It started a few months ago when I was just about out of detergent. I had decided that once I run out of a product I would like to try making on my own I would not BUY but MAKE what I needed. I shared my idea with idea with a friends (who have two more children than I do so quite bit more laundry to do than my daughter and I) and we decided that we could go halves-ies. We made a trip to the local Walmart with a list of ingredients and supplies in hand. We left the store with about $45 worth of products (so yeah I saved the receipt so I can do a cost breakdown, but it did not make it to my new place when we moved...plus we bought all of this about 4 months ago) and every intention of making soap. Well, I don't remember what happened, but all of our good intentions and supplies ended up in my friends' garage until last week. No worries my friends gave me laundry detergent to get me through until the time for soap making was right.
When I was down to my last Tide pod thingy I decided to bring the soap making supplies to my house and start working!
Her are the supplies I used:
One box of Borax, one box of A&H Super Washing Soda, one 4lbs box of A&H Baking Soda, two bars of Fels-Naptha soap, one container of OxiClean, and two bottles of Purex Crystals. Also one cheese grater, one bowl and one large bucket with lid.
I started by grating the Fels-Naptha soap. I took me about 30 minutes to grate the two bars. Since doing this I learned a method where you can achieve the same results using the microwave (this method is shown on the original blog where I got the recipe I used. You can see it at the link above).
And yes it really does look like grated cheese!
It was now time to combine all of the ingredients.
As I added these items I learned a few things...
When powders in boxes are stored in a garage they get VERY lumpy. I used my fingers to break up the lumps as each was added.
Always check the containers for coupons and scoops before pouring them into the bucket.
On the back of the OxiClean scoop there is a nifty point that can be used to cut the perforations on cardboard boxes. This will save many a fingernail in the future!
Now it was time to mix it all together. I decided to use a method that I use with my toddlers and preschoolers at work.
Before the mixing.
I removed the handle form the bucket.
Made sure the lid was on nice and tight.
And then rolled and rolled and rolled the bucket!
I rolled the bucket up and down my hall several times. I also made sure to flip it end over end to get the best mixing possible.
And here are the results. A completely combined mixture!
(As you can see the bucket is only half full.)
As suggested in the original blog I used the Purex container for easy access and measuring. It is a great way to share with my friends and the lid has marks on it for measuring our the detergent. While filling the containers I learned a couple more tricks.
Seam rippers are a handy tool to have around. They are great for removing shrink-wrapped labels.
The OxiClean scoop can also be used to fill the Purex container. I didn't have a funnel so I simply set the container inside the bucket and filled away.
Time for the first load of laundry!
(My hands were covered with the powder by the time I was finished. No worries it is just soap and washed right off)
My laundry smells fresh and clean! And the bucket of soap stores easily in my small laundry room. It has also doubled as a step stool for reaching the top shelf above the washer and dryer.
So there you have it. My first attempt at laundry soap making was a success! I have a feeling this is going to last me a LONG time. In the future I might try and find an alternative to the Purex Crystals. I think I may have found a way to make my own...but that will be in another Blog ;)
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