Hello Pinterest folks! If you like this, or any of the other stuff I’ve got on my blog thus far, please feel free to follow me on Pinterest and Facebook. Thank you for stopping by!!
I have been on a homemade laundry detergent kick lately, because face it, it’s a crapload cheaper than even the Costco laundry detergent. I’ve made liquid laundry soap in the past and liked it just fine. I also recently made another powder laundry detergent which we’ve liked just fine (side note, I used the yellow Purex Crystals in mine because I liked the smell way better). I decided on a whim to make the Super Laundry Sauce despite having nearly half of my Purex mix left.
Super Laundry Sauce from Budget101
1 bar Fels Naptha, grated
1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
1 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
4 cups of hot water
2 1-quart standard mouth Mason jars
Standard blender base, with blade base (the blade base will screw into standard mouth Mason jars!)
Usage – 1 Tablespoon per load of laundry. Put directly into barrel if you are using an HE machine, not into the detergent dispenser drawer. It’s creamy, so it might not come out of the dispenser drawer properly.
Grate Fels Naptha if you haven’t already.
Heat the 4 cups of water in a heavy pan on high heat. Mix Borax and Washing Soda together.
The two measuring cups are the mixed Borax and Washing Soda
Once water is boiling add grated Fels Naptha, reduce heat, and stir continuously.
The directions say it takes 10-15 minutes for the Fels Naptha to dissolve, but I found it takes quite a bit longer.
When Fels Naptha is completely melted turn off the heat, remove pan from burner, and stir in the Borax and Washing Soda mix. Stir continuously until you can’t feel any granules on the bottom of the pan.
After the Borax and washing soda is dissolved pour the mix evenly into two 1-quart Mason jars. Add water leaving about 1 1/2″ of headspace. Put the lids on, and then turn the jars upside down as the soaps will solidify and the liquid will sink to the bottom. Since you’ll be blending it you want the liquid closest to the top.
Let sit for 4 hours and then blend. Sitting any longer will apparently make the texture grainy. I only let mine sit for about 3 hours, but it’s pretty chilly in my kitchen.
The soaps are solidifying … 
Blend!
Let me warn you right now, put your hand on the jar. Do not step back to take a picture. Just don’t. I thought my jar was going to jump off my blender.
It looks good!
I’ve used it for two loads now. I’ve not had anything super soiled dirt wise, but it seems to work. I do have one beef with it. Having a front loading HE machine I cannot use the spray from the washer filling. I usually end up using an item in the washer to wipe the laundry sauce out of the Tablespoon. David refuses to do that, so he’ll be using the Purex mix only, which is a solid point against the Super Laundry Sauce. Also, I’ve got to leave one of my measuring spoons in the laundry room, which sucks a bit since I only have two Tablespoon measures. I’m going to give Stephanie a jar when I go see her in a few weeks, so I’ll have her chime in an update. In the meantime I’ll alternate using Super Laundry Sauce and the Purex mix.
**ETA – Please excuse the horribly crappy pictures. I didn’t feel like busting out my speedlight and the CFL bulbs in the kitchen are not the best lighting for photography. Actually, they suck for photography. **
Let me know how you like it overall in a few days or so. It looks just like the recipe I use, but mine takes more water, no blender, and I use about a 1/2 -1 cup at a time. I am always looking for easier methods. The first recipe I tried, after about a week I realized I just didn’t like it, so I am interested to see if this one turns out well!
We’re having “homemade” pizza for dinner tonight, and I’m sure both the girls will end up with sauce on them, so that will be a good test.
I use this recipe and I add a 1/2 cup of Pink solution to mine and it works great! I love it. I add a bit of essential ois to so my laundry has an orange-y smell to it. It’s great
What is “pink solution”? All I can think of is Zote, which I use in my powder laundry detergent.
I just read another blog where the woman also makes this laundry sauce and she put the measuring spoon right in the wash every time. She has a front load HE washer.
My plastic measuring spoon is a little cheap and flimsy. I’m not sure how well it would hold up, but I can give it a try (and then I can return my metal one to the kitchen).