| OAK TREE SOAPS All handmade in the Southwest |
| Copyright 2007-9 Designed and maintained by Marie W. Pate |
LAUNDRY SOAP
Needed Equipment/Supplies:
1 bar unscented Ivory soap (or 1/2 bar Fels Naptha) or (1 bar Zote)
Grater for bar soap (fine side of grater)
¾ cup Super Washing Soda (Arm & Hammer)
¾ cup Borax (20 Mule Team or similar)
Cooking pot that holds about 10 cups water (can be household pot)
Wooden/plastic stirring spool
¾ measuring cup
1.5 gallon container for hot water
3 gallon container for the liquid soap (plastic with lid great)
¼ or ½ cup measuring cup to leave with soap by washer (or pump bottle or similar dispenser)
1. Using the grater, grate the bar of ivory soap. The smaller the grating, the less time to
dissolve in hot water.
2. Fill pot with 6 cups of warm water. Place on stove over medium low heat. Sprinkle the
grated soap over the top of the water. Stir occasionally until all signs of the white soap is
gone (water should be clear). 10-15 minutes
3. Stir in ¾ cup of borax and ¾ cup of washing soda into the pot on stove. Stir until dissolved
(about 2-3 minutes)
4. At this point, put hot water in a 1.5 gallon container (hot to the touch, but not burning).
5. Take the 3 gallon container and put in 4 cups of hot water (again, hot to the touch, but not
burning).
6. Pour the dissolved water/soap/soda/borax into the 3 gallon bucket with the 4 cups of hot
water. Stir.
7. Once this is mixed fairly well, slowly add the additional 1.5 gallon of hot water. Stir.
At this point the soap is completely mixed. As it sets, it may thicken up somewhat (if not, don’t
worry, you can still use it). It will have a slimey texture to it.
Let it set up overnight before you use it. You can use it first thing the next morning. Stir up the
mixture prior to dipping out the soap for each load as it sometimes has a tendency to separate.
Use ¼ or ½ cup per laundry load.
If you need a one gallon jug with a pump for your soap, you can pick one up locally at my
place for $6.00.
Needed Equipment/Supplies:
1 bar unscented Ivory soap (or 1/2 bar Fels Naptha) or (1 bar Zote)
Grater for bar soap (fine side of grater)
¾ cup Super Washing Soda (Arm & Hammer)
¾ cup Borax (20 Mule Team or similar)
Cooking pot that holds about 10 cups water (can be household pot)
Wooden/plastic stirring spool
¾ measuring cup
1.5 gallon container for hot water
3 gallon container for the liquid soap (plastic with lid great)
¼ or ½ cup measuring cup to leave with soap by washer (or pump bottle or similar dispenser)
1. Using the grater, grate the bar of ivory soap. The smaller the grating, the less time to
dissolve in hot water.
2. Fill pot with 6 cups of warm water. Place on stove over medium low heat. Sprinkle the
grated soap over the top of the water. Stir occasionally until all signs of the white soap is
gone (water should be clear). 10-15 minutes
3. Stir in ¾ cup of borax and ¾ cup of washing soda into the pot on stove. Stir until dissolved
(about 2-3 minutes)
4. At this point, put hot water in a 1.5 gallon container (hot to the touch, but not burning).
5. Take the 3 gallon container and put in 4 cups of hot water (again, hot to the touch, but not
burning).
6. Pour the dissolved water/soap/soda/borax into the 3 gallon bucket with the 4 cups of hot
water. Stir.
7. Once this is mixed fairly well, slowly add the additional 1.5 gallon of hot water. Stir.
At this point the soap is completely mixed. As it sets, it may thicken up somewhat (if not, don’t
worry, you can still use it). It will have a slimey texture to it.
Let it set up overnight before you use it. You can use it first thing the next morning. Stir up the
mixture prior to dipping out the soap for each load as it sometimes has a tendency to separate.
Use ¼ or ½ cup per laundry load.
If you need a one gallon jug with a pump for your soap, you can pick one up locally at my
place for $6.00.
