Zero Waste Challenge: Make your own laundry soap in 30 minutes

All you need is a 1/2 cup each Borax and
washing soda, plus 1/3 bar Fels Naptha,
grated finely, and water
© L. Kathryn Grace

Why in heavens name would anyone want to make their own laundry soap? First reason, our commitment to becoming a zero waste household. Second, we're cutting back on plastic.

Blogger Crystal Miller furnished the recipe, which is nearly identical to several others I found around the web. I link to hers because she offers additional information about the ingredients and answers a lot of questions.

It's so easy! In this post, I'll show you how I did it, share the amazing cost savings, and tell you how it it worked.

First, collect the ingredients and utensils

All you need are three low-cost ingredients, a bucket and a lid. We used our old kitty-food bucket, which is a little big, but works fine. No new plastic! Here's the complete list.

• 1/3 bar Fels Naptha*
• 1/2 Cup washing soda*
• 1/2 Cup Borax*
• Grater (To grate the Fels; a food processor is said to work well, but I don't see the need)
• Large sauce pan
• Extra large measuring cup or jug for measuring the hot and cold water
• Wooden spoon
• Two-gallon bucket with lid 

*As with any household cleaners, read the warning labels on the packages and store ingredients and finished product safely, especially if there are children in the home. 

Make the soap

"Egg-noodle-soup" mixture
Isn't it pretty? Smells good too!
© L. Kathryn Grace

It's very easy to make. Took about half an hour, start to finish. Here's what you do.

• Measure the ingredients and assemble your utensils.
• In a large saucepan, melt 1/3 bar finely grated Fels Naptha in six cups water, stirring frequently.
• When the soap is completely melted, add and dissolve the 1/2 cup Borax and 1/2 cup washing soda. Set aside.
• Carefully measure 4 cups (one quart) hot tap water into the bucket and add the hot soap mixture.
• Mix thoroughly, then stir in an additional gallon of tap water (cold is fine), plus 6 more cups.
• Mix again, cover and set aside for 24 hours.
• On laundry day, give a quick stir, scoop out half a cup, and toss in with your clothing as you usually do, according to your machine's instructions.

Most of the recipes mention the pretty "egg-noodle-soup" appearance of the finished goo. Sadly, this image doesn't do it justice.

Tip learned the hard way: To reduce melting time, finely chop any large, ungrated bits. Total grating and chopping time: ~5 minutes.

How well does it work?

The good news: Many stains on our kitchen linens, some of which we use in place of paper towels these days and which get a real workout, were gone. They came out sparkling white without bleaching, a first. Darks and colors? We see no difference from commercial product laundering after several loads.

On the other hand, our most difficult load--stained, sooty, old cleaning rags--came no cleaner with the homemade soap than with any of the commercial brands I've used over the years. No worse. No better. You might say it's a wash.

How much does it cost?

Cost per load

Seventh Gen: 36 cents
Homemade:  2 cents

I was shocked at the difference in cost per load: 2¢ for my homemade soap, versus 36¢ for Seventh Generation, the commercial brand I use.

Miller's costs, at just 1¢ per load, were half mine. You will find a cost breakdown on her recipe page.

Coming up

Next Monday I'll show you how I arrived at those figures, how much we expect to save over a year, and how the cost stacks up when we factor in my labor. You might be surprised. Best news of all, we'll keep an estimated eight 100-ounce plastic bottles from the waste stream over the next year. And we don't have to buy any plastic to do it!

Disclosure: Should you click through on the kitty-food bucket link in this post and purchase something during your visit to Amazon, there is the possibility I might earn a few pennies. Wouldn't that be a thrill.

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We make peace in a million small ways every day.

All text and images, unless otherwise noted, copyright L. Kathryn Grace. All rights reserved.