1 bar Fels Naptha Soap or Ivory Soap
1 cup Borax
1 cup Washing Soda

Finely grate soap and add to 6 cups water. Heat and stir till melted. Take off heat and add other ingredients, stirring well. Pour into 5 gallon bucket and add water to about 2" from top. Stir well. Let sit 24 hrs. before using. Use 1/2 cup per load.
* You must stir this before each use. It's kinda gloppy looking.

Powdered Soap:
Use same ingredients except for water. Use 1-2 T. per load depending on size of load and how dirty it is.

is it really homemade if the three ingredients are processed products from the store?

OK. take 2 whole possums (or whatever you find run over on your road), skin and boil in a large kettle. Set meat aside for lunch. Drain off the fat into a large pot. Add 2 cups of rose petals and 1 cup of fresh clover...boil until they are thoroughly dissolved. Now, add 1 bucket of wood ash...

ROFL

Making your own lye sucks , takes waaay too long. Besides, coon fat works better than possum...........