Make your own laundry soap

Having a newborn is a lot of work! Laundry is just one of the daily tasks, and it is a HUGE one! We bought the "special" laundry soap at the beginning, free of perfumes and dyes. This can be very expensive.
Upon researching on the Internet cheaper alternatives, I found that I can make my own laundry soap for 0.01$ a load! Free of harsh chemicals, perfumes and dyes, and cheap? Tell me how you say? Here is one recipe that I found that does an excellent job!

Homemade Laundry Soap

The Recipe
· 1/3 bar Fels Naptha or 1 full bar of other type of soap (I use Ivory)
· ½ cup washing soda
· ½ cup borax powder

You will also need a small bucket, about 16 cups

Directions
· Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan.
· Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts.
· Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved.
· Remove from heat.
· Pour 4 cups hot water into the bucket.
· Now add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 24 cups of water and stir.
· Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel.
You use ½ cup per load

The Soap: The most typical type of soap to use is Fels Naptha. It is an old-fashioned type of soap usually found in the laundry aisle. You can also use a full bar of your choice, such as Ivory.

Washing Soda: This is not to be confused with baking soda. They are not the same thing. Washing soda is sodium carbonate or soda ash (baking soda is sodium bicarbonate). It is a white powder. Its purpose is to help remove dirt and orders. The brand to look for is Arm & Hammer Washing Soda. I find it in the laundry section of Wal-Mart.

Borax: Borax is a naturally occurring mineral: Sodium Borate. It is a white powder. Its purpose is as a laundry whitener and deodorizer. The brand to look for is 20 Mule Team. It comes in a 76 oz. box. You should be able to locate this in the laundry detergent aisle.