Laundry detergent

Make your own and save a ton of money. Yes, this does work and you can use it in the new HE machines. Mess with the ingredients until you find the balance that works for you and for the type of water you have. (hard/soft)

I use:
Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (in the yellow box)
Borax
Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (I get the big box of it from Wal Mart)
Soap (Brands that work: Fels Naptha, Zote, or any other hard basic lye soap....check my links section for Mo Soap where you can get a big ole' brick of lye soap for a great price!)

Grate up the bar of soap. I then blend, in very small batches, even parts of each of the above until I have the amount I want. You can use a blender or a food processor.

I store mine in a recycled large container from the natural yogurt that our family eats. You can use any plastic container with a lid or a glass container with a lid.

I have a huge washing machine that holds something like 20 towels in a load, so I use a full Tablespoon of the detergent. Sometimes 1-1/2 T. if the load is very dirty/soiled. However, if you have a regular sized washing machine, I hear from friends that use a similar recipe that they only use a teaspoon per load!

I do dissolve mine in hot water before putting it in my machine. I have found that works better for my own preferences. I have been using the Zote soap because it is dirt cheap (Wal Mart...less than 90 cents for a bar) but I am going to be order a few bricks of the Mo Soap. I have also considered using a bar of Dr. Bronners castile soap....I'm not sure how that would work. I may try the Dr. B's if I find I need to make up more laundry detergent before I'm ready and able to budget in a order of a few bricks of soap from Mo Soap.

I have tried homemade laundry detergent recipes in the past and was never pleased with the quality. (just google and you'll find tons of them online) I was given this recipe by Sara Urbanik who is an amazing homemaker (and human being). It is a great recipe and we've been using it for about 6 months now and the savings to our budget is incredible. It works....and for those who know me and the ways in which I use cloth instead of paper in our home for various things, you know I have soiled laundry!!! (more so than most mainstream people *lol*)

A nice fabric softener recipe that works is just 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 distilled water, essential oil of your choice, and just a tiny shot of dishsoap to help things blend better. I keep it in a quart canning jar with a plastic lid. I shake it a bit to blend the ingredients before I pour it into my fabric softener dispenser. I change the scent when I have to make up more. Right now, I have patchouli and lavendar scented fabric softener.

I have been making most of my own cleaning products for a few years now and it really is cheaper. It is also better for the health of my family and the health of the environment. the book I recommend getting for cleaning recipes is "Clean House Clean Planet". (or maybe it is Clean Home, Clean Planet....you'll be able to find it) That was one book purchase that was worth it!!