I had another request for our liquid laundry detergent. Kathryn says she hasn’t used it yet, but was excited to try it. Have a good time with it, Kathryn. I also have another recipe for a non-toxic, yet successful cleaner.
My favorite is the dawn dish detergent and vinegar for most areas, but this next one is fast becoming my new favorite. This also makes great gifts. The friend I originally got this from has given it to her children as gifts or years. Thank you, Karen! Have a great week!
Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent
1 cup of Borax
1 cup of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (NOT baking soda!)
1 bar Fels Naptha soap (you can also use Zote or castile soap )
water
5 gallon bucket with a lid
essential oil for scent (optional)
Directions: Grate the Fels-Naptha soap. Add the soap shreds to a pot with four cups of hot water. Put the heat on medium-high and stir until completely melted — about 10 minutes.
Fill up a 5 gallon bucket halfway with hot water. Pour in the melted soap mixture and give it a quick stir. Stir in the borax and washing soda. If you’re using essential oil, now is the time to add it. You add in ½ ounce to 1 ounce, depending on how scented you want it. Stir the contents again.
Fill up the bucket with warm water, all the way to the top – and stir again. If you don’t have a utensil long enough to reach the bottom, just put on a pair of rubber dish gloves beforehand.
Snap on the lid and let it sit for 24 hours to gel up. It will have a thick consistency – watery with glops of gel. This is what it should look like.
At this point, you can divide it up between different containers like empty laundry detergent containers, cleaned out milk jugs, etc. I prefer to use 1-2 empty containers, and leave the rest in the bucket to save on space, refilling my containers as necessary. Really, you only use about an ounce per load.
Best Stain Remover
1 part Dawn Dishwashing Liquid (the original blue kind)
2 parts Hydrogen Peroxide
Directions: Mix together and pour directly on the stain. You can keep this in a dark bottle with a sprayer in your laundry room. It works on stains on clothing or furniture. Peroxide can remove color on fabrics, please make sure to test in an inconspicuous place.
I really enjoy this time with you each week and would love to hear from you. Do you have any requests? Is there a recipe you have been looking for or remember from your younger years? Can I help you find it? Do you have any recipes that are special to you that you could share with us? Please contact me at susieqcooking@outlook.com or c/o Pioneer Times, P.O. Box 456, Houlton, Maine 04730.
