I've posted this a couple times already... but mmm my house smells so good when I make this and I just had to post again. Aren't these colors so yummy looking!? Don't taste it though! It's a mixture of grated Fels Naptha and Zote!
I make a double or triple batch at a time and like to mix the two brands soaps. The two scents together smell awesome, but I have used essential oils, Downey fabric scent pellets, and the new little Snuggle fabric scent packs (they just recently came out with - I used a knife to cut them open and added about 15 to a double batch but I honestly think this laundry detergent smells best on it's own!).
Homemade Laundry Detergent
1 bar either Fels Naptha or Zote laundry soap (bar form)
1 c Arm & Hammer WASHING soda
1 c 20 Mule Team Borax
1 c Oxi-Clean (optional)
1 1/2 teaspoons essential oil in your favorite scent (optional)
1 container to store it
Grate the soap bar into a large bowl with a hand grater or use a food processor. Fels Naptha tends to be harder to grate and is worth using a food processor or salad shooter with the shred disc. Zote is easily grated by hand as it's far softer. When grated, add 1 cup each of the Oxi-clean, washing soda and Borax. Add oil to scent if you are using - we like our laundry to smell wonderful so I use about cap full.
You can use the mixture as it is, I suggest making a fine powder of it to ensure it's mixed equally all the way through, and is quickly and easily disintegrated in the laundry. If you only have a blender: Put 1 cup at a time through your blender and blend smooth. Only do 1 cup as the soap particles might clog your blender. For food processors: I've tried both the S-blade and the grating blade. I think the S-blade works best and makes the smoothest powder.
Place in a container and 2 heaping tablespoons. We love this stuff so much we use about 4 on average. Just use more or less depending if the clothing are heavily soiled or a large or small load.
(For the container - I found a simple "flour storage" container at a local retail store that works great for a double batch. Any tightly sealed container will work to keep out moisture and keep it from spilling.)
