I get a lot of requests for this recipe, so I am sharing it here for anyone who is interested….

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap – Front or Top Load Machine

This is reported to be Michelle Duggar’s recipe….not positive on that one, but it works for our family of six! It only costs a few cents/load and literally only takes fifteen to twenty minutes of effort.

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.

(Personal Note:  wash your pan and grater by hand; I threw them in the dishwasher the first time I did this and had a soapy film on all of my dishes and ended up having to wash everything in my dishwasher by hand!)

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.

~Optional – add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons after soap has cooled.

Suggestions include:  lavendar, rosemary, tea tree, etc.

Yield = 5 gallons

You may either scoop your soap directly from your 5-gallon bucket, or I purchased a one-gallon juice pitcher at WalMart and fill it regularly from the bucket and keep it by my washing machine.

Top Load Machines:  5/8 cup per load (approximately 180 loads)

Front Load Machines:  ¼ cup per load (approximately 640 loads)