New Recipe

Okay, so it's not that new, but I figured some of you might be interested in it. It's a recipe for laundry soap. Yeah, I know, it's not something you'd eat, but it can save you a little money. It's actually cheaper to make your own laundry soap . . . unless you have to use Vanicream, then it's only mildly cheaper. =0} Just kidding! =0)

It's great for people with skin sensitivities because you can use the soap your skin tolerates. Of course, letting you clothes go through an extra rinse cycle helps as well, but if you have super-sensitive skin (like Isaiah), the extra rinse is necessary. Vanicream works well and has no odor - your clothes smell fresh and clean (you can buy this from www.vanicream.com or from your local pharmacy). Ivory is okay, if you can tolerate the fragrance . . . Isaiah's skin doesn't. It also can have an odd odor after a bit. I really do not recommend using an olive oil-based soap (like Kiss My Face). It gets the job done, and your clothes feel soft, but it doesn't smell so good after a bit. In fact, it smells like B.O. - YUCK!!!

Okay, so the recipe. I have also included photos to accompany the process. =0)

You will need:

At least a 2 -3 gallon bucket with a lid (I found mine at Wal-Mart for less than $5)
1 Box of Borax
1 large box or bag of baking soda (Soda Ash or Washing Soda is better, but it's hard to find)
At least 1 bar of soap
Lots of water =0)
1 large pot - LARGE.



Ingredients:

1 bar of soap (grated)
6 cups of boiling water
1 to 2 cups of Borax (I don't suggest any more than 2 cups)
1 to 2 cups of Baking Soda or Soda Ash/Washing Soda
*6 cups of hot water*
4 cups of water - tap water is fine
1 gallon of water - again, tap is fine


*Preparation:*

Have the bucket prepared with 6 cups of boiling water (which will cool to hot water by the time you add the soap). Have this ready in case you have to add the soap because it is overflowing . . . read on, you'll find out why.


Directions:

1. Grate the soap. This is necessary because you'll be standing there forever waiting for it all to mix with the water. Grate the soap. =0) I have used the old-fashioned grater, but why kill your hands when you can use a food processor????


2. Bring 6 cups of water to a boil. Remove from the eye to let it (the eye) cool down a little. At this point turn down the heat to a Medium-Low heat. Dissolve the bar of soap in the hot water.



3. Return the pot to the heat once soap is completely dissolved. Add 1 cup of Borax. You can add more later if you'd like. Stir until borax is completely dissolved.



4. Remove the pot from the heat. No additional heating will be necessary at this point. Slowly add 1 cup of Baking Soda or Soda Ash (Washing Soda) - SLOWLY. You can add more if you'd like. At this point, you may notice the liquid expanding. It can make a mess, so have the bucket handy just in case. This hasn't happened with Ivory or the Kiss My Face soaps, but does happen with the Vanicream-Baking Soda combination. Boy, did I have a mess to clean up, and it's no little mess, either! =0)



5. Add the soap mixture to the bucket with 6 cups of the now-hot water. Stir. Add 4 cups plus 1 gallon of water. Stir.



7. Let set for 24 hours before first use.

You can use about 1 cup for a large load. Sometimes, I will use up to 1 1/2 cups depending on the load.

The laundry soap will look anywhere from a thick soupy liquid to a thin soapy mixture (depending on the soap you use).

Have fun!