soap? I would love to try it!
ReplyDelete