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Before detergents were invented, women used soft soap for laundry. Soft soap, usually a batch of hard soap gone bad, was made with wood-ash lye, water, and animal fats. It was strictly utilitarian and unscented, and often somewhat on the caustic side. Thus soft soap had an extra kick for laundry, floors, walls, and dishes, but it was unkind to skin.

These updated liquid laundry detergents smell divine and are gentler on the skin. Although the following recipes produce few bubbles, their cleaning power is outstanding. If used regularly, they will likely leave a little soap residue in your washer and on your clothes, so add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to your rinse cycle. Vinegar is too mild to harm fabrics but strong enough to dissolve alkalies in laundry soaps and detergents. Vinegar also breaks down uric acid, so adding 1 cup vinegar to the rinse water is especially good for babies' clothes. These recipes are highly recommended for people who have sensitivities to commercial detergents.

Liquid Laundry Soap

1 cup liquid castile soap
1/3 cup salt
1 cup dissolved borax or baking soda
1 cup vinegar
40 drops grapefruit seed extract
4 crushed papaya enzymes

Bring 12 cups of water to a boil. Add salt and soda/borax to and stir constantly until well dissolved. Allow to cool. Fill a gallon jug or recycled detergent bottle with salt mix. Add remaining ingredients. Add essential oils if desired. Makes about 1 gallon of laundry soap. Use 1 cup or 2 capfuls per load.

Liquid Laundry Detergent

2 bars Ivory soap
1/4 cup baking soda
1 cup borax
12 cups water
essential oils

Bring 12 cups of water to a boil. Grate 2 bars ivory soap. Add borax, baking soda and grated soap flakes to hot water and stir constantly until soap is well dissolved and thick. Add essential oils if desired. Makes about 1 gallon of laundry detergent.

Laundry Gel

1 bar of soap
1 cup washing soda
1/2 cup borax
5 gallon bucket with a lid
3 gallons of water (rain water is best because it is "soft" water)

Bring 12 cups of water to a boil. Grate or chunk up bar of soap. Add borax, baking soda and grated soap flakes to hot water and stir constantly until soap is well dissolved and thick. Add essential oils if desired. Makes about 3 gallons of laundry gel.

1/2 bar of grated ivory soap
1/2 cup of washing soda
1/4 cup borax
1 gallon water

I recycled an empty 1 gallon laundry soap bottle, after all they are designed for this. I washed it out. then filled it up with clean water. I then put the pre-measured 1 gallon of water in my spaghetti pan and brought it to a boil. Then I added the shaved soap. After a few minutes, it started to dissolve so I stirred it. After it was nearly dissolved I added the borax and washing soda. I stirred that around awhile and let it simmer about 10 minutes until everything was well dissolved. liquid will turn clear when done. Then I let the mixture cool and the I put it back into the recycled laundry soap bottle. And let it continue cooling over night.

Citrus Soap

12 cups grated castile soap
12 cups boiling water
1 cup baking soda
1/4 cup borax
1 teaspoon lemon essential oil
1 teaspoon grapefruit essential oil

Put grated soap into a 2 gallon stainless kettle. Add boiling water, simmer, and stir frequently for 15 minutes, then stir in other ingredients.

Use 1 cup per load of clothes or as needed for household cleaning.

Fabric Gel Wash
This fabric gel, with its built-in water softener, is particularly good for washing in hard water.

2 cups pure soap flakes
1 1/2 cups borax
1 1/2 quarts (6 cups) water
1/2 cup glycerin
2 teaspoons essential oil of eucalyptus, lemon, or lavender

In a saucepan, stir together the soap flakes, borax, and water. Heat gently and stir until the liquid is clear. Add the glycerin and cool to lukewarm. Add the essential oil and stir thoroughly. Pour into a wide mouthed jar or other container and cover until needed. Add a cupful to the washing machine, making sure that the soap is fully dissolved before adding any clothing. For best effect, use this gel with warm or hot water.
 

Great Gift Idea
In a laundry bag or basket add a roll of quarters or a small change bag with some quarters in it, homemade laundry soap, spot remover, dryer sheets, directions how to do basic laundry.

If you like my free recipes and would like to contribute, please leave a donation so you can enjoy the spirit of giving too.

 

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