Homemade laundry soap

[Genesis]

I was watching the Duggars on tv and they were making their own laundry detergent. it lasts them 2 months and they do 180 loads a month!! So it says they use Fels of Naptha soap, borax, washing soda ( not baking soda), and water. The exact measurements weren't given but since I've googled it there are tons of recipes for it all over the place, varying in kind and measurements. Has anyone tried anything similar? This will really save alot of money, so I'm looking forward to making it!

[cornflower]

There are a couple of recipes around here... I think one is in the cleaning solutions sticky.

I've done the exact one you are describing. It works fine. :) The main issue I have is with grating the Fels Naptha or Zote soap. My hands get tired, and they gum up my food processor when I do them in there (the Zote is worse that the Fels Naptha).

[jblairosu]

Here's the one I use:

1/3 bar Fels Naptha
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup Borax powder

You need a 2 gallon bucket.

Grate Fels Naptha in saucepan. Add 6 cups water and heat til soap melts. Add soda and Borax and stir until idssolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into bucket. Add soap mixture and stir. Add 1 gallon + 6 cups water and stir. Let soap sit about 24 hours and it will gel. Use about 1/2 cup per load.

After letting it sit, I thought I had done something wrong as it is kinda cloudy looking and seems to have mucousy looking stuff instead of a totally incorporated liquid like the store stuff. I read on-line that that's normal. :shrug3 I have really really liked it! I prefer the liquid just because that's the kind I've always used (as opposed to powder) but I know there are other recipes too!

[knitlove]

what is the benefit of making it into a liquid and not just leaving it as a powder with the soap, borax, and washing soda mixed together?

[BHope]

One of the advantages of mixing is it is that you know you have everything incorporated. I don't have a food processor, so when I grate the soap I have to grate it with my hand held cheese grater. :giggle

I wrote about it in my blog. Link here. (http://earthjaunt.com/babyhopes/?p=442)

[cornflower]

FTR, I've always just left it dry, though the liquid option intrigues me.

[knitlove]

it intrigues me as well but then I think I don't want to do the extra work, I think that mine gets generally well in cooperated with my grating of the soap and then mixing it whit the soda and borax.

[righteous mama]

I tried it before using both types of soap...and I didn't find it worked as well as I'd like it to.

[knitlove]

I tried it before using both types of soap...and I didn't find it worked as well as I'd like it to.


What didn't you like?

[righteous mama]

I tried it before using both types of soap...and I didn't find it worked as well as I'd like it to.


What didn't you like?

I felt like it didn't get things clean enough. Like, my dh is a teacher and comes home smelling like kid sweat, dirt, his own sweat, etc (his school doesn't have air conditioning). I would wash his shirts and it would still smell. I personally use Shaklee and don't have that problem at all. To me, it's worth the money to not have my dh stink. ;) It also didn't seem to get stains out very well. Now, I do have a bar of Fels that is left over and I have used it to rub onto a stain to get it out...but it doesn't work as well as I'd like it to.

[MarynMunchkins]

That's what I use, and I love it. It only takes me 20 minutes to make a batch, and it lasts a *long* time.

I don't think it's as effective at getting out stains, so I do more pre-treating, but that doesn't add significantly to my time or cost. :shrug

[knitlove]

I still end up using spray and wash to pretreat stains but the home made stuff works just as well as the all free and clear that I had been using. I wonder if how it works depends on how hard/soft your water is, I have no idea what mine it but that might make a big difference. The only thin that the home made stuff doesn't' do is to get out the sour smell if I don't' get some thing moved to the dryer and it sours in the wash so then I have to do a wash with the little bit of the all I have left.

[Genesis]

thank you for all the information ladies!! I am going to try it out and see if I like it, I bought some borax yesterday at Walmart but I have to still try and find washing soda ( I heard you can find it at Kroger) and fels naptha soap. :heart

[righteous mama]

thank you for all the information ladies!! I am going to try it out and see if I like it, I bought some borax yesterday at Walmart but I have to still try and find washing soda ( I heard you can find it at Kroger) and fels naptha soap. :heart

I'm not sure where you are, but I had to go into another town to find it. Apparently my town is too good to make their own laudnry soap. :giggle I went into a more latino area and found it no problem.

[Genesis]

The Duggars finally posted their version of the recipe on their website..

TIPS FOR LAUNDRY SOAP: We use Fels-Naptha bar soap in the homemade soap recipes, but you can use Ivory, Sunlight, Kirk's Hardwater Castile or Zote bars. Don't use heavily perfumed soaps. We buy Fels-Naptha by the case from our local grocer or online. Washing Soda and Borax can normally be found on the laundry or cleaning aisle. Recipe cost approx. $2.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4 Cups hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

[Naked Camper]

I bet the TTO would help cover any extra smell. Orange EO would be nice too