Homestead Recipe Collection for Household Products, part 2, from Salisbury Garden Gift Shop, by Ginger Hill. 

The back story if you're just joining in simply, I heard an advertisment on the radio about Going Green 2023, "what's your one thing?". It inspired me to take a second look around the house and re-visit old recipes. In part one of this series you can read all about it. In part 1 you will find shopping list for supplies and other tips on things you will need to get you started. I left off with the printable recipe card for Laundry detergent, and that I would be sharing tips on making and using detergent along with the next recipe; Dish Soap.

     So here we are, Part 2.  Laundry Detergent, here's the recipe card again.

Laundry Detergent Recipe

Mix together Soap Flakes, Washing Soda, Borax, and Baking Soda. Yes, there is a difference between Washing Soda, and Baking Soda. I am not going to get in to all that. You can just simply wash laundry with the Pure Soap Flakes, which is what to use for new born babies, like Drift. For adults and general laundry, I like to use the combination for various reasons. The washing soda is added as a washing boost, the borax for extra detergent cleaning and the baking soda for softening. This Super Laundry Detergent Powder can be used as is, and for a general small load of laundry just a few spoonfuls or about 1/4 of a cup. Or to stretch the laundry detergent or take the concentrated powder and pre-disolve it in water to make more, first a laundry gel that can also be used as a pre-wash stain remover, and then to a liquid detergent. The only differnece, the detergent to make liquid is watered down. I will share the measurements and methods later on.

     First let's talk Soap Flakes. Soap Flakes are on the list for a homestead or any household wanted to become more Green, helping your family and the planet.

With pure soap flakes, we make laundry detergent, dish soap, liquid soap, and household cleaners, besides bathing, it is just pure soap that has been grated to flakes. Which is what I do , just grate a bar of pure soap. Ivory Pure Bath Soap. 

Make your Own Pure Soap Flakes

Make Your Own Pure Soap Flakes using Ivory soap or your own homestead pure soap, or you can purchase many different brands of Soap Flakes ready to use; still the best to use for the planet. Soap Flakes are a Homestead staple.

Tips to get you started making your own green household products.

  • 1 bar of soap grated is 2 cups of flakes 
  • let soap flakes air dry on parchment paper 24 hrs.
  • when soap flakes are dry, store in air tight container for use
  • after soap flakes are dry, grind to powder in food mill for powder detergent

Soap Flakes do not have to be ground to powder to use, I just prefer the powder to mix with other powders. If you use the soap flakes without grinding just remember to shake the jar before using, to mix powders that settle to the bottom of the jar. 

Grind Soap Flakes for Powder Detergent

Now to make a

 Laundry Detegent Gel, 

  1. 1 cup of  your Super Laundry Detergent Powder 
  2. Mixed in Gallon Glass Jar with 8 cups of heated water
  3. Stir until detergent is dissolved
  4. Add 8 cups of cold water and stir

mix heated water to detergent

Mix detergent with heated water to dissolve.

homemade laundry washing gel

As the mixture cools it forms a loose gel. You just made Laundry Detergent Gel.

With this Use 1 cup of Gel per regular load  of laundry, or

 use by sponful for pre-wash spot treatment

To Make Liquid Laundry Detergent

In a large clean bucket, makes 2 gallons. 

  1. Mix 1 1/2 cup of concentrated powder with 16 cups of heated water
  2. Add 1 gallon cold water

When mixture cools, it forms a liquid detergent. 

Three Back to the Basics methods of making Laundry Detergent for your household.

Homemade detergent is NOT FOR He or High Efficiency washing machines. These machines only use He detergents. 

Going Green Recipes can be used to reduce cost of household products going back to the basics, returning to soap. Used for removing commercial chemicals and dyes and all sorts of fragrances. Used to reduce waste and help the environment by all of the above.

And with Our Soap Flakes and Heated water, we need Liquid Dish Soap.

Homemade Dish Liquid

Homemade Dish Soap

  • 1/2 cup of soap flakes
  • 2 cups of heated water
  • 1 tsp. of lemon essential oil
  • 1 tsp. glycerin

Optional food coloring, I used 2 drops of turquoise gel coloring for visual only. 

Stir together, as mixture cools it forms a loose gel liquid.

Using a funnel, pour into a plastic squeeze bottle or narrow necked bottle. A re-used shampoo bottle or pictured, I used a ketchup bottle, or simply refill your empty dishwashing liquid bottle. 

To Use , squirt two or three spoonfuls under hot running water into the sink.

Do Not Use in Dish Washers.

Used for hand washing dishes in hot water. Cleans dishes well, lemon scented and dis-infects, with low suds. Just like with using powder laundry detergent, adding the powder while the water starts in a standard washing machine, add the dish liquid to sink under hot water and I swish it around with my hand to help dissolve, before adding dishes and begin washing.

Laundry Detergent and Dishwashing Soap may not be for everyone, that's okay, there are many many more household products that you can make yourself to go greener.

A I come to close here's a simple quick easy product,

Spray Glass Cleaner

  • 1 spray bottle
  • 1/4 cup white vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 cups hot water

Mix in spray bottle and shake well to dissolve cornstarch. To use, spray liberally and wipe dry with clean cloth.

Until next time, STAY CALM & GO GREEN! , by Ginger Hill

Salisbury Garden Gift Shop