Breaking down the costs...

**guest2** · 03-02-2005, 11:31 AM

I got to thinking about how much money it really costs to make HM laundry detergent vs buying premade detergent. According to my calculations here is the breakdown:
1 box of Borax $3.06
1 Box of Washing Soda $1.92
1 bar of Fel's Naptha Soap $1.06
total cost: $5.04

time to mix it all up (includes grating the soap in the blender

) 2 minutes tops!

Now, the cheapest premade laundry detergent that I could find was $2.98 for the bottle or $6.98 for a big bucket. However, when I looked at the amount per load that I would have to use (we do 2-3 loads a day due to my hubby's layers of work clothes) I would have to use 6 bottles per month (cost $17.88 per month) or 1 big bucket a month minimum ($6.98). With my HM detergent, one batch will last me 3 months bringing my cost down to $1.68 a month!

Now, if you add up the cost comparison for a year's time you get:
HM detergent: $20.16
Cheapest Liquid Detergent: $214.56
Cheapest Powdered in big bucket: $83.76

I'm sticking to my HM detergent and banking the savings!!!!

**QuilterMom** · 03-02-2005, 11:38 AM

ROFL! I was just thinking about this when I did laundry this morning. (Great minds think alike, you know

).

I think I paid $2.99 for my borax and maybe around the same for my washing soda. Fels Naptha and Zote are not available here so I use a bar of Ivory which costs me probably 35¢ at most. I only use 1 T. of the mixture because we have soft water, so it lasts a long time. I was also thinking of how easy all the ingredients are to store (and what little room they take up) for prepping purposes.

**tightwadmommy** · 03-02-2005, 01:31 PM

I've been thinking of trying the HM laundry detergent.I have 2 questions maybe I could get some help..
First: How does it clean?
Second: Does the grated soap dissolve in the wash water?( I usually wash in cold.) I do not have a food processor,So I'll have to grate the old fashioned way..

Thanks!

**Guest1** · 03-02-2005, 01:43 PM

same here Debbie - *PLUS* I've found some of the things I need for my mixture is cheaper in Mexico...sooooo.....adios amigos!!

**Guest1** · 03-02-2005, 01:46 PM

Originally posted by tightwadmommy
I've been thinking of trying the HM laundry detergent.I have 2 questions maybe I could get some help..
First: How does it clean?
Second: Does the grated soap dissolve in the wash water?( I usually wash in cold.) I do not have a food processor,So I'll have to grate the old fashioned way..
Thanks!

I don't use my food processor either, watch those knuckles!!

I have found that my blend cleans much, much better than even the pricy name brands & I've never had a problem with the soap melting --- some of us suffer from allergies & this is gentle enough to be allergy friendly but strong enough to take the smellies away from my hard working soldier's clothes!!

**forestdale** · 03-02-2005, 01:48 PM

I did that price comparison here too. It costs me 22 cents per litre compared to $2.60 per litre of store bought laundry liquid. It's simple to make and I think it's not as harsh on the clothes.

I've printed out the recipe and instructions for making it and I give it to some of our customers who buy our organic products. I've also given the recipe to my DS and he's given it to some of his friends. I gave it to my sister too, but she looked at me like I'd just lost my marbles. Oh well, her loss.

tightwad, my DS who lives at home is a chef. It does his uniforms perfectly. When you make up the liquid, you actually dissolve the soap in hot water during the making process. I always use cold water for my wash too and I never have any problems with it. Give it a go, it's worth it.

**tightwadmommy** · 03-02-2005, 01:51 PM

Debbie and Rhonda,
Thanks for the advice.Think I'll try making a batch tomorrow. What's better, liquid or powder??

**forestdale** · 03-02-2005, 01:53 PM

i like the liquid best. I have a front loading washer. It doesn't make suds, be prepared for that. Commercial liquids and powders use chemicals to make suds, it doesn't come from the soap.

**QuilterMom** · 03-02-2005, 02:49 PM

Jean - Here are recipes for liquid and powder. I use powder just because it seemed easier/quicker to make.

I grate my soap using the finest/smallest selection on my grater and then crumble it up even more with my fingers (when I pick it up it just falls apart really easily).

So far it's cleaning everything of ours just fine.

**QuilterMom** · 03-02-2005, 02:50 PM

Oops! Might help if I gave you the link! http://www.thefrugalshopper.com/arti...etergent.shtml

**guest2** · 03-02-2005, 02:52 PM

I use the powdered version because it's quicker for me to make and easier to store. It cleans really well, even in cold water!

**tightwadmommy** · 03-02-2005, 02:56 PM

Thanks for all the help and recipes.I appreciate it!

**frugalandsimple** · 03-02-2005, 04:26 PM

I'm interested in trying it out. Where do I buy the supplies to make my homade laundry detergent? Is it environmentally friendly? Last weekend, when I was grocery shopping, I was going to buy a bottle of 7th Generation laundry detergent, but I thought the price of the size of the bottle was too much for my budget so I put it back on the shelf. It was $5.99 for a small bottle. I'm not exactly sure how many loads it was good for.

**QuilterMom** · 03-02-2005, 05:32 PM

Yes, the homemade is environmentally friendly.

I got my borax and washing soda at Publix. WalMart here has just recently added borax to their laundry supplies aisle, but no washing soda yet. Here's info on where to buy - http://www.thefrugalshopper.com/articles/FAQs.shtml