Laundry Soap {Tutorial}

I like to save money whenever I can.  With only one spouse working (did I mention he is a full-time student too?), I try to stretch our dollars.  I started making laundry soap months ago when a friend introduced me to it.  I searched online for recipes, which there are many.  After making the recipe I chose, I adjusted it a little.  I still use stain treatment like Shout for more soiled areas, but I no longer have to spend lots of money on soap.  I use Zote soap, which you can find at Wal-Mart, and it has a clean, nice scent.  I have heard Fels-Naptha works well for pretreatment.  I cannot find that near me, so I don't buy it.


*Update 4/2012- I was able to find Fels Naptha!  So I picked some up to try it out.  I loved it!  I love Zote too, but if I had to choose between the two, I would pick Fels Naptha.  It is buttery soft and has a nice scent.  Zote works just as well as Fels, but Fels has an irresistible texture to it.  Something that has nothing to do with performance, so buy whatever you like to use.

1 bar of Zote, cut into several pieces  OR 1 bar of Fels Naptha cut into pieces    
1 Cup Super Washing Soda (NOT baking soda)
1 Cup Borax











Place the bar of Zote in 6 cups of water in a crockpot set on high.  Don't worry about your crockpot.  It's just soap!  Let the soap melt.  This will take several hours.  Stir every once in awhile.

Once the soap melts, add the washing soda and the borax to the soap mixture.  Stir.  *The soap will not completely melt, but you want to get as much of it dissolved as possible.

Add 26 cups of hot water to a large bucket.  Owen and Walker wanted to help out.  How could I say no to that face?

 Place bucket in a sink or tub, and dump the hot soap mixture into the bucket.  Be careful of hot splashes.  Stir until all is combined.

Let your soap sit overnight, and make sure you store it in an airtight container.  The next morning you will find your soap congealed.  No worries.  You will need to stir and stir until it becomes soft.  Each time you use your laundry soap, stir it around before adding it to the washer.

Use 1/4 cup for front loaders and 1/2 cup for top loaders.  Use a little more for heavier soiled items, if you like.

*You can see in the picture there are a few small clumps of Zote left, but I try to smash those against the bucket with a large Teflon spoon.  It's okay if you find a few of these in your bucket, but you don't want a bunch of fist sized clumps in there.  By the next morning, those small clumps should be gone.  If needed, smash the small clumps between your fingers.

I would love to hear about your experience with this tutorial.  Good luck!

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