Trailer, Trash and Soap

I been busy since 7 this morning, mostly running errands and such, and have very little to show for it.  But, I did get the horse trailer picked up from the trailer repair shop,  It still needs some work, but the last part has to be ordered.  But, we again have lights and wheels.  You can drive without working lights during the day, but having the wheels on it was rather important.  Some how, half the lug studs broke off on two of the wheels.

We have two bulls to take into the stock yard, but without wheels on the trailer it would be rather difficult.......

Next, is getting the rest of the trash out of the trailer.  Since we were under a burn ban during the summer we put the trash and brush into the trailer (to keep the coons out).  We got rid of one load of it, but getting rid of the second load had to be postponed due to the wheels....

After getting the trailer home, I started another load of laundry (number 3 for the day), and a batch of laundry soap.  The batch I made today SHOULD last a year, but people ask to try it and it usually only goes 6-9 months.  It cost me around $4 for a years worth, and its easy to do.  It is also safe for septic tanks and evaporation lagoons such as ours.

I have a top loading machine.  This is a liquid/gel type of soap.

 Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- 

4 Cups hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup Washing Soda   NOT BAKING SODA
½ Cup Borax-

 
Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with the 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)
-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) 

Notice this makes 10 gallons worth.  So, if storage is an issue for you, make as above and cut the ingredients in half  OR, fill the containers all with the soap and then when you are ready to use it, dump half into an empty container and fill with HOT water and shake well.  If you do that, you will need a wide mouth storage container though, as the gel will be very thick with only half the water in it.

I sometimes use milk jugs, old laundry containers, 2 liter bottles or mason jars for my storage containers.

If you rather use a powered version, here is the recipe for it:

Powdered Laundry Detergent- Top load machine

1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
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) 

This can easily be stored in a large jar.

If you normally use bleach or oxy-clean added to your laundry, you can still use it as normal.  I have had people tell me their whites are not as bright, but when I quiz them the usually tell me they didn't use bleach with this soap.  If you bleached before, you will still need to bleach.