How to Save Money by Making Your Own Laundry Detergent

Brew laundry detergent that cleans your clothes for just three cents a load -- a fraction of what it costs with store-bought detergent.

Step 1: Heat four cups of water Heat four cups of water in a large pot on the stove.
Step 2: Shave some soap Start shaving a regular-sized bar of bath soap, and begin adding the shavings as the water gets to just below a boil. Maintaining the water at that level, keep adding soap shavings and stirring until the entire bar is dissolved.
Step 3: Boil more water Boil three gallons of water, put them into a five-gallon bucket, and add the soapy water. Stir for a few minutes, and then add a cup of washing soda. Stir for a few more minutes; then add a half a cup of Borax. Stir a while longer; then let the mixture sit overnight. Use one cup per laundry load.
TIP: If you can’t find washing soda, buy sodium carbonate from a pool supply store; it’s the same thing.
Step 4: Make dry detergent If you’d prefer dry detergent, mix four cups of soap flakes with two cups of washing soda and two cups of Borax. Store it in a covered glass jar.
Step 5: Save on fabric softener And while you’re at it, save on fabric softener by adding a half a cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle.
FACT: The average American family does 400 loads of laundry each year.