A Girl Named Michael: Laundry Soap

I am always trying new things to save a penny or three. Its not that I am cheap its just that I have a shopping addiction. And every penny I save on household items or food means I can spend more on clothes, books, shoes, jewelry...I know you understand.

So when I read on on One Good Thing by Jillee that I could make a years worth of laundry soap for $30 I thought...Challenge accepted.

Here is the recipe I used:

3 bars Fels Naptha or Zorta, grated
1 76oz box of Borax
1 55oz box of Washing Soda
2 cups of baking soda (I use two of the little boxes we have hard water)
2 containers of dollar store OxyClean
1 28 oz box of Purex fabric softener crystals

Grating the soap didn't take as long as I thought it would. I don't have a food processor so The BF and I each grabbed a cheese grater and a bar of soap and did it the old fashion way. I then dumped all the ingredients into a large garbage bag and The BF mixed it all together.

Warning this makes a LOT of soap!!!!! A years worth!!!!

I was immediately challenged with how to store the soap. I don't have a a lot of storage in my laundry room. In what could only be described as a moment of genius I decided to rinse out my old liquid container and use it. This lead to a discussion between The BF and I how am I going to use it without spilling all over the floor.

Then came brilliant idea number two (which I stole from Camp Wander) I placed some in a mason jar. When the jar empties I will refill it from the big container. I also decided to add a few drops of essential oils to my little jar. I choose lavender and lemon, 10 drops each. I love the way they smell together.

I have washed a few loads of laundry already and so far I am a happy camper.

So how much did it cost?
3 bars Fels Napatha - $
Borax - $
Washing Soda - $
Baking Soda - $0.56