Getting Frugal

Last November I went to a conference called Hearts at Home. HIGHLY recommend. SO GOOD! Anyway Jill Savage shared with us that she makes home made laundry detergent. I TOTALLY wanted to try this. Then I forgot about it. :) I am sure you all know how that goes. Well TODAY is the day. Right now. I have been buckling down these days and have been inspired to be more frugal. So here I am making laundry detergent. My friend Amanda made it recently and blogged about it. It was my reminder that I needed to get my butt in gear.

So here it is.

1 5 gal bucket with lid

1 bar of Fels-Naptha (Heavy Duty Laundry Bar soap)

1/2 c Borax

1 cup of washing soda

Grate the bar of soap, heat on the stove with 4 cups of water until melted. Add to dry ingredients in 5 gallon bucket. Mix, add water till about 2 inches from the top, cover and let it sit for 24 hours. Fill an empty detergent bottle half full of detergent, add water till full, mix and use. Make sure to shake each time before using.

This was very easy took about 1/2 hour to make. I bought the ingredients at Walmart for around $7.00. I used the whole bar of soap but I have enough Borax, and Washing soda to last a REALLY long time. :) When my 5 gallon bucket runs out and I need to make more I will only need the bar of soap which cost me $1.00. My bucket I got at Ace Hardware for around $8.50. Total around $16. Obviously I won't buy a bucket each time. I am guessing that this will last me at least 6 months, maybe a year. I am going to try and track it and get back to you. If I remember. :) I have yet to use it but I have heard that this is the best detergent people have used. I will say that it smelled great. It smells very clean and fresh. Here are the two links that I got this from Adventures in the Heart and Home and www.jillsavage.org.

Good luck. Let me know if you try it.