Made my first batch of Homemade Laundry Soap

I first heard of making Homemade Laundry Soap when I was watching an episode of 18 Kids and Counting and have wanted to try it ever since but was skeptical.  Would it clean like I wanted my clothes to be clean?  Would it get the stains out of Motorcycle Man's clothes that seem to appear by
days end?  Would it really get all those grass, chocolate and who-knows-what stains in the darling grandkids clothes?  

Well, the more reading on other folks blogs I did, I found that quite a few of you had already started using this soap and was raving about it - even doing visual tests for us to see with white shirts smeared with yellow mustard, grass stains, juice drinks and chocolate.  That was more than enough confirmation for me and the last time we were at the store I picked up the few - yes - very few items needed to make this wonderful money saving and cleaner clothes household miracle.

I bought a box of:

20 Mule Team Borax - use 1/2 cup per batch

Arm and Hammer Baking or Washing Soda - use 1/2 cup per batch

1/3 bar of Fels Naptha soap (you can also use Zote's pink or Ivory or any all natural soap)

5 gallon bucket with lid (I bought mine at Lowe's)

6 cups water

4 cups hot water

1 gallon plus 6 cups water

Use 1/2 cup per load

I grated 1/3 bar of the Fels Naptha soap and poured it into a large saucepan.  I added 6 cups of water and stirred over medium heat until the soap melted.  Then I added the baking(or washing) soda and the 20 Mule Team Borax and stirred over low heat until dissolved.  Remove from heat.

I added 4 cups of hot water into the bucket.  I had already heated this water in my tea kettle and had it ready.  Then I poured in my soap mixture and used a whisk and stirred until it was mixed well.

Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir well.  Let the soap sit 24 hours and it will gel.  It will have the consistency of  something like "chicken noodle soap liquid".  It will not gel completely. 

 This is how it looks under the suds.   BTW, this plastic glass is one of our iced tea glasses that we have only had a few months and it had turned a dingy brown color from the tea stain that even the dishwasher could not get out.  After dipping in this this picture, I poured out the soap and rinsed the glass and it was amazingly clear!  I of course had to the all the others and dip them in the soap too before putting the lid on the bucket.

I will post pictures in the morning of what it looks like after the 24 hour period.  This only took me 20 minutes to make too.