Financial Need I have seen large families make the soap – and it seemed like too much effort for my small brood. I purchase a low end soap for less than $4.00. I don’t “need” to make my own. However, after I found out how simple it is – and for .0005 per load – and my ever growing desire for Rock Fish Americanos –
Encouragement through Training A few weeks ago, Jon and I took a homesteading class at Covenant Creek on Laundry Soap. The class happened naturally. We were visiting, and she needed to make laundry soap. She gave me a bar of Fels-Naptha to shred in her hand crank shredder, as she started a small pot of water to boil on the gas stove. As I quickly shredded the Fels-Naptha, she filled a 5 gallon bucked with hot tap water and dissolved the Borax and Washing Soda with a spoon. We giggled and chatted. She dropped dropped a bit of Lavendar Oil into the 5 gallon bucket. I stirred the Fels-Naptha in the rolling boil of water until it dissolved, and then gently poured it into the 5 gallon bucket.
Too Much Time – or Time Saved? In about the time it took to boil 2 cups of water on the stove, the laundry detergent was complete. Last night, on my own, for the first time, I tried the process at home. I had just set the Sloppy Joe mixture to simmer for 10 minutes and had boiling water on the stove for my hot cocoa. I was out of Laundry Soap, and had purchased the supplies after our class – so I set out to make it. Only using a half recipe the first time, and having all the supplies on hand, I quickly made the Laundry soap before my timer went off on the Sloppy Joes.
I filled up my used Laundry Soap container and 2 1/2 liter bottles. Then, I put through a load of wash and enjoyed my family for the evening. This morning, as I was folding the load, I noticed the softness of the towels and cotton shirts. Nice surprising bonus!
Tide Liquid $11.19
100 oz., .11 per use
Covenant Creek Laundry Detergent $2.27
940 oz, .0002 per oz.
My Americanos are less than $2.00 – now I can have a treat once a week – and natural laundry soap all at the same time!
(The FelsNaptha and Washing Soda were easily found at ACE Hardware, they also ship from their website – by using 1/2 cup per recipe – it lasts quite a long time!)
+Angie Wright
