Save Loads with Homemade Laundry Detergent

Did you know: You can make a year's worth of laundry detergent for you and your family for under $20?

An average family can spend over $70 on store-bought detergent per year. Making your own isn't only better for the environment, it can save you over 80 percent -- and it only takes three ingredients.

First, take one bar of natural soap (like castile or a gentle glycerin soap) and finely grate it with a cheese grater. Then, take the soap flakes and sprinkle in one cup of washing soda and one cup of borax, sealing your new cleaning concoction in an airtight container.

When it's laundry time, mix in about 1-2 tablespoons per load. It doesn't take much with this concentrated material -- one batch of super-soap can get you through 40-50 loads.

Make more as needed, and you can even add powdered fabric softener and essential oils for a fresh scent. And yes, it'll even work in your high-efficiency washing machine too.

Spend a few minutes making your own laundry detergent, and you and your family can see savings all year long.