Home-Made Laundry Soap: Too Cool

Our behind-the-alley neighbor gave us a small container of home-made laundry soap recently in appreciation for various and assorted good deeds done and favors rendered. She told us that her sister has problems with allergies and can't tolerate scents and fragrances, so they have been making this laundry soap and really like it, so they were giving us some as well.

I am admittedly a huge sucker for this kind of stuff, but I was amazed at how well it worked. With only one tablespoon of this mixture per load, all the clothes came out very clean and bright. We used up our initial ration so I set out today to make some more. Here's how to do this:

• 1 cup Fel's Naptha laundry soap, finely grated
• 1/2 cup Borax
• 1/2 cup washing soda

I struck out on washing soda, but the better grocery stores will have Fel's Naptha soap and Borax in the laundry section. Absent washing soda, I used Oxi-Clean, which is about the same stuff, but costs a lot more ($6.50 or so for the tub).

The only trick is grating the Fel's Naptha finely enough. I used a small kitchen grated and elbow grease, and that worked very well. Best of all, you only need to use 1 tablespoon of this stuff per load (2 tablespoons if the laundry is heavily soiled).

This is simply too cool to not pass on. Enjoy!