What is washing soda and where do you find it?

There is no washing soda at the stores near me, believe me I've looked! A pool place is a good idea, I might try that. I like the idea of using something so common as baking soda in a laundry soap recipe; I got a bunch of them on sale for .25 a piece. So the soda was .25, the box of 15 use Tide was $3.25, and a bar of Fels Naptha was $1.29. That was about Jan. 15th, and I'm into my second box of soda, have 1/3 bar Fels left, and maybe 1/3 box of Tide left.

Anybody good at Math? How much is that for a family of four for about 3 1/2 to 4 months?

 

I used Vinegar in the rinse with good results. However, I found large bottles of Snuggle on clearance at Target for $1.94 and I had $1 off coupons, so at .94 a bottle fabric softner was a nice luxury for me.  : )

BTW I plan on trying other detergents (read cheaper)  than Tide in the recipe; just that this being my first attempt I wanted to use what the recipe called for.

Kabin,

 We don't have hard water but we do have a septic system. I am using a liquid mix these days.

 

 

Michelle, I like Purex but not everyone does. It's much cheaper than Tide.

 

 

washing soda is Sodium Carbonate . If you cannot find it in the store you can find it at a pool/spa store . The brand at the supermarket is Arm&Hammer . It is not baking soda so be careful not to get the two confused . They are both in a yellow box .

Hi,

I'm trying the homemade laundry detergent as I type.  I have always used vinegar as a rinse and this works really well, especially when the clothes hang outside to dry.  I actually had heard of this from a column of Martha Stewarts!  She said that after a while, detergent will build up on clothes, especially towels and it deters their ability to absorb water.  Go figure! 

 I am trying to find a solution to bleach.  I have had several loads where bleach spots will appear on my colored clothes.  The only thing I have been able to determine is that I did a load of whites (with bleach) and then did a load of colors.  When this happened, there was still bleach in the washer, maybe around the edges and then it dripped on my clothes.  So now my whites are the last load of the day.  I have tried peroxide as a substitute but I think it is pretty costly since I can only get it in small bottles.  Since you don't use bleach, do you still sort your whites and colors?

In place of bleach you can use dishwasher detergent ( the powder ) . I use about 1/2 a cup per load of whites . If they are really dingy I soak them overnight in the laundry soap and dishwasher detergent . I just let the washer agitate for a few minutes and then turn it off .

heatherd:

In place of bleach you can use dishwasher detergent ( the powder ) . I use about 1/2 a cup per load of whites . If they are really dingy I soak them overnight in the laundry soap and dishwasher detergent . I just let the washer agitate for a few minutes and then turn it off .

How does that compare, price wise? I don't own a dishwasher, so I don' know the cost of the detergent.  

Bonnie, I have had bleach splash on the side of the washer or right at the top so it remains there and if I accidentally get that on the clothes then I see those spots like you mentioned.

 I use Borax when I need extra whitening and a good day of sun to line dry the stuff. Every so often I will use bleach.

 

 

I second Borax....Biz is good too. you can't beat sunshine!