Homemade Laundry Soap

So a while back some of my 0n-line friends were talking about how much money they save by making their own laundry soap. I decided, since it sounded like fun and who doesn't like to save some money, I would try it. I found a "recipe" and went to work. I've been using it now for about 6 months and I love it! It smells good and really is much much cheaper. So since I've gotten my friend Lisa converted over I figured I would share it with anyone that still checks my blog.

Laundry Soap

1 quart water (boiling)
2 cups bar soap (grated)
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda

*Add finely grated bar soap to the boiling water and stir until soap is melted. You can keep on low heat until soap is melted.

*Pour the soap water into a large, clean bucket and add the Borax and Washing Soda. Stir well until all is dissolved.

*Add 2 gallons of water, stir until well mixed.

*Cover pail and use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry. Stir the soap each time you use it. (it will gel)


*For the bar soaps you can use Fels-Naptha, Ivory, Sunlight Bar soap, Kirks Hardwater Castile, and Zote. Ivory works well also. Don't use heavily perfumed soaps.


I like the Fels-Naptha soap the best. It has a nice fresh almost lemon-y smell to it. The Fels-Naptha bar is also a bit bigger and one bar equals the 2 cups you need. The other bars are a little smaller so you end up needing more than one.

All of the ingredients can be found in the laundry soap isle at the grocery store. I keep mine in a big bucket and fill up a old laundry detergent bottle just so it is easier to dispense and you can shake it to mix it up a bit before you pour.

I've been really happy with this recipe and so far it has worked great, has gotten out all the stains and dirt a 4 year old can manage. It also doesn't seem to fade clothes as fast as some other store bought brands and its better for the environment.

Mazatlan!!

So a while back we tried to plan a trip to somewhere tropical and warm with a group of friends. After a few bumps in the road and a couple of friends less we ended up going to Mazatlan, Mexico with Tyler and stayed in his time-share.

Sunset from the cabana

Our new tradition

The lighthouse in Mazatlan

Sea Lions

Our ride on the banana boat. Tyler was a bit hung over so he didn't go.

Tyler getting all ready for BINGO.

Josh getting ready for BINGO

Tyler at Senior Frogs

We got fresh coconut

It seems it didn't taste good.

On the zip-line tour

Josh on the zip-line

Tyler zipping over the Agave

Me on the zip line

At the end of the zip-line you have to repel out of a tree, they kept Tyler hanging up in the tree for a LONG time. When they finally dropped him he screamed like a girl.

After the zip-line tour we toured a Tequilla factory. This is Tyler getting free samples and trying on the hat and the shot glass belt.

The view from my chair on our last full day at the resort.

Playing on the beach on our last night there.

One of our cool waiters. He could dance with this thing on his head.

Sadly we had to return home to reality. I was really ready to get home and see my little boy. I missed him a ton.