I have a love/hate relationship with Pinterest. Only Martha Stewart and every single one of my ex-boyfriends can make me feel more inadequate. Just when I think I've got my crap together....BOOM!!! I find out that the "good" moms are making Monet waterlily paintings out of broccoli and kale for their kids. And buying $30 bento boxes for carrots and string cheese! A life-sized replica of Westminster Abbey made out of empty toilet paper tubes?!? Are you freaking kidding me?!?
However, every once in a while, I come across something that doesn't take an advanced art degree to make. I present....Laundry Soap. This is by far the best idea I've seen on that soul-sucking site..
1. It's economical.
2. I'm capable of making it.
3. It actually works.
However, every once in a while, I come across something that doesn't take an advanced art degree to make. I present....Laundry Soap. This is by far the best idea I've seen on that soul-sucking site..
1. It's economical.
2. I'm capable of making it.
3. It actually works.
To make four batches, you'll need less than $12. I make this much at a time and it lasts for around 6 months.
Buy:
1 box of Borax
1 box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
4 bars of Fels-Naptha laundry soap
2 large bowls
Using a food processor, grate the 4 bars of laundry soap. They will resemble cheddar cheese. CAUTION!! They do not taste like cheddar cheese. I was making this just yesterday, went into the laundry room for something, and heard The Husband exclaim, "Oooh! Cheese!" I stopped him just in time.
Put all of the shredded soap into a large bowl and add 4 cups of borax and 4 cups of the washing soda.
Change out the shredder attachment on your food processor to the regular metal blade and add your soap mixture (in small batches), process, and add to second bowl. You will have a powder that is slightly more coarse than store-bought powdered detergent.
I use 1 - 1 1/2 TB per load of laundry....2 TB if I'm washing The Husband's stinky gym clothes.
Questions you may have:
1. Is this *really* that much cheaper? Yes!! Yes!! A thousand times Yes!!
2. Will it work in my HE washer? I'm not a Whirlpool or Maytag expert so I do not know if the manufacturers would recommend this detergent. I do know that I use it in my Maytag and my mom-in-law uses it in her Kenmore and we have yet to experience a problem. In fact, I don't have that musty smell in my washer that so many HE owners complain about having.
3. But what if I'm making a monster batch of this stuff and I lose count and accidentally add in an extra cup of washing soda? The Horror! I've done this and noticed no difference in cleaning performance.
So will I continue to "pin" on Pinterest? Yes. Because for every 100 times that I feel like a failure, there's that one time that makes it all worth it.
Buy:
1 box of Borax
1 box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
4 bars of Fels-Naptha laundry soap
2 large bowls
Using a food processor, grate the 4 bars of laundry soap. They will resemble cheddar cheese. CAUTION!! They do not taste like cheddar cheese. I was making this just yesterday, went into the laundry room for something, and heard The Husband exclaim, "Oooh! Cheese!" I stopped him just in time.
Put all of the shredded soap into a large bowl and add 4 cups of borax and 4 cups of the washing soda.
Change out the shredder attachment on your food processor to the regular metal blade and add your soap mixture (in small batches), process, and add to second bowl. You will have a powder that is slightly more coarse than store-bought powdered detergent.
I use 1 - 1 1/2 TB per load of laundry....2 TB if I'm washing The Husband's stinky gym clothes.
Questions you may have:
1. Is this *really* that much cheaper? Yes!! Yes!! A thousand times Yes!!
2. Will it work in my HE washer? I'm not a Whirlpool or Maytag expert so I do not know if the manufacturers would recommend this detergent. I do know that I use it in my Maytag and my mom-in-law uses it in her Kenmore and we have yet to experience a problem. In fact, I don't have that musty smell in my washer that so many HE owners complain about having.
3. But what if I'm making a monster batch of this stuff and I lose count and accidentally add in an extra cup of washing soda? The Horror! I've done this and noticed no difference in cleaning performance.
So will I continue to "pin" on Pinterest? Yes. Because for every 100 times that I feel like a failure, there's that one time that makes it all worth it.
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