Homemade Laundry Detergent

The picture above is Ivory soap.  I grated it in my cheese grater.  I mixed it wish washing soda and borax to make homemade laundry detergent.  In my quest to save money I came across several recipes for homemade laundry detergent.  I made the powdered kind this time.  Next time I might make the liquid (though the term goo to describe it kind of threw me).  I mixed in some store bought powered detergent that I had left.   I've washed a couple loads of clothes now, and they don't smell any different from when they are washed with only the store-bought stuff.  They are just as clean too.

I think I just got angry at the prices the last time I went into the store.  I'm trying to save money, and the prices of this stuff just keep rising and rising.  Seriously, get a grip manufacturers!  It should not cost that to keep clothes and home clean. I bought just the essentials... Laundry soap, dish soap, shampoo and conditioner, body wash... and the total was nearly thirty bucks.  And I bought the smaller sized, not the economy sizes I really need to take care of a large family.

So, I did what I do best.  I got online and began researching.  I found several recipes for hand made, home made products.   One article I read said that if a family has to make their own laundry soap to save money, they are living beyond their means.  The price of soap shouldn't affect their budget that much.

Well, I rationalized that guy was an idiot.  Maybe if I only did a load or two of laundry a week then the price of detergent wouldn't be a big deal.  My family has seven members.  One of those members is a two year old that is potty training.  Three of those members are teenage girls (they change a lot.)  And the other girl is a girlie girl of nine who changes as much as the teenagers.  My husband has work clothes that need washed often.  I do a minimum of two loads per day, six days per week.  The price of laundry detergent is a very big deal in our home.  It makes a big deal if I'm spending thirty dollars or six dollars a month for detergent.  Yearly, that would be a difference of nearly $300. 

Actually, If I make the liquid detergent, It is supposed to last even longer. 

I haven't quite gotten the recipes for everything I can make at home to save money, but I have gotten a few.  I might begin buying baking soda, vinegar, and Borax by the truckload.  They are in a lot of cleaner recipes and they are very cheap compared to buying this stuff manufactured and at the stores. 

I know I'm beginning to sound like a cheapskate.  I don't care.  I'm on a mission to find ways to save as much money as possible.  I want to be able to stay home and homeschool my children.  I can't do that if I don't find every way possible to save money. 

In the overall scheme of things, a clean home is important.  This is our home, our sanctuary.  I believe God is a God of order, and I know I have a lot of work to do in this area.  However, it shouldn't cost me thousands a year to keep my home clean and nice.  Money that could be going to pay off debt should not be spent because a product has a name and fancy packaging.

This is a step at a time for me.  Obviously, I have not done this often.  I'm the one who never even thought about making things myself.  It was just easier to buy it.  I never considered the cost as something unreasonable.  And, I'm not saying I'm going to hand make everything.  I do believe in saving money right now as much as possible.

My next venture?  I think I'm going to make body wash.  At almost four bucks a bottle for generic and almost seven for name brand, this is adding up for us.  We use a bottle a week easily with everyone using it.  While this isn't my highest expenditure, it does add up.

And some things I just won't try my hand at making.  Toiletries, paper products, even shampoo and conditioner are out of my league.  It's save money where I can, not be ridiculous.