DIY Laundry Soap
I have been making this soap for about 8 years now. When I was first pregnant with Grace, my oldest, I knew I wanted to cloth diaper. As I started to research that journey, I realized that most laundry soaps are full of chemicals that will cause build up on fabric, causing them to no longer absorb. Now, yes I can spend money on some fancy soap made specifically for cloth diapers, but I wanted something easier. When I started this journey eight years ago, Amazon was not what it is now. I needed something convenient to help make my venture in cloth diapering as easy as possible. So after much research, I found women on cloth diapering blogs talking about making their own. Not only is it sooooo cheap to make, but it also smells good, and one batch will last me forever. The ingredients are simple, and I don’t have to search for them. After my first baby no longer needed the diapers, I was hooked on the homemade soap, and it had become a staple in our house.
I think getting it set up for your first batch is the hardest part. I went to my local hardware store and bought a white 5-gallon bucket with a lid. Her is what I store my laundry soap in. This formula makes about 4 gallons at a time. I have an old laundry soap jug that I have been reusing that I just fill up with my homemade soap. My laundry room is in my basement, and nothing to show off. If you wanted to get fancy, you could buy a fun glass jar or a glass water dispenser to portion out what you need and save what’s in the bucked to refill your dispenser.
1 bar Dr. Bronners Soap (I buy the peppermint one at Trader Joe’s)
1 Tablespoon Tea Tree Oil (Trader Joe’s also Sells this. I have gotten a little loosey-goosey with this one. I really like the smell of tea tree oil so I add 1/2 of the TJ’s bottle)
1 cup Armer Hammer Washing Soda
1 cup Borax
The night before I want to make it, I cut my bar of soap into eight pieces. I add my soap pieces to a quart size mason jar and fill up with water the rest of the way. Then I let it soak overnight to soften the soap.
So the next step might sound funny, but it’s the most important step. After your soap has set overnight, you are going to blend it. Yes, that’s right, the blender! This is going to make the soap smooth and creamy. No, it’s not going to ruin your blender. No, it will not make your food taste bad. I start to blend on a medium speed and turn it to high as it starts to smooth out. You blend until it’s creamy and fluffy, maybe 2 minutes. Once blended, I use a spatula and pour the mixture into your 5-gallon bucket. Fill the blender 1/2 cup with warm water and blend it again to get all the soap out of the blender, then dump back into the bucket. Add your Borax, Washing Soda, and tea tree oil. Fill your bucket up 3/4 full with hot water and mix it all up. I use my hand for this part to make sure I break up any clumps and get it all combined. Let it sit overnight and pour it into your dispenser of choice. I mean, that’s true housewife shit right there!! Get it Girl..
That's it folks!! The bar soap is $3.79, TT oil is $6.99 (your only using 1/2), the borax is $4.99, and the washing soda is $5. The soda and borax you will get about 5 batches out of. So for about $10 you get 4 gallons of soap. That would normally cost you $50+. You are welcome, go buy yourself something nice with that money!!!
Cheers Babes
XOXO
