In preparation for the 5 Weeks To A Clean and Organized Home event coming up on April 5th, here are some natural, homemade laundry soaps and softeners. The first soap is one that I have used regularly since 1991. It works well, does not suds so is safe for high efficiency machines (but I cannot be held responsible for your machine if you make and use this soap), is very inexpensive and usually allergy-free.

Classic CHK Laundry Soap
1/3 Bar Fels Naptha soap (grated)
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax (20 Mule Team stuff)
3 pints water (more water added later to make 2 gallons)
Stir gently over medium heat until it thickens like honey. If for some reason it does not thicken, it will still work! Just use it in its liquid state.
Add enough water to make 2 gallons.

Another Good Laundry Soap
2 cups pure soap flakes                                                                                                  A scoop of  Classic CHK Laundry soap …..
1 1/2 cups Borax
6 cups warm water
1/2 cup glycerin
2 teaspoons essential oil of either lavender, lemon or eucalyptus

1) In a medium saucepan, stir together the soap flakes, borax, and water. Heat slowly and stir until the mixture is clear. Add the glycerin and set aside to cool.

2) When cool, add the essential oil and stir thoroughly

3) Pour into a mason jar or other container and cover until needed. To use, add 1 cup of Gel per load of clothes, making sure the soap is dissolved well before adding clothes to the water. This gel works best with warm water, or dissolve it in a quart of warm water before adding it to the wash water.

Fabric Softener
1/4 cup baking soda
1/2 cup white vinegar

1) Fill the washing machine or basin with water

2) Add the baking soda, stir it around to dissolve, then add the clothes.

3) After rinsing the clothes, make a final rinse and add the vinegar to it.

The vinegar rinses away and does not leave an odor. To add a pleasant fragrance to the rinse, add 10 drops or so of Lavender essential oil to the vinegar/baking soda mix.

Another way to soften clothes is to add 1/2 cup baking soda to the wash water, or use 1 part soap flakes and 1 part borax in the wash water before you add the clothes.