Making Washing Detergent

I have always wanted to try making Detergent.  I have seen several recipes for making it but it was always such a large amount. (Not that I don't need a LOT of detergent with 8 people changing clothes every day) But I just didn't have an ample supply of 5 gallon buckets and the room to store them.
So, I stumbled on this recipe and I've been using it almost strictly for about a year now.  I don't have a front loader but I as do have a machine that calls for he detergent. And this detergents works just fine.


Here's the ingredients.   All of these are generally available for purchase on the detergent aisle.  You can buy all three ingredients for about $7.  If you buy 3 bars of the soap you can make about 9 recipes from what you see here.

First start by Boiling 6 cups of water. ( I keep this old pot around just for this chore)  While you're waiting for the water to boil, Grate 1/3 Bar of Zote or Fels Naptha Soap. I grate it on the side with the biggest holes. The soap is soft so it's easy to do.


Next add the grated soap to the water and remove from heat.  Stir until the soap dissolves.
Add 1/2 Cup of Borax and 1/2 Cup of Arm & Hammer
Washing Soda
Stir it all together and make sure everything is dissolved

Then pour the soap mixture into a large bucket that you can measure 2 gallons in.  Fill to the top of the 2 gallon mark with water.

Let the mixture cool for just a bit and then pour into storage containers.  I re-use one store bought detergent container and two other  containers.
You will have to shake the bottle a good bit in the first few loads to loosen up the "gel like clumps" but just consider it a bi-cep work out you wouldn't get otherwise.

This makes about 100 loads.  I've tried to calculate the cost of one recipe but then I start thinking about Downton Abbey or when Red John will be revealed on  the Mentalist and I decide I have better things to think about.
But I would guess it costs about $1.25 for one recipe. Much cheaper than $10 a bottle