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Making Your Own Laundry Soap
by Mary Welty
So, you’ve just made that first batch of wonderful homemade bar soap.
You’re giddy with accomplishment, and have it prominently displayed in
every bathroom. But why stop there?
Each little scrap of soap you’ve made, from the imperfect bar that
you’re not sure what to do with, to the crumbs and shavings left over,
can be turned into valuable cleaning products for your home.
How much do you think you could save each year if you no longer had to
buy laundry soap? Beyond the financial savings you could reap, there are
some serious health benefits as well. Virtually all laundry soap on the
market today is a petroleum-based detergent, the vast majority
containing dyes and perfumes that can aggravate allergy problems. After
all, when you lay your head down to sleep at night, you have your nose
pressed up against pillows, pillowcases, and sheets all washed in these
chemicals. If you think this can’t cause problems, let me tell you about
my son.
For over a year my ten-year-old son suffered from severe allergy
problems. He lived his life completely congested and was constantly on
antibiotics for sinus infections. Finally his adenoids became infected
and were removed. The problems still continued. After suffering through
87 injections for allergy testing, the medial community found that he
reacted to nothing! Sent home, we were instructed to watch his diet for
2 months to see if he had a food allergy.
I had a better idea. I stripped all of his bedding, the curtains in his
room, and all of his clothing and washed everything in a batch of
homemade olive oil laundry soap. Within a week, he started to show
improvement. Within two, his sinuses cleared completely. And today, it’s
as though his allergy problems never existed.
Making your own laundry soap is easy. Because we have a septic system, I
prefer liquid laundry soap. The following recipe can be made in a couple
of hours, all from the scraps of your soap making ventures.
Ingredients
16 oz. of homemade soap grated or cut into small chunks (any kind will
do)
48 oz. water
16 oz. white vinegar
Combine all ingredients into a large pot and simmer on a very low heat
for 2 – 3 hours, stirring occasionally. Continue to heat until the soap
chunks are completely dissolved. Your liquid soap will be quite thick,
but it will thin a bit once it has completely cooled. Allow your soap to
cool, and then funnel it into a jug or old laundry soap container that
has been thoroughly rinsed.
To Use: Add 1 cup of laundry soap to the water in your washing machine
before putting in the clothes.
I have always used Olive Oil Soap, as this is the only soap I tend to
make, and I am consistently amazed at how well it cleans. I never have a
problem with oily spots on clothes, and seldom have to bother with
pre-treating a stain.
About the author
MK Welty hosts an informational site for soap making enthusiasts at:
http://www.youcanmakesoap.com
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Welty
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