One of the challenges a single dad often faces is balancing his job with running a household.

Cleaning products can be expensive, so finding ways to make them at home can cut down on costs so a single dad can spend more of his time and money on his kids rather than store-bought products.

Laundry detergent can be filled with chemicals and ingredients that can irritate children's sensitive skin, so I found a way to make it at home, and it only requires a few supplies.

Here's a cheap and easy way to make homemade laundry detergent:

• Long spoon

• Cheese grater

• Large metal pot

• 1 cup washing soda

• 1 cup Borax

Bar soap

Grate half of the soap directly into the metal pot, and save the rest of the soap for the next time you want to make your laundry detergent. Next, add 1 gallon of water to the grated soap and bring it to a boil. Cook the mixture until the soap dissolves, stirring frequently. After the soap is mixed thoroughly, add the Borax and the washing soda, and bring to boil. The mixture will thicken but will not end up as thick as regular liquid laundry soap. Boil the mixture for a few more minutes remove from heat and add 1 gallon of cold water. Mix thoroughly, and set the pot aside to cool.

The ingredients (except for the metal pot) cost roughly $10, and can be used to make two to three batches, saving quite a bit of money compared with store-bought liquid detergent.

The homemade soap doesn't leave a scent on clothes, so add a few drops of essential oil for a fresh scent. Also, adjust the amount of Borax and washing soda, as necessary, for tougher stains.