Laundry Soap

I am always looking for ways to be frugal or "green". A long time ago I found a recipe for laundry soap and thought I would share it with you. What with the high cost of groceries we all are looking for ways to cut costs. I have found that the things you can't eat seem to cost more and more. I LOVE this soap. My mom said she use to shave the Fels-Naptha and use it alone to wash clothes. Interesting that we are drifting back to what worked years ago! Here is another interesting observation.....you won't find these products in Walmart! hmmm.....possibly because the big laundry soap manufacturers that Walmart buys from won't allow it?! Anyway, pennies to wash your laundry compared to the name brand or even generic ready made stuff. My local grocery store carries all three. If you can't find the Fels-Naptha you can substitute with Ivory soap or better yet, old fashion lye soap. A good friend of ours gave me a box of lye soap. It had been sitting in a shed, picked up at an auction and they were going to throw it out! It is the BEST soap. Amazing how soft your skin is with this soap. I even shave alittle in my wash and it softens the clothes. Great if you hang your clothes out on the line. The clothes are not quite so stiff. Here is another tip: if you dry your clothes in the dryer, look for those blue nubby rubber balls. I think they are $10 for a pair. Use them instead of those expensive dryer sheets. Your clothes will be soft and no static. Here is the laundry soap recipe:

1 Cup grated Fels Naptha Soap (I use a kitchen veggie grater)

1/2 cup washing soda (this is NOT baking soda)

1/2 cup Borax

For light or regular load, use 1 tablespoon. For heavy soiled load, use 2 tablespoons.

I know it doesn't look like much but it does clean the clothes. Ask your local appliance dealer and they will tell you that it is not the soap that is cleaning the clothes but the agitation of the washer. You will not see suds in the washer. Again, a myth that you have to have suds or the clothes won't be clean.

Lots of great websites on simple living but if you want a couple really great books, read these:

Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin

The Simple Living Guide by Janet Luhrs

Both are excellant. Our kids are getting the first one this year for Christmas!

Don't talk about life. Do life!

I don't want to spend my life making a living. I want to spend my life making a life! I think LaVern and I are doing just that! Questions about it? Email me! Take Joy!