How to Wash Your Clothes For a Nickel Per Load!

I love to save money AND do crafts!






When a new big box of Tide costs $16.99, it's time to make homemade laundry detergent. (Yes, honey, I returned that $17 box of detergent you just bought...you knew I would..) It's easy and only cost 5 cents a load. First, google coupons for Arm and Hammer Washing Soda, Arm and Hammer Baking Soda, Fels Naptha bar soap and 21 Mule Team Borax. You won't believe how cheap the ingredients are!  I have found all of these ingredients at my local grocery stores and also Walmart.

First, measure out 1 cup of the Borax. This is safe for the environment, including septic tanks. Sometimes the borax will clump in the box so just mash those lumps up.




Then, measure 1 cup of Washing Soda. (Washing soda? Who knew!)

Add to that, 1 cup of Baking Soda. (make sure to refill your baking soda box in the pantry!)

Add the last of the powders into the jar.  Next, get out the cheese grater for the laundry bar. Fels Naptha soap is found on the laundry aisle and is usually around 99 cents.  ( And did you see my jam jar funnel?  Love, love my wide-mouth funnel for this!)

Grate about 1/2 a bar of Fels Naptha with a cheese grater (the fine side) or a food processor if you know how to use it. (I don't)

Pour all the pretty bits of soap into your jar. This is my favorite part. It looks like shredded cheddar cheese and smells all clean and soapy!  If your husband happens to walk by, resist the temptation to ask if he wants some cheese.  That wouldn't be nice.  Funny.  But not nice.

Everything is now all there and is ready to be shaken up.

This batch will do 32 loads of clothes using 2 Tablespoons per load. That's right. 2 Tablespoons!  You can add an extra tablespoon if your load is large or especially dirty.  And how pretty does it look in an antique Ball Jar?  If you like a stronger scent to your clothes, you might add about 1/2 a teaspoon of that new Downy Unstopables. It's a laundry scent booster and comes in a tall bottle that will last you practically ALL YEAR and make you feel better about your own occasional misspelled word.  I'm guessing they're acting like they MEANT to spell it wrong but hey, maybe they haven't noticed.

Enjoy your new laundry detergent knowing you made it and are saving your family massive amounts of money while getting the clothes clean!