Little House in the Woods: Homemade Dish Soap My Version

I've learned to make my own dish soap courtesy to www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com. I've made some adjustment to work to my liking and you can do the same. Here is my version recipe:

Homemade Dish Soap:

1/4 soap bar Fels Neptha grated (you can find this in your grocery store or Walmart .97c) cost .24c
4 c water free
4 Tbsp of homemade Citrus Enzyme (check out www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com for the recipe) or you can add lemon juice or distilled white vinegar degreasier, extra cleaning power, disinfect cost .04c if using vinegar
1 Tbsp vegetable glycerin (you can find this in a health store or order it on line ie. Amazon)Note: Glycerin is an emollient often used on natural cosmetics or household cleaners to balance moisture levels and cleanse gently. Aid in protecting hands from drying and boost the cleaning power:) cost .56c
2 Tbsp Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Castille Soap (optional) added bubbly boost and love peppermint cost .56c
10 drops of lemon essential oil (optional) remove grease, deodorize, disinfect and smells good cost .10c
10 drops tea tree essential oil (optional)antiseptic, antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral action & smells good:) cost .10c

This make about 32-34oz for $1.60, $1.40 w/o essential oils or .84c w/o essential oils and Dr. Bronner's castile soap. How's that for a great savings:)

You can either grate your Fels Neptha or microwave it in a bowl for 30 sec. increment for a total of 1 & half minutes. I microwave mine first then I ground it in my bullet grinder or you can use coffee grinder or food processor. Note: I find that when I grind the soap in my bullet/coffee grinder without microwaving it first, I find that it is too hard for my grinder and I don't like the struggling sound it makes, I've also tried to process it in my food processor and my food processor would do some hard wobbling/shaking dance (like a break dancer gone bad ha! ha!) on the counter which I didn't care for. I don't want to break my kitchen buddies so microwaving it first helps a lot to process. Next heat 4 cups of water in a sauce pan over med. heat to a boil then add your processed Fels Neptha mix well using a whisk or wooden spoon until the soap has dissolved. Add the rest of your ingredients, mix until well combined. FYI if you are adding essential oils of your choice, you want to wait until your soap mixture has cool to a room temperature. Adding essential oils to hot liquid will decrease its essential benefits dramatically. Transfer your homemade dish soap to recycled dish soap bottle or a pump bottle. I have mine in a big 40oz pump recycled bottle that my sister in law gave me. I love it. I hope you try my version, you can modify it your own way too. In a few hours your homemade dish will have a gel texture this is normal I love the tingling feelings on my hands after I washed my dishes and the smell is wonderfully soothing, it also helps clear my nose due to the effects from the essential oils. Please let me know how you like it.

The best part of making your own dish soap is that you know what's in it: and it's fun to make:). Suggestion: I pumped couple of squirts to my dish bowl then I add about 1/4 c or more of water, I either use my finger or a fork to make a sud/bubbly dish soap. You will notice that this homemade dish does not suds like a regular dish soap but works really well if not better. It is not the suds that cleans your dishes:) that's what dish soaps manufacturer wants you to think because of their commercials with pretty ladies' hands submerged in the bubbles. Getting use to not getting as much suds that you are use to will eventually dissolve in your mind like mines:)

Happy dish washing you all!!!!!