Sweet Pea Laundry Soap

The recipes for homemade laundry detergent are easy to find, but some of them contain slight variations.
Here's my version:

::Ingredients::
1 Bar of Fels Naptha Soap
Borax
Washing Soda

::Where to Buy::
*I live right outside Chicago*
Fels Naptha comes in bar form. I found it in the laundry aisle of Dominick's. Keep in mind that a young sales clerk probably won't know what you're talking about. 1 bar of this makes a little over 2 cups of powder.
Borax is available anywhere. It comes in a box and is powder. Don't use biz or anything other than regular ol' 20 mule team Borax.
The washing soda is made by Arm and Hammer and is NOT baking soda. I have only found this at Jewel. It is also powder in a box.

::What to do::
Grate the Fels Naptha soap into a big bowl. This is the hardest, most time consuming part. It takes about 25 minutes and I recruited my boyfriend for this job!
In a seperate (air tight) container, mix the following:
1 cup grated soap
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup borax

SHAKE IT UP! You'll need to shake the container before every use.

::How to Use::
For light loads, use 2 tablespoons
For heavier loads, use 3 tablespoons

INSTEAD OF DOWNY
Replace it with white vineager. Just use as much as you used to. No, it doesn't make you clothes smell yucky. I was afraid of this too. Just try it, you'll never go back.

I like to still use a dryer sheet, it's just because I like the way they smell and they're cheap enough at the dollar store.

Before I used this laundry soap I was a little scared of what it would do. I think that's why I waited a while before making it.
No it does not take out color. In fact, my colors are brighter and my whites are whiter than they've ever been.
No it doesn't smell weird.
Yes, it really does clean!

If you have a really difficult spot or stain (or dirty white socks) Rub them on a bar of fels naptha, let sit for an hour or so, and wash. You'll be amazed.


If you have any questions or comments, please email me. If you have any money saving recipes you would like me to try, send those too!
Good luck!!
-Stefanie