Happy New Year and Laundry!

Happy 2012 everyone! I hope everyone is having a wonderful year so far. I know I am. I'm as busy as ever keeping up with my cuties and household duties but that is the life God has given me so I try my hardest to remember that when things get a little too crazy.

Before we ever even hit the January 1st mark I started thinking more and more about the areas of our home that need some extra attention. I am the type of person that doesn't like clutter and gets overwhelmed when things start to pile up. So I guess you can say my Spring Cleaning has started early this year. (I'm okay with that!)

A few months ago I decided to give homemade laundry soap a try and must say it works great! Our clothes are just as clean, if not cleaner, than with store bought brands. The best part? We are saving a ton of money and it isn't full of harsh chemicals like other brands are.

Duggar Family Recipe

Want to make your one? Here is the recipe. And to give credit where credit is due, this is from the Duggar's website at http://duggarfamily.com/

So, here is the recipe- try it out, you will love it, too!

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 here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

 

We mix ours up in a big 5 gallon bucket like this one that my hubby picked up at Home Depot. They are cheap and a great secure way to store so much laundry soap at once. And since you dilute it by half with water in a smaller container to use, it really makes 10 gallons for just a few dollars. 

 Thanks so much to the Duggar Family for sharing this recipe on their website. It has been a blessing in our growing family as another way to save money.


Have a wonder rest of the day everyone.


Christina xo