Laundry soap

**UPDATED** Scroll to the bottom if you're interested.

A couple of months ago I made my first batch of laundry soap. I wasn't going to blog about it then because I wasn't sure if the idea of making my own laundry soap would "stick", but now I'm hooked. I can't remember where I first read about this idea, but I was intrigued. Then when my friend tried it, my interest was piqued even more, and I thought I might try it. Then I read more about it here. Only after reading that was I sold on making a batch. Just follow that second link and scroll down to the "Calculations" section and you'll see what sold me. And now that I've tried it for a couple of months, I will keep on making it.

Here's the recipe:

Liquid Laundry Detergent
6 cups of water
1/3 bar of Fels Naptha Soap, grated
1/2 cup washing soda (Arm & Hammer)
1/2 cup Borax
enough hot water to fill a 2 gallon bucket
[optional: you can add 1/2 to 1 oz of essential or fragrance oil.]

Mix grated soap in a saucepan with 6 cups of water. Heat on low until dissolved. Add washing soda and Borax. Stir until thickened and remove from heat. Add 4 cups of water to a 2 gallon bucket. Add the soap mixture and mix well.
Fill the bucket with hot water (at least another gallon ( or 16 cups) and then some) and stir well. Set aside for 24 hours or until mixture thickens somewhat.
*Use 1/2 cup per load*

Here's what the Fels Naptha bar looks like.
I found it in the laundry detergent section of our grocery store, right smack dab next to the washing soda which was next to the Borax.

Here are the three ingredients, after I'd grated the bar of soap.


And here's a fresh batch of soap that still needs to sit for 24 hours.


And here's my full 2-gallon bucket.


To answer a couple of questions I've already received from friends and family:

Does it actually clean your clothes?
-Yes. For loads that are extra dirty I've added a bit more soap (3/4 cup) or washed them in warm water, but it cleans them great!
Is it easy to make?
-Yes. I figure it takes me about as long to make a 2-gallon batch as it would to stand in front of the various brands of detergent at the store and try to figure out which is the cheapest.
Have you used fragrance or essential oil?
-I haven't. And you don't need to. I actually really like the smell of the finished soap. It's very clean smelling. But I do love citrus-y scents so I may pick up some oil and fragrance it at some point in the future, just for fun.

A couple of other things. I realize this isn't going to sound like a fun idea to everyone. The primary reason I'm doing this is because I'm it's cheap.
Secondly, I'm a little old-fashioned in that I really enjoy learning and doing things myself if I'm able to. It makes me feel a bit like Ma on Little House on the Prairie or something. And since I would sincerely love to live in a little house on the prairie, or live in an Amish community anytime anywhere anyday (and yes, I am serious), this is one little way I get to live that out. Kinda. If that makes any sense.

***UPDATED TO ADD***
A few more notes on laundry soap:
1. A reader commented that she had added the essential oil but did not stir the soap each time before use. Thus, the oil gathered together and actually ruined some of her husband's clothes! *MAKE SURE TO STIR YOUR SOAP!!!* I do this anyway, but I forgot to mention that the first time I posted this. It can sort of congeal a bit between uses, so you'll want to stir it briefly (or, if you transfer it to some sort of a bottle, shake it) before you use it.

2. The consistency of the laundry soap is a little different than store-bought soap. Someone described it as looking like egg-noodle soup. It does kind of resemble that.

3. The soap does is not sudsy. But it doesn't need to be to get your clothes clean, so don't worry about it! :)