So I used the recipe I got on the forum a while back: 2 cups Boraxo hand soap 2 cups Borax 2 cups Wasing Soda plus 2 cups baking soda to help with hard water
heated it up with 1 qt water, then added it to 2.5 gallons boiling water. I let it sit over night after mixing well.
This morning I woke up to cloudy water with a 1 inch solid whit mass floating on top. When I mixed it up the white mass broke into chunks but isn't doing much else.
What did I do wrong? Does anyone know how to fix it?
I made this before just with out the baking soda and it turned out great. I hate to waste this if I can fix it... any one out there with any advice?
So should I throw it out and start over Alee? Or try to reheat it somehow?
AlyssaMarie @ Link'd Hearts Ranch
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22937 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22937 Posts
Posted - Feb 22 2010 : 8:24:23 PM
I haven't had too much luck with reheating it- I don't think it's totally useless though. I would fish out the white hard chuncks- I think that is mostly the borax so I would add a little extra borax and washing soda when washing the clothes or maybe double up the liquid. Try it out on a couple loads first and self adjust. I would rather use it even if I had to use 3x as much than just get rid of it! LOL ;D
I find that you have to dissolve the powders (pre soap) in pretty much boiling water and then pour the boiling borax/washing Soda mix over the soap to get it to dissolve properly.
Try a small batch of this dry laundry detergent - we love it and it's much easier than what your doing.
Hi! I got this recipe from the archives - it originally called for Fels Naptha soap but, as mentioned I prefer Ivory soap (not the Ivory laundry powder in the store) . Here's what I do:
Finely grate one bar (4 1/2 oz Ivory or 5 1/2 oz Fels Naptha) of soap into a large bowl, using the finest side of the box grater. Add one cup each of Borax and Arm & Hammer Super Washing soda, mix thoroughly. One batch fits nicely into a quart size canning jar. Use 1-2 T per load of laundry, depending on the size of your washer and how dirty the clothes are. I always use white vinegar in the rinse cycle (1/4 - 1/2 C) to cut any leftover soap residue.
Now, I must confess that I made the last few batches in the food processor and I really am pleased with the final product. Just grate the soap (using the grating blade) then add the Borax and washing soda and whiz it all together using the regular knife blade. It has a really fine consistency like the store bought dry detergent and is really well combined.
ijjie
True Blue Farmgirl
92 Posts
Joan
Knoxville
TN
USA
92 Posts
Posted - Feb 23 2010 : 09:01:12 AM
Question? I am new to soap making. Can you use these dry recipes for cold water wash? I was concerned about the grated soap not dissolving in the wash cycle? Joan
One of the joys of life are friends! They take you as you are!
I made up an emergency batch of the powder to use in the mean time. The problem is on my septic system I was told not to use any powdered soaps by the manufacturer. Plus you save even more per load by mixing it with water and making liquid. I had no problems with the last batch and we're trying to pinch as many pennies as we can. Thanks for the ideas Alee!
AlyssaMarie @ Link'd Hearts Ranch
Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22937 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22937 Posts
Posted - Feb 23 2010 : 7:08:40 PM
The poweder is septic system safe- and if you have any concerns you can get a cup of hot water and dissolve it in the hot water befor adding it to the water.
The septic system manufactureres caution against the powder because in the commercial ones there has been problems getting it all to dissolve and then you get a build up in the tank. When you heat up our homemade stuff to dissolve it the borax actually changes chemically so you don't get that kind of buildup.