This is the recipe I used: 1 bar of grated fels naptha soap in 4 cups of water in a medium size pan, over medium heat until all soap dissolves. I also added grapefruit scent from Hobby Lobby made for making soap. Then I filled a 5 gallon pail with approximately 4 gallons of hot tap water, to this I added 1/2 cup of washing soda and 1 cup of borax, then added the mix of dissolved fels naptha soap and previously added scent to the 5 gallon bucket.
By Jill W. from Sterling, IL
It sounds like too much water was used. You can still use the liquid to wash clothes with. If you try making it again, use less water to start with and see how it turns out. You can always add more warm water to thin it out if it's too thick.
I always make mine in a 5 gallon bucket with no problems. My guess is that the scent may have kept the soap from gelling; it may have been meant for liquid soap. I've made laundry detergent using homemade soap, and it remained a liquid too.
I've always melted the Fels Naptha, turned off the heat, added the borax and soda and stir till they are dissolved then added it to the hot water in my large container. Given a night, it's always the consistency of runny egg whites and easy to stir to a smooth consistency. Good luck!
After melting my grated soap, I cook it and my borax and washing soda all together, I then mix it with hot water in my large container. I also add a cup or two of good smelling fabric softener.
What amounts do you use to make your laundry soap?? I like the idea of adding the softener so I can use one product for my laundry.
I learned that the temperature has a lots to do with the gel or not. In the winter my doesn't gel. I been making it for years. And always I make it the same way. But in the winter I stored it in my garage n it's too cold to gel up.
