If this has been talked about somewhere else, sorry for the repeat.. did you know that you can buy something that will keep for years in storage and that with a little work can be turned into washing soda?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_carbonate

http://www.backwoodshome.com/forum/vb/archive/index.php/t-25534.html

I'm putting the science and the credit to this post on backwoods home, but I have also read about this in a number of books and have now made it myself, first hint that I don't see many talk about.. put on a mask or cover your nose/mouth when stirring or pouring this, use spoons, and if you do handle it, which I find I do need to do so in order to get the right feel, wash your hands afterwards well.

I have not so far been able to simple look at the mixture and tell when its done, it requires that hands on touch to confirm it, once you feel baking soda and then feel washing soda, you are set, I could tell them apart by touch alone. I will include photos, now this baking soda is the animal grade bought in 40 pd bags at the feed store, making this batch of finished washing soda costings very little to make, maybe 25 cents for the whole three pds worth.

I know that you can do it on the stove but I like the oven personally, it allows me to use a pan and I find that I get more even spread and baking on it..

Second Hint.. before openning that oven, get a fresh air source going, crack a window, turn on your stove fan, etc etc.

Ok, that's it, my 3 pds batch takes around an hour and half at 400 degree's but don't count on the timing so much as the feel because it can be as quick as an hour or as long as two hours depending on the season and how damp the baking soda started out and how thin or thick your layer is depending on the pan size.

This of course can be now used in either a dry soap mix or used to make a five gallon pail of liquid soap, with the help of a bar of soap and a bit of borax if you want, but my own research seems to show that most soap company's either use borax or washing soda but not both, yet almost every single homemade online version shows using both..

http://www.icanteachmychild.com/2011/02/make-it-homemade-liquid-laundry-soap-1/