DIY Laundry Detergent & Fabric Softener

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When I first got married I had a bug in my brain that everything had to be name brand, like it made me cool or something. The more that people talked about DIY products, the more I thought they were nuts. Then money became an issue, like there is a lack of it around these parts. So I finally broke down and tried it. 

 I found the No Grate Laundry Detergent and Fabric Softener recipes via pinterest. They're both from One Good Thing by Jilliee.  I probably would have never tried it if I had to grate a bar of soap and cook it down, but this was ready in way under 5 minutes!
Let me do a little math for you, okay? First the laundry detergent:
Washing Soda = $3.2455 oz = 110 TablespoonsYou need 3 Tablespoons per gallon of detergent. That means you can get  36.66 gallons out of one box, that  is 8.83 CENTS per gallon! 
Borax Soap = $3.38 76 oz = 152 TablespoonsYou need 3 Tablespoons per gallon of detergent. That means you can get 50.66 gallons out of one box, that is 6.67 CENTS per gallon! Dawn Dish Soap = $1.08 {no sale, no coupons, also buying the little bottle, which of course is more per ounce!}8 oz = 16 TablespoonsYou need 2 Tablespoons per gallon of detergent. That means you can get 8 gallons from one bottle, that is 13.5 CENTS per gallon!
So 8.83 + 6.67 + 13.5 = 29 CENTS PER GALLON OF LAUNDRY DETERGENT. why am I yelling? I guess because it is such a great deal. I was buying the small bottle of purex, that is around $3 for less than a gallon of detergent.
Now the fabric softener:
Water = FREE!
Vinegar = $3.58 for 2 gallons {purchased at Sam's Club}2 gallons = 32 cupsYou need 3 cups per container of fabric softener. That means you can get 10.66 ccontainers full, so one container is 33.58 cents!
Conditioner =  $2.74 28 ounces = 3.5 cupsYou need 2 cups per container of fabric softener. That means you can get 1.75 containers full, so one container is $1.56! {the most expensive part, that was figured on using Suave Rosemary & Mint as per the original recipe.}
 1 batch of fabric softener is $1.90
Now, the pictured fabric softener is pink....well because I had a bottle of pomegranate white rain in the cupboard when I ran out of my first batch of Rosemary Mint fabric softener, and found out that I bought shampoo instead of conditioner to replace it. I have a bottle of coconut that I'm going to use next, because I bought it instead of shampoo once for the husband. What a great way to use up the extras in the cupboard and save some extra money.
So, I've never used liquid fabric softener before, I've always used the sheets...but then I read about the residue they leave on the dryer filter...but liquid is so expensive....now, now I'm making my own!
Now I think I'm nuts that I didn't do this before!
Now here are the full recipes as per One Good Thing by Jillie.
No Grate Laundry Detergent: 3 Tablespoons Borax
3 Tablespoons Washing Soda
2 Tablespoons Dawn Dish soap
Put these ingredients in a one gallon jug. Pour 4 cups boiling water into the jug. Swirl until ingredients are dissolved in the liquid. Let liquid cool. Then fill almost to the top with cold water. The bubbles will overflow out of the bottle.
I love this because you can pick an awesome scent with the Dawn dish soap. This dish soap works the best because it gets grease out.

Homemade Fabric Softener6 cups water
3 cups white vinegar
2 cups Suave Rosemary Mint Conditioner
Directions:
1. Mix water, vinegar, and hair conditioner in a 1 gallon container; stir. Do not shake it; it will cause foaming.
2. Use the same amount you normally use in a rinse cycle or spritz it on a wash cloth and throw in dryer. 

NOTES: The second time I made it, I warmed the water and vinegar in a pot on the stove and the conditioner stirred in much quicker. 


Now, go do some laundry....and save some money!