Soap:

Jill Lester from the http://www.the912project.us/group/preparedness said:

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Here is the recipe again for the laundry soap.
use a 5 gal bucket to mix it in with a lid. you need to stir and stir this mixture
1 bar of soap shaved (easily done with a knife, I use Ivory)
melt in water on stove on low heat pour into bucket and stir well
add 1 cup arm and hammer washing soda not baking soda(wal mart does not carry this ) stir well again
add 1/2 cup borax stir very well again.
this needs to sit over night to gel. use 1 cup in top load machines less for front load. this soap does not bubble in the machine that is normal. and it works very well.

Kay Swenson from the http://www.the912project.us/group/preparedness said:

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I couldn't find the fels naptha or the washing soda in the regular stores, but Ace Hdwe handles it and if they don't they will order it in for you. They also have pails. I do mix my concentrate with more water (and since I am brainwashed that without bubbles it is not soap), I bought some dollar store dish soap and I add 1 cup of it to each bottle that I mixup with the concentrate, another reason I do this also is because I was getting a scummy ring in my washer, after adding the dish soap that no longer happens and it is still cheap cheap cheap to make.

tshea from the http://www.the912project.us/group/preparedness
said:

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You should consider making lye soap. Depending on your situation you can make everything from the homestead without buying anything. Here is a link:
http://farmgal.tripod.com/lyesoapconcoctions.html

Kris Watson from the http://www.the912project.us/group/preparedness said:

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Tara, I think there are as many ways to make it as there are people to try it ! Here's my variation: (I included the color safe detergent, even though that is going to be for next year.)

1 grated Fels naptha bar ($1.07)
2 cups washing soda ($3 a box, uses 1/3 box or so)
2 cups Borax ($2.50 a box, uses about 1/3 box)
2 Cups cheap laundry soap with color safe bleach ($1)
about a quart of cheap fabric softener ($2)

Grate the soap into 1/2 gallon boiling water and simmer until
dissolved. Add the washing soda and Borax until they dissolve was well.

Fill a 5 gallon bucket about 3/4 of the way. Add the above. Stir very well. Then add the color safe detergent and the fabric softener.

At this point, I usually add a small bottle of essential oil ($3.50)
because I like my clothes to smell amazing. I use lavender, but any one that you like would work.

Cover the bucket and let it sit overnight or so. It ought to gel. Stir it well. Mine did not separate back into water and solid, but I have heard that some do and they have to stir every time.

Also, I know I can use just 2 Tbsp if I want, but I was not happy with the whiteness. I add 1/2 cup to every load. It still is hugely cheaper per load.

A note: Wash any pans or utensils you have used in the sink, and rinse with vinegar water. I put mine in the dishwasher and ended up with a film over all my dishes and the dishwasher that took several loads with white vinegar to clear.

Looks like the cost for probably 100 or so loads is $6. If you use 2 Tbsp, it would be 400 loads for $6.

Jill Lester from the http://www.the912project.us/group/preparedness
said:

Quote :

the recipe is:
3 gall of hot water
1 bar ivory soap shaved (easy to do with a kitchen knife)
stir
add 1 cup arm and hammer washing soda (wal mart does not have this go to a real
groc store they have it)
stir well again
add 1/2 cup borax
stir very well again.
this will gel up over night
you will need to stir often as you use it . I keep mine in a 5 gall bucket with
lid
it works very well. and is cheep. I also find that my clothes are much softer.
Oh, sorry , use 1 cup for top load machine. less for front load machine. there
will be no bubbles, that’s normal.