Long Days and Laundry.

Another long day.  I left home at 6:45am, and I got home at 6:30pm.  On the way home my husband called from the super market asking if he should buy laundry detergent.  I nearly had a heart attack.  Okay not really.  I'm being overly dramatic, but I definitely did not want to spend any money on laundry soap.  So I stopped by my parent's to get our gigantic bucket of detergent I've made.  Out of all the DIY posts I've made this is the one I use every week.  I'm so glad I tried this out. I've tripled the batch I make at a time now, so it lasts even longer.  It usually only takes twenty minutes or so to make.  You have to wait 24 hours to use it, but that just takes a little planning ahead.  I also suggest stirring occasionally over the 24 hours, because if you don't some of the water will separate out and end up on the top, and the soap will become this weird gelatinous mass.  It's still useable if that happens, it just takes a lot of extra stirring.  Other than the odd consistency it's totally fantastic!  It's worth a try even if you're a sceptic, because it's doesn't cost much to try out, and all the ingredients are great household items.  Water, a bar of soap, borax, and washing soda.  Which all have many other useful duties around the home other than being used to make laundry detergent.  

Since I'm still without internet, and the library is only open until eight.  This is all I have tonight.  My homemade liquid laundry detergent is my favorite DIY to date. 

Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

I always hate seeing the price of a large container of liquid laundry detergent, so I decided to find out if I can make some for cheap at home.  It's easier to find recipes for dry detergent, but I found this great recipe over at The Simple Dollar.  I used a smaller container though, so I cut the recipe in half.  

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:

- 1/2 Cup Washing Soda

- 1/4 Cup Borax

- 1/2 Bar of Soap

- Approximately 1.5 Gallons of Water

Directions:

Begin by bring about 2 cups of water to a boil in a medium saucepan on the stove.  While you are waiting on the water grate half a bar of soap.  I used Yardley's Oatmeal and Almond, and it smelled great during this whole process!  I used a standard kitchen grater for the soap, and it was easier than grating cheese.  

Once the water is boiling turn it down to a simmer, and add the soap curls by small handfuls.  Let the handful dissolve before adding the next.  

While the soap is dissolving into the simmering water, measure out 1.5 gallons of water.   Combine with the washing soda, and borax in the bucket you will use to store your detergent.  Stir well.  

Once the soap has completely dissolved in the saucepan, combine the soapy water to the borax/washing soda water mixture you just made.  Stir well, and then let sit for 24 hours.

The mixture will thicken up a lot over the next 24 hours.  When it is ready it will be a similar consistency as hair conditioner. 

My mixture smelled better than any liquid detergent I've ever bought!  Plus the texture is kinda fun!

An added bonus, Borax can be used for lots of household chores.  You can make a household cleaner, a bathroom cleaner, a mildew remover, a deodorizer for kitty litter or your garbage disposal, stain remover, unclog drains, and tons of other great uses!   

Hope you all enjoy!  Happy DIYing!