Here is one of the simplest and most effective recipes for homemade laundry detergent.  Our family has used this for quite some time and we love it.  Once the initial purchases are made my laundry only costs about 3-5 cents per load!  It's my understanding that you CAN use this in front-loading machines b/c it's a gel and not a liquid; plus it is low suds.

And you know you have something good when your 21 year old DD says, "One of these days, when I leave home, will you still make this for me?"  lol 

First, you must to collect the things you'll need to make your soap:

A large pot and a WOODEN spoon DEDICATED to ONLY making soap; I label mine w/a Sharpie marker so that no one will confuse them for cooking utensils - even though I don't actually keep them in my kitchen, you never know and you want to be safe.  You also need a box of Arm & Hammer WASHING Soda and 20 Mule Team Borax, along w/a bar of Fels Naptha Soap - these items are found in the laundry isle of your grocery - and Lavender essential oil - it's antibacterial AND it smells SO good!  And while you're in your kitchen, grab a hand grater and med-sized dessert-type plate.

And don't forget a container w/a good lid to keep your finished product in!  This is what I use - an old popcorn bucket - so it doesn't have to be anything fancy.

Pour 8 c. of water into your pot and let it be warming on MEDIUM heat while your are preparing your other ingredients.

Grate 1/4 of the Fels Naptha bar...

Add 1/4 c. Arm & Hammer Washing Soda...

Then 1/4 c. 20 Mule Team Borax...

Mix them together a little...

And w/the wooden spoon, scoop the ingredients into the warm water...

Bring heat up to MED-HIGH and...

Add 1ts. Lavender essential oil, stir until soap bits are dissolved and then stir occasionally while this heats up for about 20 minutes...

After it has all dissolved and is well stirred, remove from heat and let sit for 1 hour.

You can see that after if has sat for 1 hour that it is starting to gell-up.

Then just pour the partially gelled detergent into your storage container, top w/the lid and let it finish gelling.  If you made your detergent in the morning it should be ready to use by the evening, other-wise, just wait until the next morning.

Use a 1/2 c. or so in each load - if I'm doing a large load I will add a little more.

This has gotten out all sorts of stains for me.  If the stain is really bad - and if 'someone forgot' to tell me that their favorite shirt has some sort of stain on it and it has set in - I take an old toothbrush, get a little detergent on it and brush WELL across the stain and then let it sit for an hour or so, after that I wash it as usual and the stain is generally gone.

I have never had any desire to go back to store-bought deterent.  I hope you enjoy this.

Blessings from Ohio, Kim Wolf<><