Zote Laundry Soap

Zote Laundry Soap:
{approx. 120 loads}

1 bar of Zote - 80¢/14.1 ounce bar
2 1/2 cups Borax - $2.99/76 ounce box
2 1/2 cups Washing Soda - $4.99/55 ounce box

Optional: 
1 cup Baking Soda

1 scoop of powdered OxiClean



Grate the Zote, and using a food processor {or blender}, mix all the ingredients together.

I have a small food processor, so I had to do it in several batches.

This recipe makes around 120 loads.

Maybe a little less depending on how big your loads are.

Store it in an air-tight container.
I put mine in a 16 oz. Cool Whip container and the rest in a Ziploc bag.

You'll only need to use 1 tbsp per small/regular load or 2 tbsp for large/super loads.

Wal-Mart sells inexpensive, reusable plastic and stainless steel coffee scoops for the perfect 2 tbsp (or 1/8 cup) measurement, or only fill it halfway for small/regular loads.

Zote has a very mild citronella smell, but once you use it in the wash it leaves behind a light pleasant scent. 
I think it did a good job cleaning a regular-sized test load of laundry. 

Check the Dollar Stores or Big Lots in your area if you're having trouble finding Zote!

I finally found it at Big Lots - but only after going to several different Dollar Stores, 1 Dollar Tree, 2 Wal-Marts, 1 Target, and 3 grocery stores {Rouses, Cannata's, and Winn-Dixie}!

After looking at both our local Wal-Marts and Family dollar in vain for Borax, I finally found it at Target for only $2.99 a box!

Borax's box has recently changed and it looks like this now:

I couldn't find washing soda any where in my area, so I order it online, but I try to look around for the best prices, and then buy in bulk.

Soaps Gone By has new deals going on all the time and is a trusted online store. 
I've been buying from them since I switched over to homemade washing powder.

You can also find it at Arm & Hammer's website.

For more laundry alternatives, tips and links, click over to my post:

Laundry Soap Alternatives - Be Cheap! Go Green!

Soaps Gone By has a recipe that I used as a guideline to create my Zote laundry soap.

I use the Zote laundry soap recipe on a regular basis, and I've given it to other several other people to test too.

Everybody loved using it, and we've found that it does a wonderful job of cleaning clothes!

Update:
My local Wal-Mart now carries Borax and Arm & Hammer washing soda.
They don't sell Zote (I've only found it at Big Lots), but they do sell the Fels-Naptha laundry bar.

So if you're having trouble finding Zote, you might find Fels-Naptha at your local Wal-Mart instead.
This laundry soap recipe calls for a 14.1 ounce laundry bar, so you'll need around 2 1/2 of the Fels-Naptha bars.

Have fun!