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Cleaning Up:  Homemade laundry soap  |
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Farmer Macleigh
Farmgirl in Training
39 Posts
Tennessee
USA
39 Posts |
 Posted - Jun 26 2005 : 09:56:42 AM
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Hello All!
This is my maiden posting! Does anyone have a proper recipe for homemade laundry soap? I'd like to concoct some of my own at home but add some fragrance to the mixture as well.
Any ideas?
Best to all,
Macleigh
Hope sustains the farmer. -- Old Proverb |
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Clare
True Blue Farmgirl
2173 Posts
NC WA State
USA
2173 Posts |
Posted - Jun 26 2005 : 10:28:37 AM
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Hello MacLeigh and welcome! Aunt Jenny has posted her recipe for homemade laundry soap, which is at this link:
http://www.maryjanesfarm.org/snitz/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=522&SearchTerms=laundry,soap
Anytime you're curious about anything, just use the search link at the top right of each page. I think we've discussed about every topic here, and the search feature is really becoming a good tool, since when we first started out we didn't have as many topics to post in and this easily finds things for us.
Tell us more about yourself, too! Good luck.
****Gardener, Stitcher, Spiritual Explorer and Appreciator of all Things Natural****
"Begin to weave and God will give the thread." - German Proverb |
Edited by - Clare on Jun 26 2005 10:30:13 AM |
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Farmer Macleigh
Farmgirl in Training
39 Posts
Tennessee
USA
39 Posts |
Posted - Jun 26 2005 : 12:09:37 PM
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Hello, Clare,
And thank you for the link! That's wonderfully helpful. I'll certainly put it to use.
Right now I'm getting ready to resurrect an old clothesline out back that's been abandoned for some time now. I have a new line and pins (and certainly plentious amounts of laundry to grace them with) and look forward to getting started on the next laundry day.
At present I'm on the hunt for a sturdy washboard, too -- one that will last a long time. A friend of Mary Jane's, noted in the book, has a glass washboard. Do you, or anyone else, know where one might be purchased? Also, I've looked for the Mrs. Stewart's bluing to add to washes but haven't found it as of yet.
Thanks for sharing your ideas; I'll post more about myself on the Welcome Wagon board!
Best,
Macleigh
Hope sustains the farmer. -- Old Proverb |
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jpbluesky
True Blue Farmgirl
6066 Posts
Jeannie
Florida
USA
6066 Posts |
Posted - Jun 26 2005 : 12:34:15 PM
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M. - until you find a washboard (which has gotten tricky since they became a decorative country item for homes!), scrubbing with a soft brush and your hands will get the job done just as well! I have two old wash boards, one glass and one metal. But I never use them...always go back to just washing by hand.
jpbluesky
Heartland girl |
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Farmer Macleigh
Farmgirl in Training
39 Posts
Tennessee
USA
39 Posts |
Posted - Jun 26 2005 : 12:38:43 PM
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Hey JP,
Thank you so much. I have always gotten a big kick out of hand washing my pretty linens, tea towels, etc., so I know I can get started with a brush and hand scrubbing!
Best,
Macleigh
Hope sustains the farmer. -- Old Proverb |
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TheSoapMaven
True Blue Farmgirl
691 Posts
Susan
LA
USA
691 Posts |
Posted - Jun 26 2005 : 2:04:49 PM
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Our local hardware has all the washboards you could want. If anyone needs one I can pick them up and mail them to you.
Blessings & Bliss!.· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
((¸¸.·´ .·´ -:¦:-~Susan~
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´*
Wife, Mother, Natural Woman, Savonnière, Writer, Baker, Gardener.
Soulmate to Jerry for 30 years
Mom to Zach, Gesikah, Nathan, Hannah, Rachel and Benjamin
Yetta to Sam
"It's no bad thing to celebrate a simple life" ~ Bilbo Baggins
If your knees aren't green by the end of the day, you need to seriously re-examine your life. |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jun 26 2005 : 10:23:07 PM
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Our local hardware has them too..maybe small towns are like that. I have 5 washboards hanging on my laundry room wall..one big one was my great grandmas and I love it. Always wanted a glass one too. I have seen them at antique stores..way too expensive for little old me..but they are out there I guess. It would be nice ...good luck~!~!
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things! |
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greyghost
True Blue Farmgirl
650 Posts
Lynn
Summerville
Georgia
USA
650 Posts |
Posted - Jun 27 2005 : 08:04:21 AM
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| Auctions are a great place to get things. I saw a rare little washboard meant for "unmentionables" that went for $2.50! |
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Farmer Macleigh
Farmgirl in Training
39 Posts
Tennessee
USA
39 Posts |
Posted - Jun 27 2005 : 09:35:36 AM
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That's a great idea. I went to an ACE Hardware store and found both a large and small version, but neither looked extremely sturdy. There are so many old junk/antique shops around here, I really need to venture out and see what they might have on hand. You can't beat the older versions -- they had to be built to last!
Hope sustains the farmer. -- Old Proverb |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jun 27 2005 : 10:32:18 AM
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They are SO much sturdier than the new ones!!!
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things! |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2005 : 11:26:57 AM
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Jenny -- can you use the homemade laundry soap in warm or cold water? I use cold water for my darks and wondered if this would work ok.
Kay
Proud Member of North Clark County Farmgirls |
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Mollie
True Blue Farmgirl
88 Posts
88 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2005 : 6:10:00 PM
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Just wanted to let you know that almost all the large chain grocery stores here in my city carry Argo Gloss Laundry Starch ($1.39 for 1 lb box) in the soap aisle. I know some of you can't find it. I still like the regular spray starch usually Faultless. But if you want to use Argo "old-fashioned" kind, remember you can "mix in the proportions recommended in the instructions. Instead of dipping your clothes in the mixture, let cool and drain into empty milk jugs or soda bottles. Store these with your other laundry supplies. When it's time to iron, shake the starch mixture thoroughly and pour into a plastic spray bottle. (For best results, you may wish to heat the mixture again in the microwave.) Spray onto you clothes and iron. I have found you can get 10 to 15 bottles for the price of one can of commercial spray starch (depending on how heavily starched you want your clothes). It provides yet another way to recycle plastic jugs and bottles and reduces the flourocarbons and pollution from canned spray starch." You can also use the Argo laundry starch powder to make jewelry or Christmas ornaments with kids. Mollie http://www.startrecycling.com/Paperjewelry.htm
or http://www.epa.state.oh.us/pic/kids/jewel.html |
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Cindylou
Farmgirl at Heart
243 Posts
Cindylou
Moscow
Idaho
243 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2005 : 6:37:32 PM
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I learn so much from all of you! I love NOT having a clothes dryer ~ on an unrelated topic. My three kids are now grown, they all learned to factor in drying time on the wooden rack in the winter or outside on the line in warmer weather. I love the way clothes smell after drying outside. I have fond memories of watching my mother hang clothes on the line after wringing them out in a wringer washer when I was very little. I think the best part is the time you share while teaching your kids how to do things in a simpler way. I have many memories of washing dishes, making bubbles in the dish water with an egg beater, and the best is that my sons don't consider those things someone else's job to do.
Thanks farmgirls at heart! sunnily yours,
Cindylou
MaryJane's Left-Hand Farmgirl
Cindylou
cindylou@maryjanesfarm.org |
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sleepless reader
True Blue Farmgirl
1022 Posts
CA
USA
1022 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2005 : 7:38:31 PM
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Cindylou, I agree that nothing smells better than laundry dried on the line! I washed the bed linnens the other day and hung them out to dry. It was a beautiful sunny, slightly breezy day and the flannels dried in about an hour. When we crawled into bed that night...boy, it was what heaven must smell like!
Sharon
PS nice to see you on line :) |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Jun 29 2005 : 9:36:15 PM
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Hi CindyLou!!! good to see you here!!
Kay..yes, I use mine in warm or cold water..just make sure it is dissolved really well before you put the clothes in with cold water. Warm isn't a problem. I almost never use hot. (when my grown boys were teenagers I did wash their socks in very hot water..twice..yuck!)
Jenny in Utah
The best things in life arn't things! |
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therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Nov 14 2005 : 5:57:36 PM
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I will be trying this for sure. I usually always make liquid and have all the ingredients on hand for it..same stuff so it will be easy to try out. Thanks Kay!!!
Jenny in Utah
It's astonishing how short a time it takes for very wonderful things to happen...Frances Burnette |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Nov 16 2005 : 5:26:05 PM
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I grate 3 bars of Fel's soap, toss in a box of Borax, a box of Washing Soda and a small box of the cheapest color safe bleach. I only add the color safe bleach because my boyfriend works at a grocery store and his white shirts come home black and grey (ick) not to mention the socks...
Do all men have suck icky socks?
:)
Ciao
Alee |
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greyghost
True Blue Farmgirl
650 Posts
Lynn
Summerville
Georgia
USA
650 Posts |
Posted - Nov 18 2005 : 09:47:13 AM
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| My hubby always has icky socks. They get washed twice. Once with the "icks" and a second time with the "whites." We have to replace them every year... they just get so brown and disgusting even after a night of soaking in bleach... drastic measure but still... |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Nov 18 2005 : 10:11:35 AM
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Yep..if they wear work boots especially..my husband and grown sons all wear white socks mostly and get that leather brown color from their "wolverines" on them..yuck!!
Jenny in Utah
It's astonishing how short a time it takes for very wonderful things to happen...Frances Burnette |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Nov 27 2005 : 6:39:11 PM
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My boyfriend's socks don't get discolored so much as dis-smelled! I can always tell when laundry day is approaching because I can smell his socks a mile off. He wears holes in his socks faster than anyone I have ever seen so I wonder if he has some sort of corrosive agent in his feet... lol
The joys of living with the opposite sex...
Alee |
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AnnieT
True Blue Farmgirl
287 Posts
Annie
287 Posts |
Posted - Nov 28 2005 : 1:03:11 PM
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For those boot-wearing gents, buy them black socks. :) DH is a Marine, so of course boots every day, and he wears black or green socks (regulation colors). Then the only problem is the smell! :)
Annie
Visit me at my blog: http://bramblestitches.blogspot.com/
See what I have for sale: www.bramblestitches.etsy.com
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MullersLaneFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
596 Posts
Rock Falls
IL
596 Posts |
Posted - Jan 30 2006 : 1:58:21 PM
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I'll use my homemade laundry soap for treating stains and prewash, but for washing clothes I prefer detergent. My laundry prewash bar is 50% lard and 50% palm kernel (can be coconut). 0% superfat. 3% sweet orange oil and 3% rosemary essential oil. I also use borax and washing soda
Cyndi
Joshua 24:15
Ol 'MacDonald has nothing on us!
http://www.mullerslanefarm.com |
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CabinCreek-Kentucky
True Blue Farmgirl
8529 Posts
Frannie
Green County
Kentucky
USA
8529 Posts |
Posted - Jan 30 2006 : 3:21:43 PM
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would love to hear back from you girls that make this .. i might just have to try it!
True Friends, Frannie |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Apr 24 2007 : 5:27:05 PM
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Just bumping this because I love this recipe!
Alee |
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GaiasRose
True Blue Farmgirl
2552 Posts
Tasha-Rose
St. Paul
Minnesota
2552 Posts |
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Cleaning Up: Homemade laundry soap |
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Homemade 
