| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| MTwoman |
Posted - Jan 05 2011 : 05:18:29 AM
1 Bar fels naptha
1 1/2 Cup Borax
1 1/2 Cup washing soda
Grate soap
5 gallon bucket
Soap in pot grated with 12 cups of water on medium heat until soap is dissolves. Add Borax and soda, stir until dissolved. Add 8 cups of hot water into 5 gallon bucket add dissolved soap mixture. Stir and add 2 gallons and 12 cups of water. Let stand 24 hours, wisk and enjoy. Works awsome and I never run out of soap anymore. This is to awsome not to share with those willing to try peace. |
| 25 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| 3littlebrds |
Posted - Feb 03 2011 : 8:22:22 PM
I have been making my own laundry soap for a while and LOVE it! So I esp love using Fels Naptha and got nervous when I saw MrsRooster say it was toxic. Did a bit of research and it seems that it used to be quite toxic, but the formula was changed many years ago. One of the threads I saw suggested that technically the borax may be more toxic than the Fels but that both are really only a problem if ingested. So I am going to keep using the fels for my tough laundry and the castile for my more mild. Never had a problem with it not dissolving in cold water. On really cold days, I may throw it in first and put a bit of warm water in to "melt" it. Apparently Fels Naptha can be used to treat poison ivy. Good to know! |
| DeniseMGM |
Posted - Feb 02 2011 : 08:58:52 AM
I make my own laundry soap too, and I love it!!
I used Fels to start but am switching to Castille soap in the next batch because the ingredient list on Fels is obscure. I also recommend adding about four drops of essential oil to every load as well. I've been using lemon because it's handy, but I LOVE lavendar or patchouli too.
The other recommendation is to use your food processor to grate the soap. Presto, the hard work is done!
I doubt I'll buy laundry soap ever again. |
| SusanScarlet |
Posted - Feb 01 2011 : 12:34:48 PM
Campchic - I have to buy my soap on-line. The only Fels Naptha I've been able to find is 5.5 oz per bar. That would be 4.4 bars so I just use
4 1/2 bars of soap and I grate it in my food processor. Hope this helps. |
| OneHippieChick |
Posted - Feb 01 2011 : 01:32:11 AM
I have been making homemade liquid laundry soap for about 2 years now and we love it (we only wash in cold water)! I generally use grated Octogon bar soap as the base soap because right now that's what I have. I have tried Fels Naptha, but didn't notice an appreciable difference, and Octogon is far cheaper than Fels here (plus Fels is nearly impossible to find here). I also add a few drops of Lavender essential oil or a few drops of Lavender EO combined with Sweet Orange EO for a nice muted scent. I haven't tried the vinegar rinse, but I will be trying that on the next load. I did buy a small bottle of off-brand liquid fabric softener which I diluted 1:3 with water. I leave half sponges in the 2 gal. tub dilution and squeeze one out good before throwing it in the dryer. It works fairly well except it tends to build up on towels and they don't seem to dry as well.
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Susan ~ Farmgirl Sister #1978
Fiber artist, spins, knits, crochets, sews, weaves, quilts, soap maker, as well as various beauty products and some natural cosmetics
Working on getting my Etsy website and blog up and running - stay tuned!
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| campchic |
Posted - Jan 30 2011 : 12:15:08 PM
Susan,
In your laundry recipe is that 24 oz of powdered fels soap or is that pre-grateed/powdered?
Thanks,
Erin
Farmgirl #190
www.concrete-and-grace.blogspot.com |
| artfulsister |
Posted - Jan 25 2011 : 05:50:23 AM
I am excited to try and replace my very expensive laundry detergent with one I can make myself. I have one of those front end HE machines and I am not sure I can put powder in it, but I will check that out.
I am very sensitive to soap and fragrance, so I will try using a castille bar first.
MTwoman, can I use castille bar soap in your liquid recipe instead of fels? I am wondering if I should try liquid first?
Thanks so much!
Every day is a new opportunity for joy! |
| countrymommy85 |
Posted - Jan 24 2011 : 07:41:54 AM
Thanks so much for posting the recipes! I never even thought of using a dry homemade detergent as I was making the gelled version. As I have a regular old washer I can use either. When I make up a batch I will add the baking soda to it as well since I was only using the 3 main ingredients. I can't wait to get to the store to pick up the rest of the ingredients I need to whip up a batch! Thanks again!
~We can make the world a better place for our kids and future generations by what we do today!~ |
| SusanScarlet |
Posted - Jan 23 2011 : 10:47:56 AM
This is the recipe I use so I don't have to measure and I use 2 Tablespoons in my front loading high capacity washer - and I have weird hard water that goes through a water softener ---
one 55 oz box of washing soda
one 78 oz box of Borax
2 lbs of baking soda
24 oz of soap, fined grated (I use Fels and put through food processor)
I mix it all up and store in quart size canning jars. It works great for us and hasn't been a problem in my front loader. Also, I don't have odd smells/gunk in my front loader like many people experience. I wonder if it's the detergent. |
| SusanScarlet |
Posted - Jan 23 2011 : 10:43:52 AM
This is the one from the Aug/Sept 2990 MJF magazine:
1 bar (4-6 oz) Castile soap, grated
2 cups Borax
2 cups washing soda
1 cup baking soda
essential oils (optional)
Combine first four ingredients. Add several drops of essential oils, if desired. Store in covered jar. Use 1/4 to 1/2 cup per load, depending on type of water and washing machine. This is a low sudsing detergent. |
| Bellepepper |
Posted - Jan 23 2011 : 10:29:19 AM
Was this topic in another place? I wrote the recipe down and now can't find it. The recipe called for 12 cups of Borax, 8 cups of baking soda and 8 cups of washing soda and I can't remember how much shaved bar soap. Can someone repost this recipe?? It has taken me at least a week to find all the ingredients. The hardware store has ordered the washing soda and Fels soap.
Do you recomend the powder or liquid for a top loading machine?
Thanks for your help, Belle |
| campchic |
Posted - Jan 22 2011 : 4:27:56 PM
Thank you Susan! I'm glad to know that it is probably the Zote! I'll try it with the Fels.
Farmgirl #190
www.concrete-and-grace.blogspot.com |
| SusanScarlet |
Posted - Jan 22 2011 : 1:26:16 PM
I use 2 Tbsp per large load in my front loader. I tried Zote once and just wasn't as pleased as I am with Fels. I had residue with the Zote. Also, I process in food processor so is it is really ground up. Also, we have very hard water so I use some "baking" soda in addition to "washing" soda. Hope this helps. |
| campchic |
Posted - Jan 22 2011 : 11:27:17 AM
Ever since getting a new he washer I have not been impressed with my homemade laundry detergent. I'm using 1.5 Tbsp per large load. I don't know know if its because I'm using Zote instead of Fels? I always get a residue left behind on my clothes. My powder is ground very fine. Besides when I go to use my soap the powder makes me cough really hard. Do you think its the Zote? Any solutions to my problem?
Farmgirl #190
www.concrete-and-grace.blogspot.com |
| countrymommy85 |
Posted - Jan 21 2011 : 8:10:37 PM
I was making homemade laundry soap for a few months but after a while our clothes just would not feel clean I was using a fels naphtha, borax, and washing soda recipe. Why would our clothes feel grimy? Also, my husband is a mechanic so what would be a good homemade way to get the grease of his clothes? I tried extra washing soda then I tried extra borax and it really did not make a difference. Also, I read an earlier post that fels is toxic, what would be a good alternative to use that would still clean properly? Thanks!
~We can make the world a better place for our kids and future generations by what we do today!~ |
| SusanScarlet |
Posted - Jan 21 2011 : 11:39:48 AM
I store mine in quart size canning jars. I just empty one into the canister beside my washing machine as I need it. It stores great and this has worked for me very well. |
| Daizy |
Posted - Jan 21 2011 : 04:37:53 AM
P.S. Welcome to all you Baby SISTERS on this thread. You are all loved here. I've been a SISTER for a year and I'm loving the connections.
PHR Farmgirl #1093
A good day is when you find ALL your ear tags! I wonder how my cows would like my Farmgirl apron?? |
| Daizy |
Posted - Jan 21 2011 : 04:35:09 AM
My recipe is for a powder so you need to have a container with a lid or someway to keep kitty from getting into it to use for litter box or to keep bugs and dust out. The liquid would be too messy for me and this one I have in several cannisters in my cabinet and I can just grab one to share (give away) when someone wants some. Cannisters are all from the thrift store or yard sales. Again so cheap and I am repurposing items along the way. Love and Prayers, Daizy
PHR Farmgirl #1093
A good day is when you find ALL your ear tags! I wonder how my cows would like my Farmgirl apron?? |
| AmericanHwyFlower |
Posted - Jan 20 2011 : 9:42:35 PM
Oh I have to give this laundry soap recipe a try! thanks
Cherish Each Day |
| Daizy |
Posted - Jan 20 2011 : 4:39:12 PM
Yep Yep DS (17 yrs ) has declared its GREAT!!! and to not buy anymore of the plastic bottled kind becoz we have to recycle them 45 minutes away, not to mention how much they cost (my input). I sent some to 3 other friends and they are so excited and just rave over the way the whol house smells SOOOOO grood. Must try for eveyone. One bar of Fels/Castile/Zotes to 2 cups of Borax and 2 cups of Washing Powder Grate bar soap then add to the powders. I put it in food processor so it is very fine and will desolve all the way faster. Try it!! Your are gonna like it.... Love and Prayers, Daizy
PHR Farmgirl #1093
A good day is when you find ALL your ear tags! I wonder how my cows would like my Farmgirl apron?? |
| mywunderfullife |
Posted - Jan 20 2011 : 12:52:50 PM
Can't wait to try this. And from what I am reading here, it is okay to use in a front loading machine?? Thanks for all the great ideas. I am trying to decide whether I want to try the liquid or powder first!!
"don't outsmart your common sense and never let your praying knees get lazy"
Farmgirl #2424!! |
| emsmommy5 |
Posted - Jan 19 2011 : 10:10:10 PM
My daughter came out with the empty juice bottle from the laundry room today saying... mom we need more soap. I just went to my bucket, stirred it up, put it in the bottle, added water and.... laundry soap. It was a satisfying moment. And SO much cheaper. We are still working on the same bucket and it's been at least 6 months or more. We will be using it for at least another 6 months or longer.
Do what you love, love what you do. |
| HookAngel |
Posted - Jan 19 2011 : 9:27:24 PM
woo hoo i finally located washing soda here in southern California. Now I cant wait to make some laundry detergent!! I have wanted to try this for such a long time!! |
| lifesapeach |
Posted - Jan 16 2011 : 9:13:53 PM
Awesome! I can't wait to give this a try. I have spent a fortune on laundry detergent. |
| SusanScarlet |
Posted - Jan 16 2011 : 6:53:09 PM
I've been making dry detergent for over a year and it works great. When I get free samples of liquid detergent, I put them in a bottle (2 parts water/1 part liquid detergent) and use it as a spot treatment. Just squirt some directly on any spots, add to front loader with my homemade dry detergent and spots are gone. Karen, maybe you can use up your Gain this way. |
| missusprim |
Posted - Jan 16 2011 : 5:00:28 PM
I'm so excited about using this laundry soap recipe! DH and I went to our local WalMart and all they had was the Borax. So, I then went today to Meijer's and they had it all. All total it may come to about 9 buckeroos. I also looked into the essential oils and they're about $2 a bottle and come in so many nifty fragrances. I'm not necessarily a scent oriented person as I prefer mother nature's smell, but once in awhile it'd be nice to have certain things smell good. :)
More than anything, I want to see how far one batch will cost versus what we were spending on store bought laundry soap.
I hate to waste 'good' laundry detergent, but I'm so tempted to just pitch my Gain out. I even used a bit more than I normally do so I can get rid of it quicker, but then wouldn't ya know......DH asked how much I used after he saw that our front loader was full of suds! Busted!
On the plus side, DH is also anxious to see what our savings will be. And my daughter, who is as about as frugal, organic and thrifty as they come, is on the same page about using this. Yeah!
http://onceinnabluemoon.blogspot.com/
"Never trust a fart." Jack Nicholson in The Bucket List |
