I have a solution for the question “What to do with soap scraps?”  Make laundry soap.  If you don’t have scraps because you don’t make soap, get some Ivory Soap to use.  It’s inexpensive and mild.  I did it tonight with my scraps so it hasn’t been tested yet.  But it will be and an update will be forth coming.  I really resent buying laundry detergent.  It’s expensive and I would prefer to spend my money elsewhere.  Plus I have the ends of my cold processing soaps.  The soap scraps that are perfectly good soaps, but not as appealing to the eye.  I have been saving them but I can’t use them as fast as I make them.

My first use for them was making laundry soap tonight.  If people realized how easy it is they would do it themselves.  Here’s how easy it is using a heavy duty 5 gallon plastic container.

1. Finely grade enough mild soap to make two (2) cups (less than a full bar).
2. Heat 4 cups of water and melt your graded soap in it.
3. As the soap is melting heat 2 gallons of water.  I used my tea kettle and measured the hot water using my 2 quart glass measuring cup.  4 quarts equal a gallon and we need two (2) gallons.  So that was 4 full measuring cups (2 Quarts each).  I had about 2 cups additional hot water so I poured it in too.
4. As the water heated I slowly poured it into the 5 gallon heavy duty plastic container.
5. Next I slowly poured the completely melted soap water mix into the 5 gallon plastic container.  Mixing well with a large stainless steel spoon.
6. I measured ¾ cup of Borax and 1 ¼ cup of washing soap into a measuring cup.
7. Then I slowly poured the powdered ingredients into the hot wet ingredients.  I mixed and mixed until I felt sure it was thoroughly mixed.
8. I then added two large droppers of “Fruit of the Loom” fragrance oil.   Stirring that in completely for a good mix.  This is not necessary but I had it and I wanted too.
9. Last but not least I sealed it with the lid and I am letting it set overnight.

The hardest part is boiling water or measuring whichever is hardest for you!   It’s a must try for anyone wanting to save money.

Update: I’ve been using my new laundry detergent all day.   It works great.  I have this shirt that has been my go to shirt all summer but with the summer heat it was starting to smell less clean even after washing it.  But today, it smells as clean as when I first got it.  It did not get old stains out of old clothes.  So I guess it’s not a magic wand but I’ll take it.  Now, all this laundry has caused a new issue.  I don’t have enough hangers or closet space for all my clothes.   So, tomorrow’s project is to go through the closet and get a bag ready for a donation.  That’s a good idea anyway I have soap that needs to be delivered to the local shelter.