Back to Homemade Laundry Soap

I had stopped making homemade laundry detergent for awhile.  First we had a plumbing issue and my husband was concerned that the ingredients in my detergent were part of the culprit.  Then, I just had a difficult time finding the actual ingredients  The Fels-Naptha soap and the Arm and Hammer Washing Soda were nearly impossible to find in my area.  I had searched everywhere... or so I thought.  I looked at the prices online, but shipping was ridiculous.  For that price I could use Tide.

Then I read that ACE Hardware had the supplies.  The nearest ACE is about 45 minutes away.  I made the trip to do some other shopping and decided to check it out.  Sure enough, the supplies were there as well as a recipe is the customer needed one.  I actually found the Fels-Naptha and the Washing Soda.  So I bought a couple boxes of washing soda and a few bars of the soap and some Borax.  It was time to begin again.

I made my laundry soap.  I'll be honest, it felt right.  Tide, which is my favorite laundry soap other than homemade, was costing me a lot of money to take care of my large family.  I also LOVE Fels Naptha.  The other soaps I have used, including Zote, don't smell as nice at all.  As for cleaning ability, I did a few loads and I can't tell the difference between Tide and Fels Naptha.  They both seem to clean really well.

In the name of convenience, we will buy commercial laundry soap that costs fifteen times more.  Now that I have found the correct ingredients instead of substitutes for the washing soda and Fels Naptha, I don't think I'll use anything else.  I did add some of the Tide I had to the homemade Laundry Detergent, and it added a nice smell.  However, the Fels Naptha smells so wonderful that once my store bought stuff is gone I won't need to do that again.