If you're like me, you're a working student with a lot on your plate, but probably not a lot of money to spend. Over the last couple of years I've been trying out some homemade household cleaners and laundry detergents as a way to save money & stretch my products out over a longer period of time. This is the second time I've made a batch of this detergent, and I think it's amazing. A lot of my friends have asked for the "recipe," & have begun making it for themselves & their families also. Depending on the frequency and amount of your clothes-washing, in my own experience, one batch of this can last you anywhere from 9 months to a year.
1 (4lb. 12 oz.) Box of Borax
1 (3lb.7 oz.) Box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (found in the laundry aisle)
1 (3lb) Container of Oxi Clean (or comparable oxi stain fighter)
2 (14.1 oz.) Bars of Zote Soap (I found this in the laundry aisle at Walmart. You can also use a soap called Fels Naptha)
1 (4lb.) Box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
1-2 (55 oz.) Purex Crystals (or Downy Unstoppables)
*I mix everything in a big bucket I got from Lowe's.
It's easiest to grate the Zote Soap with a cheese grater. I bought one especially for this so I don't have to worry about having soapy cheese in the future. Other than that, all you really have to do is dump everything in the bucket & mix it. I mixed mine with my hands, and just kept folding it over until everything felt pretty well distributed. Due to the super concentration of the ingredients, you really only need a few tablespoons per load, not nearly as much as you would normally use with a powder detergent laundry scoop. My supplies usually cost me about $30, but considering that one batch will last you nearly a year, it roughly breaks down to about $2.50 per month.
1 (3lb.7 oz.) Box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (found in the laundry aisle)
1 (3lb) Container of Oxi Clean (or comparable oxi stain fighter)
2 (14.1 oz.) Bars of Zote Soap (I found this in the laundry aisle at Walmart. You can also use a soap called Fels Naptha)
1 (4lb.) Box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
1-2 (55 oz.) Purex Crystals (or Downy Unstoppables)
*I mix everything in a big bucket I got from Lowe's.
It's easiest to grate the Zote Soap with a cheese grater. I bought one especially for this so I don't have to worry about having soapy cheese in the future. Other than that, all you really have to do is dump everything in the bucket & mix it. I mixed mine with my hands, and just kept folding it over until everything felt pretty well distributed. Due to the super concentration of the ingredients, you really only need a few tablespoons per load, not nearly as much as you would normally use with a powder detergent laundry scoop. My supplies usually cost me about $30, but considering that one batch will last you nearly a year, it roughly breaks down to about $2.50 per month.
