Easy DIY Laundry Soap

Easy DIY Laundry Soap

Easy DIY Laundry Soap. Have you ever made your own laundry soap? It is much easier than you think! With the Coronavirus going around, all of us are stuck at home. Because of this, I’ve been revisiting DIY ideas like this. The shortage of toilet paper and many pantry staples has really made me start thinking about things I can make myself and paying more attention to stocking up on the supplies to do so. 

Let me tell you about my easy DIY laundry soap!

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Being able to make something at home saves both time and money. This also cuts down a ton on worrying if an item will be available in the stores. Empty store shelves don’t matter if you know how to make it yourself. If you are looking for ways to transition to more natural products, this is also a perfect way to go. 

How to make easy DIY laundry soap

Grate one bar of Fels Naptha with either a cheese grater or using a food processor. 

I grate the soap directly into a pan to heat up on the stove in 2 quarts of water, continuously stirring until it is dissolved. 

Put 4-5 gallons of really hot tap water into a 5 gallon bucket. I use Firehouse Subs Pickle Buckets for this, among many other uses in my house. Stir in 2 cups of Borax and 2 cups of washing soda until it is completely dissolved. 

Next pour the soap mixture into the bucket and stir to mix well. 

Once the easy DIY laundry soap is made

Cover and leave overnight to cool. 

Once it is cooled, stir again because it may solidify a little bit. When I used a smaller container, it had a pudding-like texture and required me to mix it again. 

Use ½-1 cup per load. 

You can transfer the mixture into smaller and more manageable containers if you wish. I just leave it in the bucket, but it is a matter of preference. 

Make your own washing soda!

You can easily make your own washing soda if it is not available in the store. Being a prepper, you should always have a good quality stock of baking soda on hand. Keep it in the same Firehouse Subs pickle buckets I talked about earlier.

Take the baking soda and spread it out on a cookie sheet and bake at 475 degrees for an hour. You will notice that the baking soda changes to a slightly grey color, and has a grainy texture to it now. This is because the PH level in the baking soda has changed and increased, turning it into washing soda. It is easier to make than most people realize!

Use an old cookie sheet that is no longer used for cooking or baking with. That way you are not in danger of consuming the washing soda. Washing soda will irritate both skin and lungs. Therefore use gloves when making the easy DIY laundry soap and do it in a well-ventilated area. I usually go outside for this portion of the process, and dump the necessary amount into my bucket, then return to the house to continue.

Easy DIY Laundry Soap Notes

As I talked about earlier, this is such an easy thing to make yourself, and it is inexpensive. I always have the ingredients to make my own laundry soap on hand, under the kitchen sink. 

The Fels Naptha also doubles as a stain treater. Simply wet a corner of the bar and use it to scrub any stains on clothing before laundering. 

Borax also has multiple uses. I am a huge fan of everything in my home having multiple uses, and this is certainly no exception! It is an amazing ant killer. Mix equal parts Borax and sugar and dissolve in hot water. Place the mixture in a shallow container or lid. My preference is an old pickle jar lid, and leave on the counter where the ants are. What happens is the ants can’t tell the difference between the Borax and the sugar, so they take it back to their nest to eat, and it kills them. 

Other Uses

Some people have said to simply use it dry, like along baseboards or in corners where ants enter a home and it will stick to their feet. This creates a barrier that the ants won’t cross. I don’t do this because I have a nosy cat who gets into everything left at his level. I find mixing it with sugar and leaving on the counter to be much safer with pets. 

This easy DIY laundry soap recipe has no scent. People use this soap instead for a natural scent. However, this is a body soap and not laundry soap, therefore it may not be as effective. I’ve personally never tried it, just had the recommendation from friends who make their own laundry soap as well. 

This recipe is amazing, but may clog newer washing machines that are high efficiency. Because of this, I do recommend a washer cleaner to prevent that from happening. High efficiency washers need to be cleaned monthly. This DIY laundry soap may increase the frequency of necessary cleaning. Not a big deal, in my opinion. 

Easy DIY Laundry Soap Discussion

I am always amazed at how easy things like this are to make myself instead of having to buy it at the store and rely on them having what I want in stock. Knowing how to make it myself is so much easier and saves me money!

Have you ever made this easy DIY laundry soap? Tell me about it in the comments! Read about other prepping ideas and tips here.

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