Home made laundry soap

I have been making my own laundry soap lately, and really like it. It works well in my High Efficiency Front Load Washing machine, is really cheap , and super easy to make. I only used 3 ingredients and my food processor. Here is the Duggar family recipe... you know the family that has 18 children and counting! They estimate the cost at about $2 for a batch that does about 40 loads. I guessed about that much for mine, or maybe a little cheaper.

Powdered Laundry Detergent

1 Fels-Naptha soap bar ( use one half a bar for Zote)
1 Cup Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax
-Grate soap or break into pieces and process in a food processor until powdered. Mix all ingredients. For light load, use 1 Tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 Tablespoons. Yields: 3 Cups detergent. (Approx. 40 loads)

I used Zote soap this time, which is why it is a pretty pink. I found Zote at Big Lots, but the Fels-Naptha can be found in the laundry aisle with all the rest of the ingredients. I have used both of these soaps, but I understand you can also use Ivory, Sunlight and Kirk's Hardwater Castile, and maybe Octagon if you can find it.

There is a liquid version, but it takes more time, and the one time I made it , I didnt care for it as much. Powder is easier for me. Here is the Duggar version for liquid if you wanna try it.
Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value
4 Cups hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax
- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.
-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)
-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.
-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.
-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)
-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

UPDATE 4/15/11: I still make my own powder and love it, but I now use this recipe which works just as well.

1 bar Fels Naptha
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda