In the following pictures my daughter Emily and I are making a double batch of soap, so there will be more volume from all the ingredients than if you were making a single batch.  Also I make my own soap instead of using the Fels Naptha, so my soap is white, not brown. 

First gather together the needed items.

Washing Soda and Borax:

A soap of some sort. 

A bucket. When I make laundry soap I make a double batch and I use a saved Costco laundry detergent bucket from the last one I bought (over a year ago now!). :

And a pot of some sort to melt the soap/water in.

First begin by getting everything measured out ahead of time.  I find this makes it much easier. 

I start by grating my soap:

Then I measure out the washing soda and borax into a small bowl and setting it aside:

I also pre-measure all the needed water.  You will need to have 4 cups of hot water to add to your soap as soon as you pour it into the bucket. I put those 4 cups into a canning jar and put them in my microwave to heat while I start the rest of the process.

I mix the grated soap with the water:

Leave this on a medium burner and stir now and again until the soap melts:

Then remove from the heat and add the washing soda and borax:

Stir until all is dissolved:

Pour this mixture into your bucket:

Add those 4 cups of hot water:

Now add the remaining water.  I saved a few gallon jugs for this purpose.  I can have the jugs filled with water and waiting to be poured into the bucket.  The recipe calls for a gallon of water, plus 6 cups.. I have those 6 cups also measured out and then pour them into the bucket:

Stir and let it sit until the next day:

It should turn into a water/gel type mixture.  If it does not gel up for you, you can still use it.  Next time add a little more soap (like half the bar of Fels Naptha) and see if that helps.   

Happy Laundry Soap Making!

Crystal Miller

Crystal and her husband Tobin, along with 6 of their 8 homeschooled children make their home on 18 acres in SW Washington State.   Crystal enjoys caring for her home and family and her farm.  You can visit Crystal’s website: The Family Homestead  or Crystal’s Country Store where she sells her own goat milk soap, ebooks and more!