Ingredients
Powder Recipe
- 2 bars castile soap (5 oz each)
- 3 cups borax
- 3 cups washing soda
- 3 cups baking soda
- 30 drops doTERRA essential oil
Liquid Recipe
- 1 bar Fels-Naptha Soap (or Ivory for sensitive skin, Pink Zote, or castile soap)
- 1/2 cup borax
- 1 cup washing soda (NOT baking soda)
- 5-gallon bucket and lid
Instructions
Powder Instructions
- Use a cheese grater to grate or shred the bar soap.
- In a large bowl, mix together the borax, washing soda, and baking soda.
- Add the grated soap and 1 cup or the borax powder mixture to a food processor or high power blender. Adding the powder mixture helps keep the soap from sticking to the blades. Blend it together until powder consistency.
- While the blender or food processor is running, add the essential oil drops and allow it blend into the mixture.
- Add the soap mixture to the large bowl with the powder mixture and stir or whisk until combined.
- Add 1-2 tablespoons to each load of laundry. Makes about 10 1/4 cups (about 164 tablespoons).
Liquid Instructions
- Grate the bar of soap.
- Add the grated soap to a saucepan with 4 cups of water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
- Fill a 5-gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add the melted soap, then the washing soda and the borax. Stir well until all the powder is dissolved.
- Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover, and let sit overnight to thicken.
- After it has thickened overnight you can put it in the dispenser of your choice. It is very thick and gel-like, so use a big spoon to stir it. I use a measuring cup and funnel to put equal parts of soap and hot water into the old detergent bottle, and then just shake it up and you're are ready to go! You can also try adding doTERRA essential oils to the soap after it is cooled.
- Makes 10 gallons. Top Load Machine: 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads). Front Load Machine: ΒΌ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)
Notes
I often like to add about 1/4 cup of white vinegar to the laundry load as a fabric softener.