Ingredients:
1/3 bar Fels-Naptha, 5.5 oz bar
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup borax powder
1 tsp essential oil (optional)
2 one gallon jugs with screw lid (vinegar or window washing fluids)
Grate soap and put in large saucepan with 6 cups of water over medium heat. Heat the mixture until the soap melts. Add the washing soda, borax and essential oils (if desired), stirring constantly until all has dissolved. Let it sit for 5 minutes over heat, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let sit for another 5 minutes.
Using a funnel put half the mixture in each gallon jug (mark the fluid level with a permanent marker for next time). Fill each jug with hot water and shake well. Continue to fill the jug to the top with hot water. Shake again, then put aside for 24 hours. This gels up and looks like egg whites.
Use about 1/2 to 2/3 cup per load. It will not sud up like most detergents (that's an added ingredient) but the clothes do clean up and smell wonderfully. You can also add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to soften the clothes.
Variations:
- grate the soap, add the soda & borax and use as a dry soap powder.
- for a gentler soap, exchange Fels-Naptha with Castile soap, or even with Ivory soap.