Home made Laundry detergent. (Cheap & more environmentally friendly)

This comes from an environmental workshop that I have been going to over the past few weeks.

We have just started trying this out, we used some of it this weekend and it worked great. We also figured that $15 of supplies would replace over $80 of store purchased detergent.
(you may actually save more then $80 becuase the $15 of supplies make 9-10 gallons of detergent)
One note is that the soap does not produce many suds but it still cleans really well and is good for the pocket book and the environment.

Apparently it came from the following website: www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm

1/3 bar laundry soap (such as Sunlight laundry soap)
½ cup washing soda (Arm and Hammer)
½ cup borax powder (20 Mule Team)

These products are all widely available at most grocery stores.
Here's what I paid for each item:
2 bars of Sunlight laundry soap: $1.99
Arm & Hammer Washing Soda: $5.19
20 Mule Team borax: $4.99

You will also need a small bucket (about a 2 gallon size)

1. Grate 1/3 of soap bar and put it in a sauce pan.
2. Add 6 cups water and heat pan until the soap melts.
3. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved.
4. Remove saucepan from heat.
5. Pour 4 cups hot water into a bucket.
6. Add the soap mixture and stir.
7. Add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir.
8. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it will gel.

You use ½ cup per washing machine load (for a front loading washing machine). (If you have a top loading washing machine, you may have to use 1 cup.)

The finished soap will not be a solid gel. It will be more of a watery gelthat some people have described as an "egg noodle soup" look. Before using, you may want to stir the soap to break up the gel - or if the soap is stored in a container, you may want to give the container a shake to ensure the contents are well mixed.

Optional: If you want your soap to have some sort of scent you can scentthis with ½ to 1 oz. of essential oil or fragrance oil of your choice.