From the Everyday Cheapskate
I’ll admit it, I’m a little weird. I like doing laundry. I also love mending. There’s just something about preserving something so expensive so that it lasts and looks good. This works! I’ve used it for 10 years.
Right now, at Walmart, Tide liquid laundry detergent is 13.7 cents per ounce. The 146 ounce bottle says it does 100 loads. That’s less than 1-1/2 ounces per load. Less than 1/4 cup. Do you really use that much? I was using much more than that. But let’s use 1/4 cup per load as a comparison, so 27 cents per load for the Tide.
Arm & Hammer Washing Soda is 9 cents per ounce at either Costco or Walmart. Borax is 10 cents per ounce. Dawn is 16 cents per ounce. You need 6 ounces (3/4 cup) of each for this recipe that makes one gallon. Do the math, that’s $2.10! For a gallon of detergent. That’s 3 cents per load! If you use a full 1/4 cup. I have a smaller machine and use less on lightly soiled loads. Did I mention it works?
- 1-gallon container with a lid
- 3/4 cup borax
- 3/4 cup washing soda
- water
- 3/4 cup blue Dawn
Pour borax and washing soda into the empty one-gallon container.
Add about 3 cups water. You’ll see a few bubbles form, but nothing to be concerned about.
Apply the lid and shake the container vigorously until the powdered ingredients start to dissolve.
Fill the container with tap water to within about an inch of the top, more or less depending on the shape of your container. You want to leave enough room for the Dawn which is coming up.
Slowly pour in Blue Dawn dishwashing liquid.
Once you’ve poured in all of the Dawn, fill that measuring cup with more water so you can top off the container and rinse out the last of the Dawn.
Now, if you still have room, add more water until you are about 1/2-inch from the top.
Put the lid on tightly. Instead of shaking it now just put the container on its side and roll it around a bit to get everything mixed.
Pour it in the way you have always added detergent to your washer.