This recipe came from Julie Long, Enterprise, Alabama, who provided it for The Grace Place Cookbook. It was recommended to me to use powdered detergent in a front-load washer instead of the liquid types due to the animal fat (usually added to them for extra suds power) that can eventually cause front-loaders to have a funky odor. I love this simple detergent because it's just basic and very clean-smelling, AND it's straightened my front-load washer right out - no more funky-ness! I usually buy 3-4 bars of soap and make a quadruple batch since the borax and washing soda come in pretty large boxes.
1 cup Borax
1 cup washing soda (NOT baking soda)
1 bar of Fels-Naptha soap
All of the above ingredients can typically be found in the laundry section of your local Wal-Mart store. Grate the bar of soap as finely as possible. (I shred my bars in the food processor using the grater, then pulverize the shreds a bit with the regular blade. This makes short, speedy work of making the quadruple batch.)
In a large mixing bowl, combine grated soap with borax and washing soda; mix well. Pour detergent into an air-tight container and add a 1 Tbs. coffee scoop or measuring spoon. Most loads of laundry will require 1 Tbs. of detergent, but heavily-soiled laundry loads may requite 2 Tbs. Detergent seems to work best when added into the tub right along with the clothes, even when using a front-loading machine.
** Please note: Julie's recipe says not to use chlorine bleach with this detergent - I'm taking her word for it!
Now You're Cookin',
Chef Alli
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