For about 10 dollars in supplies at Walmart you can make your own washing detergent for 1/10 of the price of buying it. Plus it only takes about 15 minutes and a 2 gallon bucket.
Here's how we made the switch from $10.98 a jug Tide to about $0.50 a jug homemade stuff!
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We saved a couple of old Tide jugs to put our homemade detergent in to make it easier to handle than the bucket.
So here's is what you'll need:
2 empty washing detergent containers
2 gallon bucket
1/3 Fels-Naptha bar of soap
1/2 cup Arm and Hammer washing soda
1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
*optional laundry scent
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All ingredients can be found in the laundry aisle of Walmart.
Directions:
1. Grate 1/3 bar of Fels-Naptha and place in a large pot, add 6 cups of water and heat until soap is melted.
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2. Add 1/2 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup Borax, stir until dissolved.
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3. Remove from heat, to the 2 gallon bucket add 4 cups HOT water. Next add the soap mixture to bucket. Stir.
4. Then add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water. If desired add 1/2 to 1 ounce of scented laundry oil (I use Linen scented). Stir.
5. Let sit about 24 hours to gel. Stir it up again and using a funnel pour it in to empty detergent containers. Now your homemade detergent is ready to use!
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Make sure you shake the detergent well before each wash because it tends to separate.