DIY laundry soap

So I decided to make my own laundry soap. Every time I went to the store they were out of Super washing soda, I went tonight and bought 3 boxes!  After researching different recipes I decided to change a few things. I HATE the way the fels naptha smells. I was told by a friend that the smell doesn't stay on the clothing. But I did not want to smell it every time I had to wash clothing! 

I found about 3 recipes that I like and changed them up a little. First I busted out my handheld electric food processor ( the perk of working for Williams-Sonoma for a long long time) I use this to grate big blocks of cheese. It worked great for the bar soap. I used 3 bars of Yardley soap that I got for $1 at Dollar tree. Then added the borax, super washing soda and baking soda. here is the recipe I did a triple batch. 

2 cups of soap flakes ( I used 3 bars of grated Yardley bar soap) 

1 cup of borax

1 cup of super washing soda

1 cup of baking soda 

It said to use 1 tbs in a front loader washer and 1 cup for a top loader. I used more then a tablespoon. My Brain wont allow me to do that so I used more... ha 

UPDATE: after using this a few times, I am not happy with the overall smell once the clothing is dry. So I am adding a small amount of regular soap with it. This works SO good on making dingy clothing look new again. I have a zebra sweater that I LOVE, it was looking a little gross and dingy. So I soaked (using the soak setting) it in my DIY laundry soap in the washer and it looks brand new!! 

Clean on, My friends! 

Homemade fabric softener recipe

So I love to make things cheap or free . I hate spending money on stuff like fabric softener! 

I found a recipe on pinterest and wanted to try it. It called for 6 cups of water, 3 cups of vinegar and 2 cups of suave conditioner. I didn't want to go back to the store AGAIN for conditioner so I went to my teenage daughters bathroom and "borrowed" what ever looked old or un-used! 

I found a plethora of half used conditioner bottles. I picked the ones that smelled the strongest. 

I used my old "name brand" fabric softener bottle to put the home made stuff in. I measured the water and vinegar out in a measuring cup then funneled it into the jug. I was having a hard time getting the thick conditioner to go in the small opening of the Fab softener bottle. SO I mixed it with some HOT water to water it down.... then added it to the other stuff!

It seems to work just fine. you don't notice any vinegar smell at all once its is mixed together. It is not as thick or strong smelling as the name brands. But for $1 I sure cant complain. I didn't really measure it when I did laundry, I just filled up my little fab soft thingy in the top of the washer! 

6 cups warm water 

3 cups vinegar 

2 cups of good smelling conditioner