Thrifty Thursday: How to Make Homemade Powder Laundry Detergent and How Much You Save!

This week I've been blogging about the the Proverbs 31 Woman. The Proverbs 31 woman is a DIYer - she's a do it yourself type! She plants her own vineyard, selects wool and flax, makes her own linens and coverings for her beds, and supplies the merchants with sashes to sell. So in honor of the Proverbs 31 lady - here's how to make homemade powder laundry detergent:


Ingredients:
1 cup of Borax
1 cup of Super Washing Soda
1 cup of baking soda
1/2 bar of Fels-Naptha


Directions: Grate the Fels Naptha laundry soap with a grater or use a food processor. Add the other ingredients. Shake and/or mix well. Put in an airtight container. Use 2 tablespoons of detergent per large load.


Now here are some answers to some questions you may have:
1. Where do I find these ingredients? The Fels-Naptha will be found in the aisle with all the other bars of soap like Dial and Ivory. The Borax and Super Washing Soda should be found in the aisle with all the other laundry detergents.

2. What if my grocery store does not have these items? Go to http://www.doitbest.com/ or http://www.amazon.com/ . (If you have found these ingredients cheaper elsewhere on the web - please share the link in the comments section!) If you live in my area - you will find the Borax and Washing Soda at Hartville Hardware.

3. How many loads will one batch do? 24 large loads

4. How much do I save using this homemade detergent? My friend Clare has done the math based on our local pricing - yours will differ if you can find these items cheaper.

The 16oz box of Baking Soda cost $0.60, so the price per batch was $0.30.

The 55 oz. box of Super Wash cost $5, so the price per batch is $.073.

The one bar of Fels Naptha cost $1.50, so the price per batch was $0.75.

The 76oz. box of Borax cost $5.00, so the price per batch was $0.53


Total cost per batch = $2.30 compared to normal brands that run from $6-$9 for equal number of loads. That's a big savings!!! Enjoy!


Walk with the King!