The really cool thing I've been doing lately
I've been making my own laundry detergent. It's really easy, all natural (depending on the soap you use), and relatively inexpensive to make.
The recipe is:
2 Cups of Grated Soap
(Fels Naptha is specifically a laundry soap but I've used Ivory and Dove and it's worked out just as well. I made my last batch with saved slivers of Villainess Soaps that I've accumulated over the past two years.)
1 Cup of Washing Soda
I Cup of Borax
I run it through a blender until it's granulated. Ready to use immediately.
I use 2 TBSP a load, 3 for heavy loads.