wash on Monday
iron on Tuesday
mend on Wednesday
churn on Thursday
clean on Friday
bake on Saturday
rest on Sunday
from Little House in the Big Woods
iron on Tuesday
mend on Wednesday
churn on Thursday
clean on Friday
bake on Saturday
rest on Sunday
from Little House in the Big Woods
* I use these utensils for detergent making only. They all stay in the pot until I make a new batch.
You will need:
1 bar of soap (any kind you want)
1 cup of Borax
1 cup of washing soda
a big pot ( that holds more than 2 gallons)
a grater
a funnel
a long spoon
2 empty gallon jugs/containers
Grate your bar of soap into your pot.
Fill one gallon jug and pour water into pot with grated soap. Cook until the grated soap dissolves.
Add the Borax and washing soda.
Bring to a boil. It will coagulate.
Turn off the heat. Add 1 gallon of cold water. Stir well.
Pour 1 gallon of your detergent into each container.
A funnel helps tremendously.
Now you have 2 gallons of homemade laundry detergent. I use 1/2 cup per load. With the prices of detergent being outrageous, I feel really happy every time I make a batch of this.
This won't make many, if any, suds. Suds don't equal clean. It took a while to get that into my head. This detergent cleans wonderfully!
Let me know if you make any or if you have any questions.
Happy washing!
******edited to add that I now just keep my detergent in the pot I cook it in with the lid on. When I run out I make up a new batch in that pot and it's ready to go. I like saving the step of transferring into the jugs.
***** edited 7/2011 to add that the detergent should thicken / coagulate when it cools. Usually within 24 hours! ****
You will need:
1 bar of soap (any kind you want)
1 cup of Borax
1 cup of washing soda
a big pot ( that holds more than 2 gallons)
a grater
a funnel
a long spoon
2 empty gallon jugs/containers
Grate your bar of soap into your pot.
Fill one gallon jug and pour water into pot with grated soap. Cook until the grated soap dissolves.
Add the Borax and washing soda.
Bring to a boil. It will coagulate.
Turn off the heat. Add 1 gallon of cold water. Stir well.
Pour 1 gallon of your detergent into each container.
A funnel helps tremendously.
Now you have 2 gallons of homemade laundry detergent. I use 1/2 cup per load. With the prices of detergent being outrageous, I feel really happy every time I make a batch of this.This won't make many, if any, suds. Suds don't equal clean. It took a while to get that into my head. This detergent cleans wonderfully!
Let me know if you make any or if you have any questions.
Happy washing!
****** edited 8/8/2011 to address those of you with the issue of the detergent becoming too thick. Try using 1/2 of a bar of soap instead.
***** edited 7/2011 to add that the detergent should thicken / coagulate when it cools. Usually within 24 hours! ****
* Edited 1/2011 to add comment from below about cost/savings!
estimated cost is $6.00 for 576 loads (depending on soap used and amount used per load, ONE BOX of Borax and ONE BOX of Washing soda)
The savings is incredible.
The savings is incredible.
☆☆☆As with ALL cleaning products KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN particularly if you are using recycled food type containers!!!!☆☆☆
☆☆☆ My friend Amy's daughter did a science experiment comparing store bought detergent and this recipe! Very cool! Check it out here ☆☆☆
1,043 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 601 – 800 of 1043 Newer› Newest»Just wondering how well does this recipe clean your clothes. i am a true user of tide. but the price is getting crazy. Can anyone tell me if the.clothes come out clean or dingiey looking
Just wondering how well does this recipe clean your clothes. i am a true user of tide. but the price is getting crazy. Can anyone tell me if the.clothes come out clean or dingiey looking
Just wondering how well does this recipe clean your clothes. i am a true user of tide. but the price is getting crazy. Can anyone tell me if the.clothes come out clean or dingiey looking
Hi :) I was wondering if it was safe for HE. I already made it and I've been using it by putting it in the drawer instead of the drum....Is that what I am supposed to do?
Hi :) I have been wondering about it being safe for HE washers. My washer was very expensive and I do not want the detergent to gunk up in the drum, do you think it should be safe? Also, I put the detergent in the drawer not the drum is that what I should be doing?
Thank you!
Doelis
I use a recipe similar to this, although I use mine in powder form. I have an HE washing machine, and it does not clog anything! Fewer chemicals = less clogs.
Tried it. Washes clothes just fine but it's like gobs of snot and I can't it. Switching to a homemade powdered variety.
make your own ozyclean: 1 cup hot water 1/2 cup peroxide, 1 cup washing soda (arm and hammer) use right away wont keep. Cheap!!!!
You could probably add some essential oils for scent. - Trisha W.
Zote is my family's secret weapon for fighting stains!
Its fine to use in your he washer. I get all my supplies at Winco or Walmart, in the laundry isle.
My husband and I made our first batch and we love it! I will NEVER buy laundry soap again. We have a family of 6 and a ton of laundry. I am beyond pleased with the results. Thank you so much!
I was reading many sites and noticed the dry batches had baking soda in them along with your ingredients so I added 3/4 cup baking soda and instantly the mixture stopped coagulating. Will this harm the mixture or should I still be able to use it on my clothes? Thanks!
Is this safe to use in high efficentcy washers or will it ruin the washer?
For Everyone That the mix thickens up-add Dawn Dishsoap 2 Cups if you can stir or shake it into it, just a tip it really works
could i have your recipe?
I just made this 2 weeks ago. Both my 5 year old son and I both have eczema. I used the Dove sensitive soap bar and it works great. Haven't had a flare up yet.
Tried this recipe for the first time today. I'm not terribly impressed. 7 hours after making it and storing it, it's still warm, but is now a gel block stuck in the containers. If I shake it viciously, it will loosen enough for me to pour, but is very chunky still. Being pregnant, the shaking can not continue - it's too hard on me.
Also, I did a trial run with DD's bedsheets that she had an accident on, of all nights, last night. It didn't take the urine smell out, and I even used a bar of soap that was strong smelling - well, didn't use the whole bar of soap. Just over half the bar was used.
With all the laundry I do in my home, I'm hoping I can get this tweaked right, and get the texture right. Pretty sure that ballistic gel is not the proper consistency! hehehe
I have used the dry laundry det.. I am having problems with it not getting clothes clean, stains not coming out. We do have hard water and we do have realy dirty clothes from working outside. Any ideas? I love making my own household products,because they are so economical! Please let me know what could help?
Im definitely going to try this!! Thank you for posting it. I couldn't find washing soda anywhere in our little town, but after searching the net I found out that you can make your own with baking soda! !!! Yes! Here is the link..... hope it works :-)
http://naturesnurtureblog.com/2012/05/08/ttt-turn-baking-soda-into-washing-soda/
Target Has washing soday and borax
Is it possible that the difference in consistency comes from the different soaps that people are using? I read on another person's soap recipe to use Ivory or Dr. Brommers, or Fels Naptha but not to use the "beauty bar" type of soap, as they have lotion in them..... ??
My batch is sitting there cooling right now, so I guess I will have to wait & see how it is for consistency! I am from Canada & couldn't find anything other than Ivory (of the above recommendations). I found Sunlight bars of soap in the laundry section & decided to try that soap.... I also added an essential oil but the Sunlight has a lemony scent.
Thanks for this recipe - tomorrow I will be doing laundry!
I added a tablespoon of Oxi clean and it didn't coagulate. Is that ok?
I just wanted to add a comment about the HE washers. All front-loading machines are considered HE. They're nothing new. My mother had a front-loading machine over 40 years ago! She bought it because even tho' they were more expensive, she also knew they were more durable & lasted longer...AND they didn't require as much soap & water AND were easier on the clothing! With 8 people in our family and her first front-loader lasting over 30 years....she had me convinced.
The 'great threat' with using 'regular' laundry detergent with frontloading HE machines is the soapsuds they produce, and the suds can build up in the drain & machinery & cause problems. Well, they didn't make "HE" detergent 40-50 years ago, and my mom just always taught us to use only about 1/2 of what the box said....or even less. And the one time I didn't listen to her....there were soapsuds ALL OVER THE BASEMENT FLOOR! hehehehe!
I've had a frontloader for about 5 years....I love it...and I've never bought the HE detergent. I use just enough to get my clothes clean. And I don't buy the crazy "cleaner" for the machine, either. Just do an empty load with a cup of vinegar every once in a while. If there were a way to sell us air, some company would figure out how to do it.
I'm really looking forward to trying out this liquid soap! It sounds a lot easier than some of the other recipes I've seen, as well as not making as huge a quantity.
I make my own soap as well, i use a dry mix
2 cups of sunlight bar washing soap
1 cup of borax
1 cup of washing soda
you have to grate the bar soap up first with a grater, i use a food processor to mix up the ingredients to a powder. you only need to use 2 Tablespoons per load and if the load is more dirty use an extra Tablespoon
i make a dry mixture my self
2 cups of sunlight bar soap for laundry
1 cup of borax
1 cup of washing soda
put it in a food processor and then this will make it into the powder a person is used to seeing
for about 12.00 i get lots of soap to last a long time a box of borax is 5.00 and box of washing soda is 5.00 and 2 bars to a package of sunlight is 2.00 and you will need almost the while 2 bars of soap.
great recipe! but in my country there is no such thing as 'borax' nor 'washing soda' :(
Did you come up with a solution to it being watery?? I am just getting around to making this and mine is so watery as well :( so bummed!! I made it yesterday around noon, and it has not thickened at all
for those of you finding your batch too thick. Here's a couple of ideas.
Leave it in the the 5 gallon bucket and dip out of it. OR if you need smaller storage containers ask friends to save their old laundry detergent containers. The wider the mouth the better. Also you can use a little more water than it calls for to make a thinner batch.
After pouring into detergent containers find one or two smooth rocks as big as you can fit in the mouth of the container.
Shake before each use.
Sometimes a batch is still too thick for all of this to be ideal.
I keep a wooden spoon handy. poke it in the spout and stir, then shake, then glob out the amount needed.
Can anyone recommend a bar soap for a terribly dirty two year old boy who has horribly sensitive skin that I can use for this recipe? I've never used a bar soap of any kind on him.
I would be so interested in trying this. Right now my limit is $2-3 for laundry detergent. I usually wait until All Detergent is on sale for $2.99 or $3.99 at Walgreens or Target and use the $1 off coupons and stack up
same question i need HE soap ! lol
I'm a bit confused. This says it will make epithet detergent for 576 loads of laundry. However the instructions say it creates 2 gallons amd to use 1/2 cup per load. A gallon is 16 cups. Two gallons are 32 cups. Using 1/2 cup per load this makes 64 loads of laundry.
I have a question about the math - no doubt it is a savings either way, but I was wondering how it comes out to 576 loads per $6. If you use only 1/2c of detergent per load and each time you make it you make two gallons, there are only 16 cups per gallon soooo that makes it 64 loads per batch.... I was just wondering where the 576 comes from.... no doubt it is still a savings! But I was just mulling it over and couldn't come up with 576 although I'm TERRIBLE at word problems....
Hi there,
I was wondering about the math. I was trying to figure out how you came up to 576 loads. If each batch yields two gallons and each gallon is 16 cups and you use 1/2 cup per load, its still only 64 loads per batch. Which is still definitely a savings but I was wondering how the number 576 came up? I don't want to seem like a harpie, I just wanted to know if I was missing something in doing the math (I'm terrible at math).
I am super excited to try this either way
(Sorry if this question posts twice)
Can you use liquid Castile soap instead of bar soap? If so, how much would I use?
I belive an imperial gallon is 5 quarts - a US gallon is 4 quarts
If more people actually read previous posters comments 99 percent of their questions will be answered.
Is it safe to mix bleach with washing soda, ie. sodium carbonate and borax, ie. sodium decaborate? I just don't want to create a dangerous solution. I guess I could google. Thanks for the recipe!
to debmom4ca, how do you make yours for the HE machines?
Ok, I made mine last night. Followed the directions but not sure what I did wrong. While bringing it to boil after adding washing soap and borax, it never thickened. I took it off the burners and let it cool a bit before putting into containers. This morning, it was thick and slippery goop. I put a "chunk" into the sink to see if it would dissolve when I added water (imitating the washing machine). No luck. It stayed a lump. Hot water did not seem to melt it either. EVENTUALLY it did dissolve. The goop was very slick/slippery though. Makes me concerned about using it in a front loading washer.
Any advice is appreciated. I have a LOT of goopy goo just sitting there!
This is actually perfect for he washers as it doesn't create any suds.
This is actually perfect for he washers as it doesn't create any suds.
Hello I am German and live in USA, 1 gallon is 3.8 liters.
How are you getting 576 loads from two gallons? The math based on what you've detailed gives you 64 loads -- nowhere near 576, even if you only use half an ounce at a time. [128 oz (1 gallon) x 2 / 4 oz (1/2 cup, recommended usage) = 64 washes]
If your friend's child used your math in her science experiment, I hope a teacher would have pointed that out, as well.
Mine is to thick and sit up way to much. It clogged my he front load washer and that was not pretty. What do I do?
You may have already answered this question and I apologize if you have but are you using the entire box of borax and soda? And if so, what size of boxes (how many ounces are in each box)are you using? I cannot tell from the picture. Thank you and I cannot wait to use this recipe!
Kate..Washing soda & Borax are in the laundry aisle at Walmart.
How long does.the.sent last and if.you.wanted to use oils.then where do you get.them? And any help on a fabric softner
Thanks so much for posting this recipe, I found it via pinterest and made my second batch. The first batch I made lasted 3 months! This has helped my family!
Those with very thick jello soap-Are you using body bar soap or laundry(fels) soap? Maybe it's the brand difference. Each bar has different ingredients.
When you make your own beauty products you heat and hold for 20mins at 70c. Is everyone heating it long enough?
soooo i am in the process of making it now...let u know how much i like it.... and saw u can use any soap u like so i have used one that i really like the smell too...very excited :0)
Does anyone use this in the energy efficient front load washers?
Is there anything you can use in place of the borax?
I made my first batch of this detergent with Irish Spring with Aloe....didn't thicken like it was supposed to, the pot almost boiled dry...I have recently read on other posts and recipes that the more of an oil base your soap is, the less likely it is to work..Ivory has by far been the biggest go to on many of the recipes...you can scent this detergent without using a soap with smell..and Ivory is by far one of the purest soaps made today.. So I poured that batch into a 5 gallon bucket and have currently started a 2nd batch with Ivory.. I purchased 3 bars for 1.50 at Dollar General...several of my friends have made this and added fabric softener and also the Downy Unstoppables and it has worked perfectly.... I am waiting for the boil and coagulation process now...
I used a potato peeler in place of a grater....I put one gallon of hot water in my pot and grated the soap in it. I stirred with my hand to help the soap dissolve. I placed it on the stove on Med high heat and let it heat while I stirred (this time with a spoon of course...lol) until the soap was dissolved completely. I then added the borax and washing soda..adding a slight bit more than a cup...I stirred until dissolved and have let it "cook" since...waiting for the boiling and coagulation process stirring it often. I started at approx 10:40 a.m. and it is currently 11:58 a.m. it is just now starting to show signs of boiling... it is now 12:21 p.m. and I have an active rolling boil...no signs yet of coagualtion... I let it boil for 10 mins and turned it off because it appeared to be boiling to nothing again....so after turning it off I added another half cup of both borax and washing soda....it was a little thicker than water..I added fabric softener and the Downy unstoppable... it smells amazing and it appears to be turning out like it should....good luck to all who try this...I think its trial and error until you find what works for you! I finished at 12:40p.m. Any suggestions on where I could've gone wrong are appreciated..
Yes it is because it's low sudsing check out the Dugger family soap recipe
This works wonderfully!!! So much cheaper than store bought and I love adding lavendar!!!
Tried this last week. made one batch. Whole family is sold on it and I have two friends about to try it for the first time. the laundry smells really great when you go to throw it in the dryer. Both my boys noticed that their jeans were cleaner just in the first wash with this stuff (as compared to how they normally come out with regular detergent) A couple of us have sensitive skin and its winter here now so we are all a little dry and no issues with this detergent, no breaking out, no irritation, no itching.. nothing I am making a large batch this weekend (now that I know everyone likes it) and leaving it in the pot like noted above. Thanks to the author and thanks to everyone with comments!
I made this and I love it!! I think it cleans just as well as the store bought soap I was using and because of the scent of the bar soap i chose I love the way the clothes smell. It was so easy to make. I have a HE washer so it works perfect because its low suds. I actually tripled the recipe so I got 6 gallons out of it and Ive been using it for three months now and only have used 1/2 of my first gallon and I do alot of laundry in my home, at least 6 loads a week. I read that alot of people said theirs turned out like "jello" or was watery, so I was kinda hesitant but mine was right in between. It honestly looks like snot, a little watery and a little lumpy but I just shake the bottle really well and pour 1/2 a cup into the dispenser. Its so nice knowing that I dont have to spend twelve dollars every month at the store on laundry soap. This is something I will be making for a long time :)
You can Ivory soap but Fels Naptha and Kirk's Castile do not come out as well. If you nuke Ivory for 1 min., you can let it cool and then it just crumbles in your hand, very finely, just push on any lumps. Be prepared that it will look like a huge bowl of whipped cream, but hey, it cleans the microwave if it spills over, with just a wet dishcloth.
You can find it on Amazon. That's where we buy ours, and since we have the super saver shipping (or whatever it's called) it is cheaper than the drugstore, by far! Also can get it shipped through Alice.
I've seen the washing soda right where the detergents are. For HE machines, I would probably just 1/2 bar of soap. The whole point of HE detergents are that they are less soapy than regular detergents, making for less residue. I would still regularly wipe down your washer with cleaner and run a cleaner like Affresh once a month.
Remember the old Ivory commercials about how pure it was and then they'd show a baby with a bar of Ivory and tell you how gentle it was? Most of what we believe about products has to do with a marketing campaign not truth, reality, or performance. Marketers discovered in the 60's that suds made people feel good so...everything included sodium laurel sulfate, from shampoo, to dish soap, to laundry detergent and a whole host of products that would shock you ...such as ones we ingest.
I tried this and I used 1 bar of jerseys soap, 1 cup of borax, and 1 cup of washing soda per 2 gallons, and after all 6 gallons cooled they turned to jello. what am I doing wrong?
Mine done the same thing.
Mine was too hard like jello. what's up with your recipe?
What about he washers
I used a whole bar of Fels Naptha soap and made the liquid version - ended up with a pot full of jello after it cooled. Reheated to melt everything, added more water and still jello after cooling. Thinking the full bar of Fels Naptha was too much, so I added more water (probably up to double the original 2 gallons by now) and added more borax and washing soda, because I diluted the rest with so much water. I have a five gallon bucket with a lid at the ready for storage, so even if it's still jello, I'll just keep a small container of it for keeping in the laundry room and keep the big bucket in the garage for refills. I'll just scoop out a half cup of the blob each time and toss it in the wash - I'm sure it will be fabulous! Doesn't have to be pretty to work well, and the Fels Naptha soap makes it smell nice :) Thank you!
only 1 cup of each
Whatever the consistency, this works graear for afew cents per load and it has no suds or fragrances!
I am making my first batch now! So excited! I have heard from friends who make their own laundry detergent that Fels Naptha is the way to go for the bar of soap. It is very soft and grates like cheese.
THANK YOU for posting this!!
Do you know if this fades the color of the clothes at all? That is my only real concern
Im really glad that I read this comment! I used Ivory soap, and it doesn't really smell like anything when it's washed, so I was considering buying an unscented soap and adding essential oils. Glad someone confirmed my thought :)
HANG YOUR DIAPERS OUTSIDE SUNSHINE WILL TAKE AWAY STAINS AND KEEP THEM WHITE AND SMELL AWESOME
If It is low to no suds it should be ok for a front load machine. That is the problem w/ detergents that are not ef rated, high suds.
i grew up in germany and now live in the us
im not sure, but i think it's the gallon (US) one.....however, i am pretty sure i remember, that 1 gallon is somewhere around 4 liters....3.8something i think, but using 4 liters should be fine :)
there has to be something that i'm not understanding correctly. how did you get the figure of 576 loads when using 1/2 cup per load...looking forward to trying this.
Will the Borax harm septic systems? I know it can kill fleas and ants and roaches, what about the good bugs in the tank? Could something be substituted for the Borax?
Seriously! I've read each and every comment trying to glean as much info as possible - and trust me, it's been a headache. A small suggestion to Erin, what do you think of editing the comments section, removing duplicate information posts? It would streamline the whole article, and people might be more inclined to read 20 comments than the billion and a half that ask the same 20 questions over and over again.
mine is so thick I can't get it out of the gallon jug. i have to squeeze it out, then i put it in a bucket with hot water and squeeze it with my fingers until it gets liquid then i throw it into the washer. so far so good.
kim
I have a ton of hotel soap bars. Many are the same "flavor". How many do you think I could use?
Yes walmart does..its by the fabric softeners and shout and oxiclean...I couldn't find but kept looking...
I TRIED A RECIPE LIKE THIS BUT IT SAID WAIT TILL IT COOLS TO POUR IN JUGS...DON'T DO THAT...I WILL FOLLOW THIS RECIPE NEXT TIME CAUSE ITS TOO HARD TO POUR IT INTO THE JUGS WHEN IT JELLS UP NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU STIR IT. I THINK I WILL TRY TO OCCASIONALLY SHAKE THE JUGS WHILE ITS COOLING TO SEE IF THAT KEEPS IT FROM GETTING THE THICK FOAM AT THE TOP. I LOVE THIS DETERGENT THE CLOTHES SEEM SO MUCH CLEANER, NOW I JUST NEED A GOOD OLE WAY TO GET MY WHITES WHITE. WE HAVE HARD WATER AND EVERYTHING I TRY IS SO HARSH ON THE CLOTHING. FOUND OUT MY SKIN IS ALLERGIC TO OXYCLEAN BUT THAT STUFF DIDN'T WORK THAT WELL ANYWAY. DOES ANYONE HAVE A GOOD IDEA FOR ME?
For people asking about what Borax is and if it's safe:
"Borax is a good slow-acting bait that's effective on most household ants (pharaoh, pavement, and little black ants). Borax (sodium borate decahydrate or sodium tetraborate decahydrate) is a naturally occurring mineral discovered 4000 years ago, and is found in the western U.S, Chile. and Tibet. The household cleaner 20 Mule Team Borax (not Borateem) is pure borax."
Found on this website:
http://suite101.com/article/safe-natural-homemade-ant-killers-and-repellers-a144398
I made this today and it did not coagulate? I used caress soap? any suggestions?
Does anyone know if this works with HE washer?
I have been doing this for a while now except I dont cook the mixture. I keep everything dry and I add it too my high efficiency washer with no trouble. I use Two tablespoons per wash. Other than cooking it, this recipe is exactly the same as the one I use. My bar soap of choice is felsnaptha. It can also be found in the laundry aisle. :-)
Hi, this is Sandy and I had wanted to make this for several mos.I thought I might like the liquid type better so I made it last night . I had the soap grated in 5mins while on the phone. I melted it in the boiling water then added the dry ingr.poured cool water in and shook it up but when I went to use it about 30mins later it had separated. I shook it up but it still was lumpy.It washed ok but I wonder what I did wrong. Thanks for the ear:)
any idea how long this will "store"....
I love this recipe!!! The first time I made it, it was too thick, like many have commented, so the next time, i used 3 total gallons of water instead of 2, and it is much thinner! What I've noticed through this route is that the solutions separates- the soaps tend to pull away from the water! But if u give the bottle a quick shake, it's fine!
I used a bar of Irish spring soap because its a soap I know that my sensitive skinned boyfriend is not allergic too and it smells great and the smell LASTS!
Here is a link to a picture of how the consistency looks and the jar I use to dispense it- which works great!
http://instagram.com/p/UNx7AKq1fp/
Oh also, I was happily surprised to see all the things I could use my leftover borax and washing soda for (until I use more to make more detergent of course) :) cleaning drains, scrubbing bathtubs and tile, etc!! Yay!!! This is such a great thing, thank u!
I made mine 2 days ago and mine separated and was lumpy. I poured it in the blender and it whipped up like whipping cream and made 3 gal. Liquefy w blender about 40 sec pour back in jug.I also put 1 cup of oxydol in mix. After 2 days it had about1/8 water in bottom but shook back together w no lumps. Clothes were very clean using cold water.
I made this laundry soap, and for the first two weeks everything smelled so good that my husband even noticed. But, when I washed clothes yesterday I noticed that they didn't smell quite as good. I was thinking that maybe I just hadn't added enough fabric softener. But today, when I washed a load of clothes again they didn't smell fresh. I smelled what was left in the one gallon of soap left, and the one un-opened gallon of soap, and neither one smells good anymore, is there anything that can be done without wasting all this soap to make the soap smell good again, or do I just have to start over?
Will the scented oil leave spots on your clothes? J sometimes have spots (that I'm sure weren't there beforehand) and I can't imagine where else they came from!
From what I've heard, the homemade laundry detergents work well with HE washing machines because they don't suds up like regular detergent... I have friends who use it in theirs :)
I love this recipe!!! The first time I made it, it was too thick, like many have commented, so the next time, i used 3 total gallons of water instead of 2, and it is much thinner! What I've noticed through this route is that the solutions separates- the soaps tend to pull away from the water! But if u give the bottle a quick shake, it's fine!
I used a bar of Irish spring soap because its a soap I know that my sensitive skinned boyfriend is not allergic too and it smells great and the smell LASTS!
Here is a link to a picture of how the consistency looks and the jar I use to dispense it- which works great!
http://instagram.com/p/UNx7AKq1fp/
Hello, I have an he machine so I'm not sure if this will work, however, my question is, do you have a recipe for childrens clothes? We have an 8 month old and we do his laundry more often than ours. Thank you...
I used a wisk to break up to jello like consistency and now I have tiny jello like pieces. This makes it easy to measure and dispense. Give it a try and see what happens.
I made this last weekend, and as with most of you, I have a solid slab of fresh smelling laundry soap, luckily I put it in 2 gallon sized cereal containers, so I can easily fit my hand in to scoop it out, the consistency doesn't change the quality, it works great ladies! Next batch I am going to try some essential oils, and use a regular bar of soap! Thanks!
Made this the other day. Used 1/3 of an Naptha bar of soap. I will never buy laundry detergent again! My clothes have never been so clean. Very impressed. Looking to make all my cleaning products.
try an old ice cream bucket with the lid
I have made this twice now and I have the same problem both times. The entire batch coagulates after it cools for a few hours and I have solid jello for detergent. Its awful. I love how clean my clothes are but dealing with the Jello is a super big pain. Any suggestions? I used the recipe exactly and used Zest soap for my base.
I have the same problem. I do just get a "lump" and use it and it works fine but I can not for the life of me figure out what went wrong. I have made it twice and had Jello both times.
Where can I find the washing soda?
I can't find Washing Soda. Even looked it up on line and it says no search results.
I found your recipe on Pinterest and have now been using this same one for over a year. I love it! My daughter's skin cleared up, and for a family of five, it is necessary to save money in areas and this helped us a whole lot! Thank you for the amazing recipe!!! I typically use dove sensitive skin and don't bother with scents:) Why when the original recipe works perfect? CLothes come out clean and if I need a bit more of a hard core cleaner, I just add a few tablespoons of oxyclean to the load:)
Put the soap in an open container with a cover (like an ice cream bucket)...When doing the laundry heat up 1/2 cup of water then add the 1/2 cup soap and it works good even if you use cold water...Works great!!
Is this good for people who have sensitive skin and who generally use Gentle Tide?
I made mine last night. Went to use it this morning and the soap had hardened back up. Had to shake it up. Gonna use it, but not sure it's going to be like i thought.
I have a brand new top-loading, LG washer/dryer set that locks the lid upon startup. How do you dispense this detergent? Do you use the dispenser or do you throw it in ontop of the clothes before you start the wash?
I made my first batch using a half bar of soap. When it cooled, it was a slid gelatinous mass. Can I reheat it and add more water?
I made my first batch using a half bar of soap. When it cooled,it was a solid gelatinous mass. Can I reheat and add more wAter?
My turned out as a solid gelatinous mass using a half bar of soap? Reheat and add water?
My turned out as a solid gelatinous mass using a half bar of soap? Reheat and add water?
I tried this last night, I was going to start my laundry using my new soap and all I can say is, YUCK! I it separated over night, I have some sort of whit gel in the bottom of mu jugs. and large white, what I think is either the borax or the washing soda or a combination of both in the top of the jug.. how nasty. I tried shaking it which did nothing but leave the ooze at the bottom and clumped up the stuff on top.
Well, I made this detergent a few weeks ago. I did the 5 gallon bucket version. It came out perfectly at first but keeps getting more and more gelatinous as the weeks passed. It is now jello-like and has started clogging our HE washer. With my last few loads we have come into the laundry room with an inch of water all over the floor until we finally discovered it was coming out of the place where the detergent goes. When we use commerical detergent, it doesn't leak out. So, my question is... do I have to waste the 4 gallons of jello-like detergent I have left or is there something I can do to it now so that I can keep using it? I really was enjoying not paying $15 per bottle of regular detergent!
Used dial soap and my clothes is not smelling at all..lol..leave it up to me to mess it up
There is nothing in this formulation that will preserve the water. It is dangerous to use.
@Chic: I'm also an european girl and had the same questions as you had! I've just called my pharmacy and they told me they sale borax and soda there. The question with the quantity is also answered...so....let's save some money and having fun with the experiment! Good luck chic!
Made some last night with Ivory--it works well, yet has a very jello-like consistency so I'll be cutting the soap in half next time. Thanks so much for the recipe, so far it's great!
I have a HUGE problem. I tried making this. Followed the recipe, but when I added the borax and washing soda and tried to boil it, it foamed up a TON. It overflowed my huge 5 gal pot.. a few times. I could not heat it without it creating too many suds and making a mess. I finally just gave up and hoped that it was good enough, poured it into my containers. I let it rest a full day and just looked at it. It looks like I have a layer of soap above water. I am super disappointed and have NO IDEA how to fix this batch. Any ideas?
Just wondering if it is pretty watery after adding the gallon of cold water? Does it then congeal a little more? It was quite viscous before adding the gallon of cold water.
Thanks!
Savannah
I've made this for years, but the dry version so no problem with thickening. I freeze the bar of Ivory soap before grating, much easier. Also I add a half cup of oxy clean powder. So here's my recipe: 2 cups Washing Soda, 2 cups Borax, 1 grated bar of Ivory soap, 1 half cup oxy clean (from the dollar store). Use 2-3 tablespoons for each load. Smells fresh and clothes are as clean as any store bought detergent.
I live in Mexico and want to try this. I know I can get Borax here, but I'm not sure about Washing Soda. I've been using Zote soap for years (we can get white or pink here) and it's great for stains (even tough ones like baby formula) and for sensitive skin.
Can you use this in the machines that require he?
Washing soda is in the detergent aisle at Wal-Mart and most grocery stores, near the Borax. Arm & Hammer makes it.
The Borax scare is not correct and it isn't harmful. Please read this article. http://www.crunchybetty.com/getting-to-the-bottom-of-borax-is-it-safe-or-not
i had found this recipe years ago and used it without any problems. but after moving into an tiny apartment i found that i could not store all the soap. so i found zote and tried both versions (bar and powered). eventually, i settled on the pink bar. my new way of doing laundry is: in a clean bathtub, grate a small amount zote, turn on hot water to dissolve zote, stir with hand if necessary, place laundry in tub, let soak for an hour to overnight, agitate with hand or plumber's helper (use only for laundry), drain tub and wait 10 minutes, rinse clothes with water, squeeze, hang to dry. i hang everything on hangers, sometimes using more than one hanger. i have a spring loaded rod over the tub that has supported a large load.
use a fan to dry clothes more quickly. this works very well and is cost effective. PMWilsonLPN@yahoo.com
Wondering if this is gentle enough to replace Dreft for babies laundry? I used Dial bar soap.
The amount was calculated for the entire box. You only use 1 cup from each box for 2 gallons of detergent. That's where the 576 loads comes from, not just one batch. :)
Also, I didn't see an answer to the couple of people who asked about the pot? Is it still safe to cook in once you make this? I used several of my regular kitchen utensils to make my batch and want to make sure they are still food safe. Thanks!
my second mix but this
one doesent seem to be getting my white towels clean any ideas ?????
chris
I'm sure by now you've tried this with a natural or organic soap. I use Fels Naptha, but am getting ready to make a batch using a bar of cold-process soap that I made. I would think Melt and Pour would work as well. I noticed in her picture it looks like she is using Dove which is NOT soap. Neither are most of the other bars (Coast, Irish Spring, Safeguard, etc). They are all detergents.
I noticed in your photo it looks like you are using Dove -- it is not soap. Most bars sold in stores are detergents (Coast, Safeguard, Zest, etc). If you want a milder soap than Fels Naptha, I would suggest Ivory, which is soap not detergent.
I like these directions better than some others as well.
I Can NOT wait to try this!!!! I'm on my last tablet of laundry soap and thought What am I going to do now!
Kay Curtis of DK Candles Pinned your blog and I found it!! SO GLAD!!!!
Have to wait till friday to buy the products But I can NOT wait to add Dove soap to it!!
THANKS!!!
Question on the math - how do you use 1/2 cup (4oz) out of 256 oz of detergent and get 576 loads?
576 loads x 4oz = 3328 oz (26 gal)?
I saw this PIN, I checked out the 'science experiment' and added some AWESOME cleaner from the dollar tree and it is amazing, it help with those stubborn stains, i used it as a spot treatment when I was using name brand detergents also.
They are using 4L milk jugs for storage
i think the total number of loads is 64.
4 cups in a quart..x4 quarts in a gallon = 16 cups/gallon, x2 because you use half a cup. which is 32 loads...x2 gallons that it makes = 64 loads.
Making my Third batch today, this time I'm adding 3 caps of "Downy Unstopables", and half a bar of Hypo-allergenic bar soap, instead of a whole bar
I just started my homemade laundry detergent but I make a dry version as well but I add baking soda and Pyrex crystals to my detergent and it smells awesome and cleans great
I did cook my detergent today. End up with a huge mess. As soon I add Borax and Soda it made a reaction and foam start running out of the pot. My pot was pretty big and was making only half of the ingredients, so whole my staff ended on the floor, I couldn't stop the foam. So what was my problem?
I've bought it at both Wal-Mart and Meijers, with Meijers being the cheapest but Wal-Mart is the cheapest on the bar soap I use.
All you have to do if this happens is add some hot water and shake it really vigorously until it loosens up. It still works fine. I did the same thing my first batch and just added the water. I always leave some extra space in my containers in case the detergent becomes solid so I have enough space to add the hot water. Hope your batch comes out better.
When using Borax in any of the homemade laundry soap mixtures you have to be careful because it will build up in the washer and drain lines. I have a front load HE washer and what you have to do is instead of using a liquid fabric softener, you have to use white vinegar and rinse twice. The vinegar will break down any reside in the washer and on your clothes. Also, the vinegar smell does not linger on your clothes. You then either use dryer sheets to control the static or tear off a peice of aluminum foil and crush it into a ball and put it in your dryer to control static cling. The aluminum foil ball can only be use once per load. So a dryer sheet vs. foil, which every you would prefer.
I used a whole bar Fels Napha but mine never coagulated. Is it still okay? But the kitchen smells awesome! Plus!
Hello,
Thank you so much for sharing your recipe, who would love to save money. I do have to ask, could I use a liquid soap such as Dawn instead of a bar of soap? Just wondering.
Irene-
I use it my HE all the time. I reuse old empty detergent jugs. I also like to use Fels-Naptha soap. It has been around for years and was used in the 'good old days', it is a heavy duty laundry bar soap.
Do I need to go to the 2nd hand store and get a pot for doing this or is it ok to cook in a pot I use for cooking? I mean its soap right? As long as I wash out and rinse it well afterwards I should be fine right?
Thanks!
I heard on a post above you can make your own washing soda by baking baking soda in the the oven. Look above or google it and you should be able to use the baking soda.
(I plan to buy washing soda) xD
HE requires special soap due to suds. The machines cant handle them. Store bought is high suds so it looks like its cleaning. This is low suds and works great in HE machines ( making my own as well though we leave it in powder form )
I have a H E new washer will this work in it ?
I have the same question as above. I only make half a batch at a time (I don't have a pot big enough to do a full batch at once) and mine never thickens up. I've used it this way and it does okay, but I'd like to know what I'm doing wrong that it doesn't thicken up. Thanks!
Does it matter what temperature water you use? I usually wash my clothes on a cold cycle.
Yes in this batch it is just 64 loads but you still have more in Borax and Washing Soda. You should be able to do 9 batches. 9 batches x 64 loads is 576.
I haven't seen anyone answer the question of whether or not you can re-use the pan?
You only use 1 cup of borax and 1 cup of washing soda?
We use lemon soap but your ingredients are also looking effective.
Gene Patent News
I added oxy clean because i saw a dry recipe that did this. It bubbled like crazy. I should probably dump this batch out, right?
Has anyone had a problem with their clothes fading? I tried a different recipe that did not have the soda in it and our clothes faded really fast.
This is a non sudsing detergent safe for all washing machines! I use fels naptha bar soap and add 35 drops lemon or citrus oil. Clothes dont end up smelling like anything, but i like the smell anyway so i keep doing it.
It does work in front loader washers since its low suds.
FYI.... If you increase the washing soap and borax to 2 cups each and use a full bar of soap then put it in a 5 gallon bucket and mostly fill it with cold water. Stir/hand squish it the next day. You can make a full 5 gallons for less than $4 that works great! I transfer mine to an old detergent container so I can shake it before I use it. =)
I am making this as we speak (type, read). The house smells wonderful. It did not coagulate before I poured the cold water in. I let it sit for a bit while a read several of the comments on here, but I see that it really doesn't matter. So excited to use it. I am tired of spending 10 bucks on a bottle of detergent. Thanks for this idea and showing us how to do it. Much appreciated.
I have psoriasis and my son has eczema. This is amazing for us both. I also use homemade bar soap for in it. Works great in my HE washer. I add essential oils for scent. I found the best is plumeria.
I made and used this for 2 yrs. the savings were great.. the problem was it plugged our septic lines with 'slime'.. everything we saved was spent getting that fixed.
I make the powdered version. Just doesn't take so much time. Use Fels napa soap bar since it is meant for laundry. I also added a box of powdered color fast bleach and some purex laundry enhancer crytals ( although you don't have to). when you grate the soap use a very fine grater so the soap will mix, otherwise it is too chunky. I really like this soap. I use 1/4 cup, but others say to only use 1 or 2 tbls. I have well water and my laundry is a challenge.
I only make one gallon of this at a time
Because thats the amount that my soup tureen holds.(that is my soap container, it sits atop my dryer) i microwave a half bar of fels naphta soap ( cut into four pieces) at 30 second intervals for 90 seconds, let the blobs cool thouroghly. Place rhem in a baggie and crumblw them. No grating!!!! Always hated that part. Also when mine thickens up too much, i just take my electric mixer to it.
Can I use liquid soap intead of a bar?
Couple questions. Any issues with hard/very high iron water? I also have a front he that I see is fine to use it with :). Also, we do have a septic field instead of city sewer. Will it harm the bacteria needed to do whatever it does? :P thanks!! I keep seeing variations but this one I'm finally going to try. (Especially since I have everything- using Irish Spring) thank you!!
There are 4 liters in one US gallon:)
Hi,
I made this detergent and it works fantastically!
However, I can't seem to make sense of the cost savings. How did you come up with it only costing $6.00? Did you take into account the cost of the bar of soap needed for every batch?
Whatever you do, DO NOT ADD OXYCLEAN TO THIS. I ended up with a sudzy mess all over my kitchen.
I was wondering...once you use a pan to cook this you can not use the same pan for anything else, right?
I would love to make some to try. Thank you for sharing.
I made my first batch last night and when I woke up this morning it was like jello is that how it is suppose to turn out?
I have read all 777 comments. This may sound silly, but I wanted to learn as much as possible before trying this fantastic idea out. First of all, most people ask questions that have already been asked and answered. If you read just a little, you will probably find the answer to the question you are looking for. The blogger has pretty much stopped answering anyway. It's best to read the earlier questions for that reason. Second, a few people have said that after time, this detergent has ruined their septic system by clogging up their lines with slimey gunk. For that reason, I have decided not to try it. I wish it were not true. I would love to save the money but can't afford to ruin the septic system! I plan to do some investigating as to what causes this slime build-up and see if anything can be used to replace whatever causes it.
As a side note to my above comment, I will say that the blogger did say that she has been using it for years and has had no problems with her septic system. Perhaps it has something to do with the water harshness? So, if you could possibly tell me what your water type is, I would appreciate it. Thanks!
For all those that are asking about whether we can re-use the cooking pot -- both borax and washing soda are safe to use as cleaners in the house (kitchen, bathroom, etc.). I often use borax to scrub the kitchen sink and stubborn stains on stainless steel pots. I did not hesitate to wash out my pot (really well) and use it for cooking as normal.
It's arm and hammer washing soda. You can get it at any Walmart
How long do you need to let the mixture boil before it starts to coagulate and you know it is ready for the cold water?
Hi there! It's Daniella from Hungary! Pls give me a hand something! I lived for a while in the US, but unfortunately I can't find any Borax & washing soda in our stores - it could be even not sold... Tell me, what can I use instead of these things? thx a lot!
Hello to answer a few questions if you all were still wondering.
1. You must use washing soda and not baking soda. The reason for this is washing soda has a different pH than a baking soda. You can purchase washing soda at www.alice.com.
2. If you substitute bar soap with a homemade coconut or olive oil soap it may affect your sewage system especially with coconut oil. There have been studies leading to septic problems because the amount of residue it leaves behind. Maybe a safe bet just a stick with regular bar soap.
3. Essential oil can be added to the soap mix but is not strong enough to have a heavy sent on the clothes after washing. A good essential oil is tea tree because it has anti microbial properties. you may try peppermint or eucalyptus for a stronger sent but some people may have slight allergies if they have sensitive skin. The number 1 essential oil in laundry soap is lavender. I would at the essential oil at the very end of the process.
4. Armpit smells and stains remover equals mixture of 1/2c baking soda, tablespoon of dawn or homemade dish soap,tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide, and water in a 16 ounce bottle and squirt over the pit area or stain. Let dry for about an hour (for best results) and pour a little vinegar over to dissolve the paste. Was normally. Always test your Fabrics prior to using for safe measure.
5. Yes safe for high efficiency . Just make sure you have a low sudsing soap like Feels Naptha, Ivory,etc. You may need to test if it is better in the dispenser or for powder (all ingredients except water) needs to go into the barrel.
6. Fabric softener.... 2qts white vinegar and 20 drops of essential oil (optional). Two ways, in rinse cycle of washer or spray bottle 15 sprays in dryer on wet clothes & dry completely. Ball of aluminum foil in dryer for static reducer.
Hope this helps! -Erica
I have made 2 batches of this and both turned into a solid gelatinous blob. I can't even squeeze it out of the container. I had to cut the top off and scoop it out with a spoon. It still seems to work just fine, but are there any suggestions on what I can do to make a batch that is a liquid not a solid? Thanks!
You can purchase all the ingredients at Walmart or target in the laundry soap isle. Felis naptha works great as thebar soap to shred.
I just made this , hasn't got real thick yet, but I'm guessing if out gets to thick you could thin it out by adding really hot water to the mixture , an for those of you who cannot find washing soda you can make your own by baking,baking soda, there is a recipe on pinterest just don't know the recipe off hand, but I'm sure you could find it quickly on there.
I use homemade soap in my top load HE washer and have not had any problems at all. Love it. Clothes are clean and saving money.
Washing soda is right next to the borax.
I have made this recipe with up to 3 gallons of water which requires using about 1 to 1 1/2 cups per load. I now make it with only a total of 1 gallon of water and it cools to a soft gel I keep in a plastic ice cream bucket with a lid. I just scoop out about 1/3 - 1/2 cup per load, depending on how soiled the load is, and it cleans just as well as ever! This is the BEST laundry soap EVER regardless of the concentration...just adjust how much you put in each load! You can't beat the cost savings!
As for stain remover try hydrogenperoxide for many stains and dawn for greasy food stains.
Hi there!
I just got her from Pintrest and literally read ALL of the comments! I will be transferring to a four year college soon from my community one that I attend now and will leave the comforts of mom buying laundry supplies for me haha. I cannot wait to make this and lug it with me there! I am a little nervous after that one guest talked about Borax becoming banned in Germany, but I understand that there are substitutes. After reading everything I read it is obvious how awesome this is and how thankful I will soon be on my 'ramen every night' cuisine, but with this tip I could afford real food! It's also clear that I'm pretty sure every comment on here has been asked except for the liquid soap rather than bar soap haha. I especially like the marbles in the jug tip to help it mix after it has congealed kind of like nail polish 'pebbles' when you shake them. A reoccurring answer to the question is YES! Your liquid will still work, YES I know that is is extremely thick/thin but if you mix it up/shake it/ trust that it will work your clothes will be fine! And also it's important to read reviews before making something so that you don't freak out and throw away a batch that just needs to be shaken. Again, thank you soooo much you're the best! I'll be needing tips like these soon!
-Kelly B
This is my first time making this and im so excited to see the results! FYI if you make your own dishwasher tablets you also use borax and washing soda!! So it's a no brainer at the money you will save. And my DW tabs work better than store bought!
FYI If you all would read the box of Borax it states other uses, IE boosting your dishwasher soap, etc. SO...to me that means it is ok to use your pots/utensils after making this laundry soap recipe. Personally I find the dry mix so much easier to make and use, and it seems to store just fine. That way you can also use Oxiclean without creating a huge mess. Don't make this harder than it has to be!
OK I'd first like to say I haven't read all of the comments since there are so many so if I've already said what someone else has pointed out sorry.
I would not use any type of body or face bar you would use in the shower. They all have lotions or other oils that can stain your clothes.
I use fels naphtha washing bar. There's also a soap called zote (so) but these are made to clean your clothes and they do an awesome job. you can find the washing soda, borax, and fels naphtha at Walmart in the laundry soap isle. also with this recipe you can use in a front loader just add a tablespoon or 2
My recipe i be been using for 3 years now is
2 cups washing soda
2 cups borax
1 bar of fels naphtha grated equals to 2 cups
5 gals of hot water
5 gals pale or tote
Bring 6 to 8 cups of water to a boil and add grated fels naphtha and mix until all of the fels is dissolved, be careful it will foam so reduce heat
In bucket or tote combine washing soda, borax and remaining hot water and stir til dissolved.
Add fels to the bucket or tote, mix until combined. Cover it for about 12 to 24 hours.
After the time is up it will congeale and just use a spoon or mixer to mix it up. Use the same way you would with store bought brands. If you transfer it to jugs this recipe makes 2 big laundry detergent jugs plus a quart.
This gets my boyfriends greasy work clothes like new and only costs $0.01 a load to wash.
I use either depending if I want to mess with the water or not Lol. If I make it dry I add baking soda to aid in getting rid of smells
I am allergic to arm & hammer soap products. Is there an alternative?
I just made my third batch and love how it cleans! I am married to a farmer and have a son who is a welder. It cleans their work clothes and removes odors fine. I do add a small amount of Oxiclean just to make sure I get the stains out. It does come out thick, but I use about 1/2 cup per load. If my guys remember to use Dawn dishwashing liquid on the grease stains when they change clothes then my laundry would be perfect!! Lol!!
I also add 2 cups of non chlorine additive. It adds about $3 dollars to the cost however my recipe makes 3 gallons and it is he safe. Very similiar recipe though. I use irish spring sonetimes just to add that scent. Love the homemade soap. Also if you use the blender and blend the soap to a fine powder it melts much easier. Add the soap after bringing water to s boil.
The arm and hammer washing soda is at a lot of grocery stores. We gave a food city chain that carries it.
Well I made my first batch of this a few days ago and after doing several loads.. I honestly can't tell if the detergent is doing any good at all :( I'm not sure if people are seeing what they want to with this or if it's genuinely better that store bought because it certainly doesn't have the ability to remove stains at all. I'm glad I tried it but I think, for me, it was a bust.
This is nice information blog. Thanks for Sharing.
US gallon
Is this baby safe?
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