Money Minute: Homemade Laundry Detergent

I'll admit it.  A lot of my friends started using this detergent a long time ago.  At first, I thought it would be too hard to make (I was mainly looking at liquid recipes).  Then I got a new washer and thought it wouldn't  be safe to use in the high efficiency machine.

BOY was I wrong!

A friend (thanks Deborah) gave me a recipe for a home-made powder detergent that is just awesome.  It is simple to make and works well in high efficiency machines.

1 cup Washing Soda

1 cup Borax

1 bar soap shredded (any kind works - I wouldn't use the super moisturizing ones though)

Mix them all together.  Use 1 - 2 Tablespoons per load.

So, how does it work? 

I am quite a fan.  The only downside I have seen is that over time, the brighteners from regular detergent wash out of the fabrics.  Whites aren't quite as bright.  You can remedy this with an occasional cycle with regular detergent or with bleach.

I love it because:

1. It's VERY inexpensive.  You can find all of the ingredients in your local supermarket or online through Alice or Amazon.
2. Even if the soap you choose has scent, your laundry won't.  This is important to us as the Hubs has very sensitive skin.
3. It gets out even tough stains and odors.
4. You can use a little remnant of the bar soap as a pre-treater.
5. Use vinegar in the bleach port (instead of bleach) to freshen clothes even more and make them nice and soft.

Have you used homemade detergent for you?  What recipe did you try?  How well did it work?  Have you tried homemade dishwashing detergent?  I'm searching for a good recipe that doesn't leave a film on dishes. Please share if you have found one!