Laundry Soap + Cheat Sheet

So, we've been using a homemade detergent for our HE washer for a few months now. About 3-4 months ago I pretty much had a breakdown over the cost of laundry detergent...my excema had started flaring up again, and when I went to the store to find a gentle laundry detergent it shocked me that it was so dang expensive!! What's in this stuff anyways? What exactly am I paying for. So I did some research and turns out most of what I'm paying for is the stupid bottle I throw away :( This does not a happy Jenifer make! So I scoured the internet looking for a detergent that was cost effective. And lo and behold my Pinterest addiction has helped me out and I was able to find several recipes for DIY Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent that claimed to be safe for HE washers. So I took the plunge and am proud to say I haven't looked back!! After using my new recipe my clothes are softer, have zero static cling and smell wonderfully clean! (I even left some in the washer for an extended amount of time - which we won't talk about-and they didn't smell all mildewy!! YAY!!) Now, I like to save money as much as the next person, and was ecstatic to find and agree with a breakdown of savings! I found my recipe at Building It On Pennies. And I have to say I LOVE this soap!! You can click on her link and read her how to (which does have pics), or you can keep on reading to discover my how to which is a bit different!

Ingredients:
Borax Laundry Detergent Booster
Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
Fels-Naptha or Ivory Soap

You will also need:
a 5 gallon bucket
immersion blender or a paint mixer drill bit and drill
a large pan/bowl that is stove-top safe and will hold more than a gallon of liquid
a grater
measuring cup (I use 2: 1 for liquid and 1 for solid)

Once you have collected all your ingredients you are ready to go!

1. Take your Fels-Naptha or Ivory Soap and cut it into thirds.
2. Baggie 2 of your thirds for your next batches.
3. Take your remaining third and if using FN grate completely (I used this ikea grater on the fine grate side and LOVE it since it catches everything), if using ivory soap you can microwave it for a few minutes in lieu of grating.
4. Take 1/2 gallon (which is also 8 cups or 2 quarts) of water and bring to a boil.
5. Add your shredded or microwaved soap and bring back to boil.
6. Keep stirring and keep an eye on the soap mixture b/c if you're like me you'll boil it over without meaning to!
7. Once the soap has completely melted add 1/2 a cup of borax and 1/2 a cup of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda.
8. Here's where I do mine differently: I let this boil for about 10 minutes (vs her 5) stirring to make sure it's all moving and not sitting in a clump on the bottom somewhere.
9. Put 1.5 gallons (24 cups or 6 quarts) of COLD water in your bucket.
10. Pour your hot soap mixture in and start to stir. (You can use your immersion blender or paint mixer...I've even heard some people hand stir.)
11. Let sit for 30 minutes to an hour and stir again. (I sometimes let mine sit overnight and stir again, but that's only because I forget).

You are now ready to use your soap! 

The main reason I let mine boil longer is b/c I've found it separates less. However, everything I've found says that some separation is normal. 

I dispense mine in a drink dispenser and usually just shake it if it separates.

I also use white vinegar in a downey ball for softener. And it also works like a charm!!

Now, more than once I've had to google how to remove a stain, so I recently made a cute little cheat sheet to keep in my laundry room. 

I printed it out and put it and this in a frame and voila I have helpful art in my laundry room!! Now I want some vinyl lettering to add this!