TheHippyHomemaker

Yep. I know it sounds crazy, but it’s the gift that keeps on giving. Not only do you KNOW without a shadow of a doubt, that everyone needs laundry soap, you are giving them MUCH better homemade soap that is good for the environment and not toxic to you. Not only that, you can give them a little tag with the recipe on it, so that they can continue to make the soap long after they have used up your gift. Like I said, it’s the gift that keeps on giving!

I used Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint castile soap for this recipe, so that it would smell like christmas laundry soap. I was really excited by that little detail, though you can most certainly use whatever scent you think that your loved one would enjoy. Not only can you use a bar of castile soap, you can substitute it for a bar of Fels Naptha or some other bar of natural soap. This laundry soap works great in HE washers because it is low sudsing!

Peppermint Laundry Soap

• 1 bar Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint castile soap, finely grated (or another scent that you prefer. You can also use the Fels Naptha bar soap instead.)
• 1 cup Borax
• 1 cup washing soda
• 2 cups baking soda (This will help soften your clothes up a bit too!)
• 1 cup laundry softener crystals (optional)

Mix ingredients together in a nice jar and add a measuring cup for good measure! (tehehe) Put 1/4 cup of laundry soap, per load.

You can find Dr. Bronner’s Bar soap at your local natural foods stores (i.e. Whole Foods Market, Central Market) or you can pick up some online at Amazon.com. I usually buy mine online because the price per ounce is usually better with my prime membership.

TIP: I used to hand grate the bar soap but after awhile my hand would get tired, I finally resorted to cutting it up into pieces and throwing it in my Ninja food processor and blending it with the cup of washing soda. It seems that it blends better when it has something to blend it with and the baking soda is too fine.

What scents do you like to use in your laundry soap?