DIY Laundry Detergent Liquid

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While experimenting with Laundry soap, cost, ingredients, etc. I came to realize that although the Powdered version is very fast to mix up, and more compact to store, THIS recipe is much more Frugal.

This recipe is very Easy and the most Frugal so far!

The previous post for Powdered Laundry Detergent was much faster, but this one is worth the time, AND SAVES YOU EVEN MORE $$

What you will need:
 
  • 2 ltr boiling water
  • 1/2 bar Sunlight Soap Grated
  • 1/2 Cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (NOT Baking Soda)
  • 1/2 Cup Borax
  • 6 ltr warm water
  • Grater
  • Large Pot to hold 2 ltr water
  • large spoon to mix
  • Measuring cups/jug
  • Container/bucket for mixing to hold 8 ltrs +
  • containers to put liquid detergent in (old, washed containers from your current brands)

1. Grate the bar of soap (or use food processor). Place in pot with 2 ltr boiling water. Stir until soap dissolves, reduce heat with bubbles get foamy. It should not bubble much more than the picture below.



2. ADD Washing Soda, Borax and stir to dissolve.
3. Mix well and pour into container large bucket and add 6 ltrs warm water, stirring to mix.
4. Pour into jugs to store. Let cool then put lids on.

**Shake well before each use.


Use 1/2 cup per load. This recipe will yield approx. 64 loads of laundry.

 
I searched many online recipes and this is the one I like the most so far. You will find this to be the pretty standard recipe. Some add 2 ltr solution to jugs and top up with water, I prefer to mix all together then put in jugs. You have to have buckets large enough to do it this way though.
 
NOTE: You may need to add a little water if it becomes too solid. It will gel up a bit. SHAKE WELL before each use, then add water if needed.
 
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COST BREAK DOWN:
Sunlight soap 2pk $1.99 (used 1/2 bar) = $0.50
A&H Washing Soda $3.99 (used only 1/2 cup) = $0.13
Borax $5.58 (used only 1/2 cup) = $0.23
TOTAL COST 64 loads: $0.86



Works out to just $0.013 per load! JUST OVER A PENNY A LOAD!!!

Let’s put this into perspective:
 
If you are doing 5 loads of laundry a week = 260 loads per year.
At $0.013 per load = ONLY $3.49 per year!!!
 
Let’s DOUBLE the loads to 10/week = $6.98 per year
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Let’s say using coupons and sales, you can get your favourite laundry detergent for
$2 / 32 loads = $0.06 per load
 
260 lds = $15.60
520 lds = $31.20
 
If you do not use coupons you could be paying much more.
Regular Retail (Walmart’s current price)
 
  • Arm & Hammer 140 load = $13.97 = $0.10/ld ($26 for 260 ld/ per year)
  • Tide 96 loads = $19.94 =$0.21/ld  ($54 for 260 ld/ per year)

4 thoughts on “DIY Laundry Detergent Liquid”

  1. where did you buy your 3 ingredients. I don't think we have any of that in Bathrust, but when i go to moncton i would go buy it. 🙂

  2. You can find these at most stores in the Laundry section. Try Superstore, Sobeys or Walmart. I got the Borax at Walmart and the other two at Sobeys.<br />They are there, we just don&#39;t notice it if we are not looking for them. <br />They are basic laundry section items.

  3. What about use in high efficiency machines?

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