How I do my laundry for $.10

Today's post is on how I do my laundry for ten cents a load (or around there somewhere).  When the boys came along, I found myself like many other mothers out there I am sure, doing at least three times the laundry I was used to doing.  I also found that they were allergic to my favorite liquid laundry detergent.  My boys have intensely sensitive skin, and in fact we just had to switch to a sensitive skin version of sunscreen after a week of hives on both of them after a day of sun with the regular baby sunblock. 
     
So a few months back, I found this recipe for laundry detergent online in a few different places.  There was a liquid version and a powder version, and since I have limited laundry cabinet space, I went with the powder version.  I am in love.  It works like a dream, especially on whites and even on the tough stains the boys smash into their clothes.  It is only 5 minutes extra effort and is soooooo much less expensive, I really feel like I am getting away with something.  My mom with her sensitive skin is also hooked.  So if you are interested in how I do it, read on.  And as I stated before, I can't take credit, so I am merely passing along this tried and true recipe.  It is safe for top loading and front loading machines.  I have the old top loader, and I hear that if you want to use it in a front loader, you put it right in with the clothes at the start and don't bother with trying to get it into the drawer soap loader thingy.  It is not a sudsy soap so it works well with these machines.

You can find all the ingredients you will need at your local big box store in the laundry aisle.  You will need a box of Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda, a box of  20 Mule Team Borax, and a bar of Fels Naptha soap.  You can also substitute a plain bar of ivory soap if you don't like the scent of Fels (which is a heavenly lemon/citrus scent), but I have not ever tested the Ivory version.  I also went to the kitchen/pantry aisle and purchased a locking top canister that you would normally store flour in for the storage of my new soap, you will it see it in pictures below.  You will also need a paper plate or paper towel, a 1 cup dry measuring cup, and a cheese grater.

So with all the supplies collected, measure out one cup of the Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda, dump into canister.

Grate your bar of soap. I grate it onto a paper plate or towel so that I can pick it up, fold the plate and easily pour it into the canister.   Once grated, add it in with the washing soda.

Add one cup of 20 Mule Team Borax.

Close the canister tightly and give it a good shake to mix all ingredients together well.  Be aware the powders will settle to the bottom so you have to be mindful of this when using the soap later on.  Give it a good shake (even upside down) each time you use it.

 This is what three batches will get you!

Online it is recommended to use 1 TBSP per load, but I use 2 because I always do very large loads, and have city water, and tough stains in almost every load.  A regular size load with nothing too tough to wash out would really only need one.  That is really it!  It will feel weird using only that tiny amount, but 2 TBSP is all it takes to get my laundry sparkling clean.  There will be a lovely lemon scent in the air during the wash cycle, but the clothes will not have any scent at all when finished, just super clean.  I get a little scent from my normal dryer sheets.  So there you have it, laundry on the cheap even for sensitive skinned, super messy kids.  For some really tough spots that didn't wash out the first time, I scrubbed them with an extra bar of Fels Naptha soap that I always have around, allowed it to set in for 15 minutes- washed again, and the stains were gone!

Good luck and let me know with a comment if you have a question!