LOVE the smell of Tide!  I am going to try this, we have been using $11 for 35 lb. cheap cheap soap, with a run in Tide or another name brand about every 5-10 loads to get them really clean-maybe this will work almost as well as Tide.

Tracy 

Brandy, I really thought I was loosing my mind!  I have always tried to be extremely careful.  It is nice to hear that it just isn't me!!

 I was happy with my wash after I used the homemade detergent.  I can't wait until it starts warming up outside to hang my clothes out.  Does anyone else have problems with their hands in the cold weather when they hang their clothes outside?  How do you combat it? 

I live in Delaware and there is such an extreme between the humidy levels in winter and summer.  Winters are dry and summers are humid as all get out.

I don't hang laundry out in the winter. Winters are very wet here, it takes hours to dry one batch if it does at all.

I use the generic dishwashing powder from Costco or Sams Club so it's not too spendy . I don't use it in every load of whites that I wash just the dingy ones . It does not eat away at your clothing like bleach does and gets the gray color out so to me it is worth it . My clothes last a lot longer . My son had a white jersey that was so stained with grease that I even tld him to get rid of it . I had tried everything to get it clean . Well e threw it in the wash he first time I tried this method and ALL the stains came out . I could not believe this was the same shirt !!

Bonnie,

I missed your question about sorting. Yes, I still sort my clothes even if I am using no bleach. Dark colors sometimes bleed and that will ruin lighter items.

 Re: making laundry soap. What would it work out to for each load? with washing soda, borax and ivory soap? I was thinking about it. Usually I buy purex, abc, arm & hammer or vip laundry soap and with sales or reg price it works out to about .15 to .30 per load. I have a big top loader and do about 10 loads a week. I  usually throw in borax or amaze or bleach for the unbleachables in each load on a reg basis because of my little kids clothes etc for the stains etc. I don't use bleach very much at all since it really only works on whites.  I don't use tide, sunlight etc because it bugs my kids skin and they get ezcema  in the winter. Vinegar usually is $2.75 to $4 per gallon here and I do use it in laundry at times.  I am just curious if it is worth it. VIP brand is a good detergent for the enviroment etc. and you can get a 100 load bucket for $15 reg or $10 on sale.

My Family's Interests:

What would it work out to for each load? with washing soda, borax and ivory soap?

Add the price of the bar of soap, divide the cost of washing soda by six (that's about how many cups are in a regular size box), add that, then figure the cost of borax the same way. (There are about eight cups in a regular size box of borax, so divide the price by 16) The rest will depend on how much you use for each load. Some people use only 1 tablespoon. I use a little more.

1 cup of washing soda
1/2 cup borax
1 cup of soap flakes

That makes 2 1/2 cups of detergent. At 16 tablespoons per cup, you'll have 40 loads' worth. Divide your total cost by 40.

Different "recipes" may have different amounts; this is the one I use.





 

 Here is the breakdown for us:

1 - 4.5 pound box Borax(crash 'n dent store)  $3

1 - 4.5 pound measure baking soda($.33 a pound)  $1.485

15 - free mini hotel bars soap(thanks hubby's Gram!)  = to 3 regular bars of soap  $0.00

About 10 pounds dry mix = 20 cups = 320 tablespoons

$4.485 divided by 320 tablespoons = $.014016

I use 1 tablespoon per load in a regular capacity washer.  It works just fine for us.  I also use plain household baking soda and it works just as well as washing powder and is more readily available around the world.  So in essence it costs us $4.48 a year in laundry soap.  ; )

Dear Brianschef, Glad to know that you can use baking soda in lieu of washing soda ....

Would you repeat your recipe, as I am by now totally confused by all of gthe posts?  Thanks much!