Homemade Laundry Detergent for Sensitive Skin

Ingredients:

1 4lb box Borax

1 4lb box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda

1 3lb 7oz box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda

3 Fels-Naptha Soap Bar for heavy stains or any body soap bar that is hypoallergenic for sensitive skin

1 3lb box Oxiclean free and clear

Essential Oil

Directions:

Grate the soap bar into large flakes (a box grater works great).  Using a five gallon bucket (lined with a trash bad if not clean), dump all ingredients and mix together.  You are now ready to use your detergent!  Use 1/4 cup at a time for a full load.  Add a few drops of essential oil for fragrance to your laundry water if desired.   

Note for septics:

You may want to liquify this if you have a septic system (A.K.A. live in the boonies).  Some people have no problem with the soap flakes, but others are cautious that the flakes from the soap bars may lead to a clogging of septic pipes.  I have two suggestions.  One, put your large flakes into a food processor and chop the large flakes up as finely as possible with your steel blade attachment.  If you can get it similar to a powder consistency you should have no problems.  Or, suggestion two, liquify the above recipe.  See directions below.

Liquify above detergent:

Melt the soap flakes in four cups of water.  In a large pot, pour melted soap flakes, all other ingredients, and a gallon of water.  Cook on low-medium until coagulates.  Turn off heat, add a gallon of cold water (if detergent seems very thick, add more than a gallon until desired consistency).  Stir well.  Pour into empty gallon containers.  Use approximately half a cup at a time.