Basic Living
| Earthnotes Basic Living |
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| MAKE YOUR OWN LAUNDRY SOAP | |
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| This recipe caught my eye in the March/April 2007 issue of Countryside Magazine and Small Stock Journal. I contacted the contributor, Dorice Baty, and asked if I might post it here and she graciously allowed me to do so with equal credit to her grandmother Beulah who has always been her inspiration. Please be advised that Fels-Naptha laundry soap is not organic and can cause skin irritation on susceptible individuals. However, the method could be experimented with using other soaps. If successful, I'd like to hear about it. | |
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1/3 bar of Fels-Naptha soap, grated 1/2 cup washing soda 1/2 cup borax powder 1 tbsp essential oil (optional) 2 gallon jugs (Dorice uses recycled vinegar jugs) |
Place grated soap in a large pot over medium heat and add 6 cups of water. Heat the mixture until the soap melts. Add the washing soda, the borax, and any essential oil. Stir constantly until all is dissolved. Allow to sit over heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let sit for 5 minutes more. Using a funnel, place half of the solution in each of the gallon jugs, then add enough hot water to fill the container half way in each. Shake well, then fill the remaining half of each jug with hot water and shake again. Allow to sit for 24 hours when it will gel up and look like egg whites. Use 1/2 to 2/3rds cup per load. This solution will not suds up, but cleans great and makes the clothes smell fresh. |
