Make your own Laundry Soap

Laundry Soap Recipe (High Efficiency safe)
                     Makes enough for 40-60 loads!!
2 1/2 cups bar soap, grated & sifted- see notes & photos below
1 cup washing soda
1 cup borax
1/2 cup baking soda
Essential Oils (optional)
Stir all ingredients together (add the essential oils last). Store in an airtight container, see notes &  top & bottom photo for ideas.
Notes:
1: We save all of the scraps from making soap & let them dry further- the dryer the better. You can use other bar soap, but we find that the dryer types make a finer powder. If you don't make soap learn how on our Soap Making DVD, barter with a friend who does or purchase a pure bar soap like Dr. Bronner's. 
2: You can hand grate the soap with a cheese grater or use a food processor, then sift through a fine mesh strainer or window screen- the finer particles of soap will dissolve quicker in the wash water.
3: To give & sell the Laundry Soap, we made up calico fabric drawstring bags (learn how to make the drawstring cord on The Art of Crafting DVD) & put 1 recipe of Laundry Soap in a gallon, zipper, plastic bag,  place it in the drawstring bag then add a tag with directions & ingredients.


Directions for using Soap Powder:
Use 1-2 tablespoons per load. If using cold water dissolve Laundry Soap in a cup of hot water before adding to wash water.
Make a Liquid Laundry Soap
You can make a liquid laundry soap by taking 2 cups of this Laundry Soap powder, put it in a 2 quart container, fill up 1/3 of the way with hot water & whisk until Laundry Soap Powder is dissolved, then fill with cooler water the rest of the way & whisk again. Use approximately 1/4-1/2 cup per load.

  Grating the soap scraps over a window screen, sifting into a bowl underneath.

          The Laundry Soap can be packaged in these pretty fabric bags
       or in a jar tied with a fabric bow (as in the photo at the top) 
                      & now it's ready to use, sell or gift.
                                
                               

You should have seen us franticly searching through our friends metal barn, where all our worldly goods & supplies are being stored, trying to find the 4 wooden cheese crates full of our soap scraps! Thankfully we didn't stash them far & were able to make several bags of Laundry Soap, after we found & dug through our fabric boxes : ) for our booth at the Arts & Ag Tour. Crafting in a camper can be quite a challenge! We are looking forward to our new home & unpacking our supplies!! To read more & see updates:
youcaring.com/thewestladies

      Making your own Laundry Soap can be such a joy, it's quick, easy & very inexpensive. Knowing you are using pure ingredients & making a pure product, without sulfates, fragrances, phenols & petroleum, for the health of your family & creation is a true, homestead blessing!
                                      Enjoy-
                                          The West Ladies