It is said that necessity is the mother of invention.  Or in my case, the end of procrastination.  I needed to do laundry today but I ran out of laundry detergent yesterday.  I did go to the store yesterday but purposely avoided the detergent aisle.  Why?  For months I have had the supplies to make my own laundry soap powder but haven't gotten around to it.  Today, I desperately needed to wash clothes and soap was necessary.  So, guess what?  The laundry powder got made today.  The first load is washing as I type. 

 

 

I had two cute little helpers.  That always makes this sort of thing more fun.  I recommend using your own cute little helpers if you have them.  Or ask to borrow some from a friend!  ;)  I got the recipe from this post on Amanda's blog.  

 

 

Here are the ingredients you'll need: castille soap (I used Dr. Bronner's citrus castille soap), baking soda, Borax, and washing soda.  Follow the recipe here.  Stir it all together and you're done!  Store it in an air tight container.  I'm trying two tablespoons of laundry powder per load.  That means 40 loads per recipe.  Not too shabby!  I imagine you'd need to adjust that based on the relative hardness or softness of the water where you live.   I'll let you know how it turns out.

 

 

(Isn't she lovely?)