$6 makes 10 gallons of laundry detergent

[ChickenLady]

Well, for me here is how much I spent on everything..

Borax - 4
Washing Soda - 4
Zote - .60 bar
Scented crystal thingy's - 6

Each recipe makes 80 loads ... I figure I have enough Borax, Washing Soda, and Crystal things for 5 more batches.

That's 480 loads of laundry for 17.60... which equates down to .036 cents a load. If I did it without the crystals its something stupid .024 a load...

[SNL]

The kroger stuff does not have scent or softner built in.

You grate the bar of soap with like a cheese grater?

[Jakob]

Our new recipe called for chopping up it up into large chunks and melting them on the stove.

[ChickenLady]

I don't make the liquid version because I didn't want to store all that and the time to actually make the liquid. I just used my cheese grater and the bar of soap grated into a fine powder. Took 3 minutes to do and 30 seconds to measure out everything else.

I use fabric softener sheets only because I can get them at Costco at ~500 sheets for 6 bucks.

[Jakob]

We have a bunch of old detergent containers and just reuse those.

[Paula]

ok. Does anyone know if I can buy all of these products at the same store? TSC or ACE hardware?

[KYGlassman]

What is Zote...is this a brand of soap? I don't recall seeing it anywhere.

[ChickenLady]

ok. Does anyone know if I can buy all of these products at the same store? TSC or ACE hardware?

All products can be purchased as Walmart. Walmart only carries Fels Naptha soap, but it located in the same place as Borax and Washing Soda.

I hate giving Walmart business so I had purchased the Borax and Zote at ValuMarket and then the washing soda at Meijer.

[ChickenLady]

What is Zote...is this a brand of soap? I don't recall seeing it anywhere.

Zote is normally found in the Mexican food section of stores. DO NOT buy it online.. its stupid expensive.

It is .65 a bar at ValuMarket at the one by my house. I just bought 10 bars fro 6.50.. vs the 1.30 they want for one bar of Fels Naptha

[ChickenLady]

Zote is now .99 cents a bar at Valumarket.

making my version a cent more per load!!!! (not quite but kinda) OH NO

[Paula]

I finally had enough with the buying of detergent and made my own today. Every store I checked was sold out of wash soap. I made my own by cooking baking soda in the oven on 400 for an hour. (Not sure what that electricity cost me but baking soda is way cheaper than wash soap). I also added 2/3 cup (I made a double batch) of TSP. I use this in my dishwasher also. It's the stuff they quit putting in dishwasher detergent a few years ago.

I will have to do the math on the price per load since I added the TSP. It costs about $9 for 4 lbs, so 2.25 per pound. I believe thats roughly .75 per batch. (I made a double batch).

Now I need to go do some laundry.

[ChickenLady]

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/washing- ... -soda.html

The chemical makeup of the two is different. The washing soda in particular helps boost detergent.

[Paula]

When it is heated, it changes it's chemical composition.

The chemical reaction behind this transformation requires heating and follows the equation: 2NaHCO3 = Na2CO3 + CO2 + H2O.

Basically, heating the baking soda mades the CO2 and water evaporate.

[ChickenLady]

When it is heated, it changes it's chemical composition.

The chemical reaction behind this transformation requires heating and follows the equation: 2NaHCO3 = Na2CO3 + CO2 + H2O.

Basically, heating the baking soda mades the CO2 and water evaporate.

I know, the more I read the more I figured out that what I posted was incorrect. I tried to delete when I was on my tab, but eff it it wouldn't delete. So up it stays.

I'm still not 100% sure that an oven can get the temps required, but if it does the chemical makeup does work.

[Paula]

I bake mine for one hour at 425. I stir it at least twice. Just rinse your pans before loading in the dishwasher, cause it makes too much soap and you get residue. (Ask me how I know;)

[Paula]

I forgot to mention, for anyone using Tri Sodium Phosphate, (TSP) it dissolves like salt, not so well in cold water (not too often). If I wash in cold, I use a liquid detergent.