So, for the life of me, I can’t remember who brought up this idea to me. But, I someone did and I was intrigued with the idea of making cheap, more environmentally friendly laundry detergent. After looking around online, I decided to try the recipe I found on this sight:
http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm
The recipe is super simple and only requires soap (ivory or fels naptha), borax, and washing powder. I also added some essential oil to make it smell pretty when I was done.
In all the recipe took me less than 15 minutes to put together but note that you have to let it sit for 24 hours after). AND, as I learned because I spilled a bunch in my bath tub when pouring it into a bottle, which later became a perfectly white spot when we took a shower, it makes an amazing bath tub cleaner. The next day, we spread a thin layer on the entire tub and let it sit for a few hours, rinsed it and we had a clean white tub.
Economically, it adds up to about a penny a load to do your laundry.
Melting the Ivory in a pot
Pre-diluted Laundry Soap