Our Country Life in the Big City

Here is the recipe that I use for laundry detergent.  It costs about $1.25 to make and it fills a 200 oz detergent bottle and a 1/2 gallon pitcher.

1/3 bar Zote soap (you can use Fels Naptha but I don't like the smell, Zote is smoother, cheaper, and I can get it at WalMart)

1/2 cup Borax

1/2 cup washing soda (I get it at Kroger...made by Arm and Hammer and in a yellow box in the laundry section)

3 qts water

Stir all together over medium heat in a boiler with a wooden spoon (plan to only use these for this purpose in the future).  Cook until thick like honey (this takes about an hour) and just stir occasionally.  Put 1 qt hot water in the bottom of a bucket (I use the top of an old Tupperware cake plate) and add mixture, mix well.  Add 4 more qts of hot water and mix.  Let sit 24 hours before using.  Mix or shake if seperated, it is still fine to use.

Use 1/2 cup per load.