Homemade Laundry Soap

I have made this and used it. This is the recipe I used, although you can find other recipes online as well. This recipe is from Shiloah Baker:

5 gallon bucket
2 bars of Ivory soap, grated
1 gallon hot water
3/4 cup borax
1 cup washing soda (Arm and hammer)
2 gallons water
1 tsp. fragrance oil OR 15 drops of essential oil (I suggest Lemon or orange)

Mix 5 cups of water with grated ivory soap into a large pot and melt on medium high heat. Once melted, mix in last two soaps then the last of the water and fragrance. Makes a gel like solution. Use 1/2 cup per load. This cost me around $5 for 3 gallons of laundry soap compared to $9 for a small box of our favorite laundry detergent that will only last 2 weeks.

I have read other reports that say they have used it in HE machines and had no problem.

If you feel your clothes are dingy or not getting clean enough, I've read to use Oxyclean with it for an extra boost.

You can use 1 cup per load, instead of 1/2 cup to get the clothes cleaner, or double the amounts of borax and washing soda when you make a batch.

Other soap you can use is Zote or Fels Naptha.

Vinegar is a natural fabric softener and brightener.

Washing Soda is not baking soda. I have not been able to find it at Walmart, or any other stores here in Western Nebraska. You can order some from online, or get a good friend to bring you some when they come to visit.

If you don't want to give up your fabric softener sheets, you can recycle them easily. Save your sheets, place in a jar and add some liquid fabric softener to the jar. Pull a sheet out when you are ready for your next dryer load. Recycle them back into the jar when you are done.