The ingredients: Borax, Soda Ash (Washing Soda), ZOTE soap
Borax is boron, oxygen & salt and is mined in California.
Soda Ash or Washing Soda (Sodium carbonate) balances water pH and total alkalinity as to much acid can cause things like corrosion of pipes and eye, nose, and skin irritation. Its basically a water softener. Called washing soda, soda crystals, or sal soda in the detergent section of stores, it effectively removes oil, grease, and alcohol stains. NOTE: THIS IS NOT THE SAME THING AS BAKING SODA!
I use ZOTE soap because it isn't a petroleum product. Its made from Coconut oil, tallow, Citronella essential oil (AWESOME for repelling bugs aka ticks & chiggers!)
Equipment: Bucket w/ lid (I used an empty Aloe Butter bucket that I had on hand from making body butters), cheese grater, wooden spoon, 1 cup measuring cup.
Optional equipment: Magic Bullet, medium size mixing bowl.
Grate the ZOTE bar into the bucket.
The whole bar grated.
Measure out 1 dry cup of Soda Ash & 1 dry cup of Borax
I run it through the Magic Bullet to break up any chunks.
Added the Soda Ash to the grated ZOTE.
Added the Borax to the grated ZOTE.
Borax is a really fine powder, try not to breathe in the dust as you mix it in.
Mixing the ingredients.
I then run the mix through the Magic Bullet (about 20-30 seconds), 3 cups at a time.
All ingredients thoroughly mixed into a powder.
The finished laundry soap! Dump back into the bucket and snap on the lid.
I keep a 1 Tablespoon scoop in the bucket. I use 2 Tablespoons for each load. On jeans, I use up to 4, depending on the level of dirty.
I use about 3/4 cup of white vinegar as fabric softener. I dump it directly into the fabric softener opening. When I wash our bed sheets, I add a couple of drops of Lavender essential oil into the vinegar.
