Laundry Detergent Challenge: Recipe

Alrighty folks, here is the promised recipe for the dry laundry detergent (click here to read more about this challenge). I just finished making a batch myself and it was super easy. Except for the cramped hand from all the grating!!

Gather your ingredients:

Fels Naptha soap

Borax

Washing Soda

Grate the soap using a fine grater

Ugh, taking a break... 

Done!

Then pour it into your container.

(the recipe will yield about 4 cups, so choose one large enough)

Add one cup washing soda...

And one cup borax...

Then shake it up!

My borax was a bit clumpy, so I had to stir it with a fork.

For a front-loading washer, you would want to use about 1 Tablespoon per load, and for a top-loader you would use 2 Tablespoons. I tried to make a little measuring cup to put inside, but couldn't find my sharpie!

So I wrote the instructions on the lid, and also added the recipe. Since these donations will go to struggling families, maybe knowing how to make more of this inexpensive homemade detergent can benefit them in the future.

Ok, simple as that!! I've only made this one batch so far, but have lots of my borax and washing soda left, so I just need to go pick up a few more bars of Fels Naptha to make more. Then I will be taking it to My Father's House! Can't wait. 

Sooo, about that giveaway...

Here are the details:

Comment on this post once you've made your detergent and donated it. (I'll link to it on my sidebar so you can find it again later)

Become a Sleepless in Sandy follower for an extra entry, just leave another comment telling me you've done so

Be sure to leave an email address where I can reach you if you win!

Contest will close on Thanksgiving, November 25th, at 6pm (that gives you almost 2 weeks, you can do it!)

Winner will be chosen at random on Friday, November 26th 

I'll email the winner and post it here that afternoon!

Winner receives:

4 movie tickets to Regal Cinemas 

and a reusable sandwich wrap

and a coffee cozy!

Not to mention that warm fuzzy feeling and the know-how to make your own detergent!

A fun challenge, and a GIVEAWAY!!!

Ok, I have a super fun thing to share today!

Let's call it a 'giving back' challenge:

I like to come up with ways to help those less fortunate, but usually can't afford to make big donations to the causes dear to my heart. So I have to get a bit creative. I used to be really on top of couponing, and got a lot of free and very cheap groceries and household items that I could donate, but I've been really slacking lately. Recently my husband mentioned a local organization called My Father's House, which is a family homeless shelter in Gresham, and apparently they are in great need of food and household product donations.
 They also need laundry detergent.
This got the wheels turning... I asked him to verify if they could accept homemade detergent and they can!!
That I can do!!
So, here is my plan:

Several of my friends, some of Mike's co-workers and I are purchasing the ingredients for the dry laundry detergent recipe I originally found on My Frugal Lifestyle. I've only made the liquid myself, but have wanted to try the dry- and I think it would be easier for this purpose. Then in the next week or so, we all will be making the detergent (as few or as many batches as we can!) and taking it to the donation center at this local charity.

Here is my challenge to you:
Let's all do it!!
Go pick up these three ingredients at your local grocery store, plus a container with a lid to put it in (like a food storage container):
20 Mule Team Borax (one box is enough for about 9 batches)
Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda (1 box is enough for about 6 batches)
Fels Naptha soap (1 bar per batch, so buy extra if you want to make more)

I've found these at both Winco and Fred Meyer (Kroger), so hopefully most grocery stores will carry them also.

The great thing about this is it is soooo cheap! One batch costs under $2, and will yield around 64 loads, or even more in a front-loading machine. That's around 3 cents (or less) per load. So much cheaper than store-bought! I can donate a lot more homemade detergent than I could if I had to go buy it.

So, get your ingredients ready, and I'll be reposting the recipe in the next couple days. Then make up a few batches and bring them to a shelter or organization near you (but be sure they can accept homemade).

Here's the fun part: come back here (I'll add a link to my sidebar) and comment to let me know you participated, and you'll be entered to win my first ever giveaway!!! 4 Premier Movie Tickets for Regal Cinemas, PLUS a crafty creation of my choosing!

I'm super excited about this! Let's do a small thing to help these families and have a bit of fun at the same time.

I'll post more details about the giveaway when I post the recipe, so be sure to check back soon!

Edit: Click here for giveaway details and detergent recipe!