General

Re: Homemade Laundry Detergent

Penny — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 03:50:07 GMT

juju_mommy:

I'm using the exact same recipe and haven't had any problems... BUT... though I mix it up as a powder recipe, I nuke it in some water in the microwave to dissolve well before adding to the wash. Also, I put vinegar in my rinses mostly b/c DH's clothes can get nasty due to the nature of his job/work.

I love making my own too for all of the same benefits you listed! Just try dissolving first and see if that helps. Also, you may want to try the vinegar trick too. Works for me!

Thanks, Julie. I'll try nuking it in water to dissolve it better as well as the vinegar in the rinse. How much vinegar do you use per load? I was thinking of using one of those Downy rinse balls to put the vinegar in.

Penny

Re: Homemade Laundry Detergent

PsykoKat — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:44:58 GMT

I recently tried a recipe I found searching "Dollar Strecher Laundry Detergent Recipe" on google. I remember having read it a long time ago, and Google helped me find it....

This is for a liquid soap that you "cook" to melt the grated Fels Naptha in the water. I think it was about 1/3 bar Fels Naptha to several cups water, plus 1/2 cup Washing Soda and 1/2 cup Borax.

My experiences using this mixture were not so great. I don't really feel like the soap did anything at all. It didn't foam up in the machine at all...I knew it wouldn't foam much, but I really didn't see any evidence of cleaning. My bath towels started to smell like...well...B.O...due to my bf staying over and using them. (Yes, they were washed between uses, and STILL smelled!) I don't have any kids nor did I have any really soiled clothes, but the towels smelling like an ARMPIT when I am freshly out of the shower and drying off my face...definite turn-off!

I am eager to try another homemade laundry detergent recipe, have already grated up my bar of Fels Naptha (which I really love the smell of! Smells like my grandmother's house!). Does anyone have input on other liquid recipes, or should I try a powdered one this time?

Re: Homemade Laundry Detergent

juju_mommy — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:25:17 GMT

I'm using the exact same recipe and haven't had any problems... BUT... though I mix it up as a powder recipe, I nuke it in some water in the microwave to dissolve well before adding to the wash. Also, I put vinegar in my rinses mostly b/c DH's clothes can get nasty due to the nature of his job/work.

I love making my own too for all of the same benefits you listed! Just try dissolving first and see if that helps. Also, you may want to try the vinegar trick too. Works for me!

Have a blessed day,

Julie

Re: Homemade Laundry Detergent

Penny — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:56:11 GMT

Does anyone have problems with a buildup of the detergent in their washing machine? I've been using a homemade powder recipe (Ivory bar soap, borax & washing soda) for about 7-8 weeks and just noticed today that I have a soap scum buildup around the top of the tub and the wringer mechanism. Any suggestions on how to prevent/get rid of the buildup? I noticed several people using vinegar as a rinse agent. Will that help? Or is it to prevent static cling in the dryer? I love using the homemade detergent! Not only is it cheaper but the clothes just smell clean- no perfumes, etc. (I'm old enough to remember when clean just meant no stains and no scent! No lemon, lavender, mountain spring- whatever THAT scent is! Guess I'm dating myself with that, eh? ) My husband has allergies to detergents, dryer sheets, etc. so using it has been great! Thanks for everyone's input on this site. I don't post often but I sure get great info from everyone!

Re: Homemade Laundry Detergent

Brandy — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 16:06:27 GMT

Brandy:
To Pat and Michelle, is Tide necessary?I find it to be rather harsh. My daughter has reactions to detergents that are milder so I have a fear of Tide, lol.

Brandy:
I have been experimenting with homemade detergent again and I was making a stretcher for allergy free Purex. I am pleased with this so far.

I dug up this old discussion for someone and had to post to my own comments.

Since posting this, I have indeed begun to use Tide. The Purex was no longer cleaning our clothes and removing odors as it once did. The rising costs of detergent and the additional boosters sent me on a desperate search for a better solution. I eventually tried Tide and found that it works better on the more heavily soiled clothing and actually costs less to use than Purex with additional boosters.

My daughter does indeed break out with the use of Tide so I wash her things separately in Purex.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Homemade Laundry Detergent

CharlieB — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 14:42:23 GMT

Cinnamonhuskies:

Has anyone had a problem with white streaks on dark clothes when using the washing soda mix? When i used to use baking soda I didn't have that problem.

Michelle, because we have septic, after I bought Borax, I tried an experiment with it and found it didn't dissolve completely until I microwaved the glass of water (w/the Borax) until it was really hot. For each load of wash now, I take a clear glass, add water, a Tbls of Borax and a half Tbls of A&H Washing soda. I stir, then microwave the glass of water/borax/washing soda on high for 1 minute. The water is then clear and I dump it in the washer.

I'm still using my liquid laundry soap too, but only a very small amount since I'm now using it in combo w/the water/borax/washing soda mix.

If your white streak problem is due to washing soda not dissolving in your washer's water temp, you might try this microwave method. BTW, I only use Tbls amounts because our water is soft - we finally invested in a water softener after years of dealing w/our crappy well water.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Homemade Laundry Detergent

Cinnamonhuskies — Sat, 31 May 2008 19:09:25 GMT

Has anyone had a problem with white streaks on dark clothes when using the washing soda mix? When i used to use baking soda I didn't have that problem.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Homemade Laundry Detergent

kdymott — Sat, 31 May 2008 17:33:28 GMT

heatherd:

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

I didn't know this, and will try it! I always stock my bath linens in an 'off-white' color, but they do get dingy looking even with bleach (which is hard on the fibers). I love to have long lasting, clean looking, fluffy bath towels - so hopefully, this will be a solution!
Thanks!

Re: Homemade Laundry Detergent

kdymott — Sat, 31 May 2008 17:25:24 GMT

Link to previous post.
http://community.stretcher.com/forums/p/1866/31751.aspx#31751

Re: Homemade Laundry Detergent

Darla — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 04:02:44 GMT

Michelle, I was wondering how the laundry soap worked without the glycerin, and if you wanted to use glycerin, where would you buy it. Funny you live in Michigan, I just moved out of Michigan. I used to live in Holly, a small town an hour North of Detroit and an hour south of Flint. Just thought I'd share.

Thanks, Darla

Re: Re: Re: Re: Homemade Laundry Detergent

Brianschef — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 15:48:29 GMT

I dont have that issue, probably because there is so little dry soap compared to the amount of water. ; ) I never use hot or warm water.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Homemade Laundry Detergent

My Family's Interests — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 15:22:02 GMT

Thank you for the info and help! Borax here is about $6 for 3lb box (box packaged usually packaged in 1.32kilo box - 1kilo is 2.2lbs), baking soda is about $2 -3 for a couple lb box. Ivory soap (hubby uses it all the time) I buy in big packs of 27 for $10.00. No crash and dent stores here! So I have to fiqure it out. I will try a small batch and see :) Probably use 1/4 cup per load Have to buy borax to try it. If nothing else, it would be great for the times I run out of laundry soap!

I checked the ingredients on the bucket of vip and it is mainly washing soda. Doesn't the soap leave a residue if you use cold water?

Re: Re: Re: Re: Homemade Laundry Detergent

Deborahmichelle — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 15:04:27 GMT

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!

Re: Re: Re: Re: Homemade Laundry Detergent

Brianschef — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 14:53:01 GMT

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. ; )

Re: Re: Re: Re: Homemade Laundry Detergent

Pat — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 14:26:11 GMT

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.