[nvmommyx6]

I made 6 gallons this morning, that is the next 18 months worth of detergent that I dont have to buy OR make wooohooooo!!!!!

 

[LastDragonfly]

:laundry:Wow it lasts that long? It takes me about 4 months to go thru 5 gallons. You go girl!:grnwave:

 

[nvmommyx6]

Yes Ma'am, 2 gallons lasts us 6 months, and that aint to shabby for 7 people dirtying up clothes!!!! If you all want the recipe lemme know!

 

[LastDragonfly]

I think I use the same recipe. OMG. I guess I didnt include what I give to my mom and I also use it to mop my floors with. Ok, I feel better now.

 

[Peaches]

I'd love the recipe please.

 

[Laura2]

Great for you! You will save a lot of money over those 18 months!

 

[IntlMom]

ok mommy - hand over your recipe!! please

 

[DJ1972]

I want the recipe also! DH is a welder, so he gets his work clothes filthy. I have to buy tide with bleach to get his clothes clean, so is this comparable or better?

 

[nvmommyx6]

3/4 bar fels naptha soap (shredded)
1 cup borax
1 cup arm and hammer washing soda

shred fels naptha soap, then add all ingredients into pot filled with 6-8 cups water and boil, stir through boiling for 5 minutes or until the fels naptha is completely melted.
then add in even amounts to 6 1 gallon jugs. Fill the rest of the jugs up with hot water, 2 cups(ish) at a time covering and shaking a bit each time you add water until they are full.

The normal recipe is
1/3 bar fels naptha (shredded)
1/3 cup borax
1/3 cup washing soda
and the directions are the same for 2 gallons detergent....the 2 gallon recipe lasted me 6 months!
Also, I only have to use about a quarter cup to a full load....the recipe I made for 18 months cost me approx. $1.27, so it is incredibly better priced than the store brands!!
My hubby is a mechanic and if I have a hard time getting stains out of his clothes I add a can of regular old coke to his wash (hot water) and it cleans it all out right now!

Here is what you need

 

[TexasPeanut]

I just wanted to add, I follow the same recipe with one exception and it is a great recipe. It works great and is very cheap to make. Like nvmommy said it does go a long way, considering how little it's costs to make. But around my area, you can not find fels naptha soap to save your life, so I substituted zote soap (which was recommended and found easily around here) and it works perfectly. So if anyone has any problems locating the fels naptha but the stores in your area carry Zote laundry bar soap (found on the laundry detergent aisle), use that. Or you could just always order fels naptha online, but I am an instant gratification kind of person and wanted my soap right then.

One suggestion. Keep any and all old and empty detergent bottles, milk jugs, whatever. You will need them.

 

[nvmommyx6]

We had a time finding the fels naptha too, we finally found it for $1.29 per bar and then 4 months later I found it at winco food for 93 cents a bar!!!
So, my finished product would have been ALOT less had I found the cheaper bars before hand!!!!
I save all of my gallon jars, no matter what they are from, most of my soap is in empty gallon mayo jugs with handles from the walmart instatutional isle!!!

 

[MomToTwoBoys]

Wow, I'd love to do that but DH is dead set on not using anything but Tide in his clothes.

That's awesome, C.J.!

 

[nvmommyx6]

Always remember to shake the detergent before using, it tends to settle a bit!!

 

[Debbie-cat]

I have all these ingredients on hand and am planning to make it for the first time as one of my Skill-a-Month challenges. The way you explain it though nvmommyx6 is simplier so Thank You!!!

 

[zakity]

DH is dead set on not using anything but Tide in his clothes.

What about mixing homemade with Tide? He may not notice.

 

[Tnmom]

I use the same recipe but I use Ivory soap instead, I couldn't find the other plus I had alot of Ivory bars on hand when I decided to try it.
The only thing I do now is add about a capful of Gain to the homemade bottle every time I fill the jug back up. It gives it that Gain scent plus a little color...I just couldn't completely give up my Gain and I buy it now when its one sale and I have a coupon..

 

[Rebookie]

WOW!! Awesome Job CJ!!

Now... I hope you REALLY REALLY Like this detergent!

 

[Lori Biever-Launder]

So, do you shred the Fels Naptha with a hand grater or a food processor or...?

 

[Michelle]

Can I use this in a front loader, and if so, how much would I use per load?

TIA :laundry:

 

[57plymouth]

Has anyone used Octacon instead of Fels Naptha?