{31 Days} Back to Basics Day 16

This month I am participating
in the nester’s {31 Days} challenge.  My topic for the month is Back to
Basics.  If you would like to follow along you can find all of my posts here.

One of the first “Back to Basics” changes that I made was
making my own laundry soap.  I think it
is an extremely easy change to make.  I
make laundry soap once every couple of months, and it is definitely not difficult
to make.  This is my basic recipe:

2 cups Borax

2 cups washing soda

2 cups baking soda

2 bars grated fels naptha soap – or – pure castile soap
(like Dr. Bronners)

I have been using this laundry soap since the fall of 2006,
and I have to say that it is a huge cost savings to us.  There are times when I do not feel like
making the laundry soap, and I fall back on commercial detergent, and I am
always shocked at how much money I am spending for the detergent rather than
just making my own.

You might need a little more attention to stains, but for
the most part, I think that this works just as well as the commercial
detergents, and it is much gentler on your clothes, and your skin.

Do you make your own
laundry soap?  Do you have a favorite “natural”
laundry detergent?