Money Saving Laundry Detergent Recipe

Newly married, a baby on the way, prices going up and the search is on for ways to save money here and there.
This one excited me so much I decided to start blogging! So please pardon my amateur blogging skills as this is my first blog post ever. :)

The Money Saving Laundry Detergent Recipe!

4 ingredients + 10 minutes = 1 gallon

Necessary Items :
Tablespoon measuring spoon
A saucepan (or tea kettle) for boiling water
A 1 gallon jug
A funnel (somewhat optional. It will come in VERY handy when it comes time for step # 3)

Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons Baking Soda (Arm and Hammer brand)
3 Tablespoons Borax
2 Tablespoons Blue Dawn Dish Soap
Water

As you can see I have already used so much...it's because I love it!

Step1.
Put about 2 cups of water (more or less) in the saucepan or tea kettle and boil.

Step2.
While the water is boiling....
Put the first 3 ingredients into the gallon jug in the order in which they are written.
(No, nothing will explode or alter the concoction if you put the dish soap in first. BUT if you happen to use the funnel or the same measuring spoon the dry ingredients is the smarter way to go first.)

Step 3.
Once the water is boiled (or close to it anyway) pour into the 1 gallon jug with the ingredients.
*CAUTION: BOILING WATER IS HOT* (duh)
This is why the funnel is "necessary" or at least HIGHLY recommended.
Step 4.
Carefully "mix"/ "shake" the jug to dissolve the ingredients.

Step 5.
Fill the jug the rest of the way with cold water. Let the bubbles run out...you don't need them :P

Step 6.
Place cap on jug and "mix" one last time

TAH-DAH! You're done! :D

For one load it only calls for 1/2 a cup. I used a bit more than that >.>
Maybe 1-2 cups?
(Mostly because my 1 load =2 loads)

But if you used 1/2 a cup per load that would = 32 loads per gallon.
If you used 1 cup per load that would = 16 loads per gallon
If you used 1 1/2 cups per load that would = 10 1/2 loads per gallon (roughly)
If you used 2 cups per load that would = 8 loads per gallon

Here's my receipt from Wal-Mart:
Borax..................................$3.38 (4lb 12oz. box)
Baking Soda.......................$2.12 (4lb box)
Dawn Dish Soap................$3.97 (1.12L./1.18qt/38 fl.oz. bottle)
__________total of__________
                     $ 9.47

I have yet to find out how many gallons this makes but according to calculations [below] if the borax and soda outlast the dish soap you should get roughly, 19 gallons of detergent.
(6 teaspoons= 1 fl. oz.
6 teaspoons =2 Tablespoons
2 Tablespoons = 1fl. oz.
which would = 19 gallons of detergent from one bottle of dish soap if the other stuff holds out that long too.)
And if you can get 32 loads of laundry out of a gallon you would be able to get 609 loads washed!!!
(19x32=609)
 
So let's say you spent $9.47 on the ingredients you get 19 gallons of detergent without having to buy more ingredients, you get 32 loads a gallon and 609 loads when all is said and done before having to go buy more dish soap!
$9.47 divided by 19 gallons of detergent =0.498 cents per gallon....
Rounded to 0.5 cents per gallon...0.5 cents per gallon divided by 32 loads (or $9.47 divided by 609) = 0.015 cents per load.
(But that's getting a little carried away isn't it?) ;)
(I feel so proud of myself for figuring all that up by myself...I will probably be told later by some mathematician that I did it wrong but whatever.)
I am super excited about this new money saver!
After buying the bargain brand of detergent and having to use so much of it because it wasn't getting our clothes clean, it was starting to get frustrating spending $8-11 on 10-15 loads of laundry. >.<

I have also come to find that the Great Value brand of dryer sheets (we use lavender scent) makes our laundry smell sooo good! (5-6 sheets per dryer load...I wash huge loads at a time so it's more like 2 loads) And they still smell strong after the first use. They are reusable. It's not like they got dirty in the process.
It will just take a couple more than usual of the second timers than the first.

Also, from reliable sources I have learned that adding a little vinegar will take out any unpleasant odor from your laundry should this detergent not be able to get it out. (Which I honestly don't see being a problem in the future but anything is possible.)
Also if you feel your laundry is lacking that "fresh detergent just washed" fragrance, essential oils work well. A couple drops per load.

I found, with this easy detergent that it brightens whites and gives a refreshing bright look to colors.
And with the GV dryer sheets they smell like they used to with any regular detergent we were using before only fresher and cleaner!

I hope this works out for you! :D