Frugal Mom

Tonight was a typical night at home. Fix dinner, feed the baby, make laundry detergent. Yep, that's right. I make my own laundry detergent. It was one of the first steps I took to being more frugal. Frugality is the only thing that keeps me a SAHM. My husband's paycheck is enough, but not without some penny-pinching. Anyway, making laundry detergent is kind of fun. It's simple, cheap, and something that even the kids can do, or at least help, depending on age. Here's the recipe:

Homemade Laundry Detergent
(makes about 3 gallons)

1 Bar of Soap*
4 Cups Water
1 Cup Baking Soda**
1/2 Cup Borax**
3 Gallons Water

Grate bar of soap. Place 4 Cups water and grated soap in saucepan. Heat over low-medium until soap is dissolved. Be careful not to get the water too hot or it will boil over.
In large container (5-gallon bucket or small trashcan with lid), mix the hot soapy water, baking soda, borax, and 3 gallons water. Stir until well mixed and let cool. You can use the detergent immediately. Use approximately 1 Cup detergent for a full load of laundry. A measuring cup makes a good scoop.

*I prefer to use Ivory Soap because it works well for sensitive skin, but any bar soap will work.
**Large boxes of baking soda and borax can be found in the laundry aisle at the store. It is more economical to buy the large box of baking soda. One box of borax has lasted me more than a year.