Do-It-Yourself Laundry Detergent

Money Talks News, via Yahoo ^ | Tuesday, April 20, 2010 | Stacy Johnson

[goodwithagun]

While having clean clothes is obviously both hygienic and neighborly, how they get that way may be more open to imagination and experimentation than you may have considered. And consider you should, because as it turns out, the companies supplying the soaps you use to make your attire springtime fresh may be doing little more than taking you to the cleaners.

[Dallas59]

Recipe #1

1 quart Water (boiling)
2 cups Bar soap (grated)
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda

* Add finely grated bar soap to the boiling water and stir until soap is melted. You can keep on low heat until soap is melted.
* Pour the soap water into a large, clean pail and add the Borax and Washing Soda. Stir well until all is dissolved.
* Add 2 gallons of water, stir until well mixed.
* Cover pail and use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry. Stir the soap each time you use it (will gel).

Recipe #2

Hot water
1 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1 Soap bar

* Grate the bar soap and add to a large saucepan with hot water. Stir over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
* Fill a 10 gallon pail half full of hot water. Add the melted soap, Borax and Washing soda, stir well until all powder is dissolved. Top the pail up with more hot water.
* Use 1 cup per load, stirring soap before each use (will gel).

Recipe #3

Hot water
1/2 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1/3 bar Soap (grated)

* In a large pot, heat 3 pints of water. Add the grated bar soap and stir until melted. Then add the washing soda and borax. Stir until powder is dissolved, then remove from heat.
* In a 2 gallon clean pail, pour 1 quart of hot water and add the heated soap mixture. Top pail with cold water and stir well.
* Use 1/2 cup per load, stirring soap before each use (will gel).

Powdered Laundry Detergent – Recipe #4

Picture of Cup Of Powdered Laundry Detergent - Tipnut.com2 cups Fels Naptha Soap (finely grated – you could also try the other bar soaps listed at the top)
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax

* Mix well and store in an airtight plastic container.
* Use 2 tablespoons per full load.

Recipe #5

Hot water
1 bar (4.5 oz) Ivory Soap – grated
1 cup Washing Soda

* In a large saucepan add grated soap and enough hot water to cover. Heat over medium-low heat and stir until soap is melted.
* Fill a large pail with 2.5 gallons of hot water, add hot soap mixture. Stir until well mixed.
* Then add the washing soda, again stirring until well mixed.
* Set aside to cool.
* Use 1/2 cup per full load, stirring well before each use (will gel)

Recipe #6

2.5 gallons Water (hot)
1 Bar soap (grated)
3/4 cup Washing Soda
3/4 cup Borax
2 TBS Glycerin

* Melt bar soap over medium-low heat topped with water, stir until soap is melted.
* In a large pail, pour 2.5 gallons of hot water, add melted soap mixture, washing soda, borax and glycerin. Mix well.
* Use 1/2 cup per full load.

Recipe #7

2 cups Bar soap (grated)
2 cups Washing Soda
2 – 2.5 gallons hot water

* Melt grated soap in saucepan with water to cover. Heat over medium-low heat and stir until soap is dissolved.
* Pour hot water in large pail, add hot soap and washing soda. Stir very well.
* Use 1 cup per full load.

Recipe #8

2 gallons Water (hot)
1 bar Soap (grated)
2 cups Baking soda (yes baking soda this time–not washing soda)

* Melt grated soap in a saucepan with enough hot water to cover. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring frequently until soap is melted.
* In a large pail, pour 2 gallons hot water. Add melted soap, stir well.
* Then add the baking soda, stir well again.
* Use 1/2 cup per full load, 1 cup per very soiled load.

Powdered Laundry Detergent – Recipe #9

Picture of Cup Of Powdered Laundry Detergent - Tipnut.com12 cups Borax
8 cups Baking Soda
8 cups Washing Soda
8 cups Bar soap (grated)

* Mix all ingredients well and store in a sealed tub.
* Use 1/8 cup of powder per full load.

Recipe #10 – (Powdered)

Picture of Cup Of Powdered Laundry Detergent - Tipnut.com1 cup Vinegar (white)
1 cup Baking Soda
1 cup Washing Soda
1/4 cup liquid castile soap

* Mix well and store in sealed container.
* I find it easiest to pour the liquid soap into the bowl first, stirred in the washing soda, then baking soda, then added the vinegar in small batches at a time (the recipe foams up at first). The mixture is a thick paste at first that will break down into a heavy powdered detergent, just keep stirring. There may be some hard lumps, try to break them down when stirring (it really helps to make sure the baking soda isn’t clumpy when first adding). I used 1/2 cup per full load with great results.

Liquid Detergents Note

Soap will be lumpy, goopy and gel-like. This is normal. Just give it a good stir before using. Make sure soap is covered with a lid when not in use. You could also pour the homemade soap in old (and cleaned) laundry detergent bottles and shake well before each use.

*If you can’t find Fels-Naptha locally, you can buy it online (check Amazon).
Optional

You can add between 10 to 15 drops of essential oil (per 2 gallons) to your homemade laundry detergent. Add once the soap has cooled to room temperature. Stir well and cover.

Essential oil ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil

*Admin Update: clarified instructions for Recipe #10 and liquid detergent notes.

[Kimmers]

try adding a cup of non-suds ammonia to your wash....does a great job of getting out stains and odors without fading colors....

[silverleaf]

Baking soda? Make a solution somehow? Or enzyme solution?
the odor is bacteria, figure out how to kill it
Pet stores sell enzyme solutions that do this

[dynachrome]

A scented bar of soap perhaps?

I’m thinking “Grandpas Pine Tar Soap” maybe. A bit pricey per bar, though.

[dynachrome]

ps. From #21:

“You can add between 10 to 15 drops of essential oil (per 2 gallons) to your homemade laundry detergent. Add once the soap has cooled to room temperature. Stir well and cover.

Essential oil ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil”

[surelyclintonsbaddream]

I just started with the same 3 months ago. Much better for the machine, the septic system, and the clothes.
It smells wonderful too and is cheaper.

[ExTxMarine]

Are these safe to use in HE washers? In other words, do these create excessive soap bubbles which can harm the HE system?

Thanks.

[Spudx7]

I’ve made this and have had trouble with getting stains (even pre-treated) out of my kids clothes.

[goodwithagun]

Also, I use distilled white vinegar instead of fabric softener. It does just as good a job, it’s an additional way to eliminate odors, and it keeps the machine clean.

[goodwithagun]

I tried the liquid version and didn't like it. I just takes up too much space for me. I have the space to store it, I just don't want to. I keep the powdered version in a Gladware container. The powdered version works very well in hot and cold water, just make sure the Fels-Naptha is very finely grated. I use my microplain (a little taxing, but I consider it exercise) and then blend all ingredients together in my Cuisinart. Just let the dust settle before you take off the lid of the food processor.

[goodwithagun]

A fantastic pretreater is Fels-Naptha straight up. Either rub the bar on the stain, or put the bar in a jar of water and let it melt into a gel. Either way, I have had no trouble. It even takes the stain and smell out of clothes that have baby spit-up on them. Plus, Fels-Naptha is $1.12 at Walmart. Much cheeper than fancy pretreaters!

[Spudx7]

Thanks. One more question, is this homemade detergent good on cloth diapers?

[Dallas59]

Where to find Fels-Naptha, Borax...

[goodwithagun]

Not sure. My cousin uses cloth and she puts them in a bucket of water with baking soda and I think soap first. She lets them soak a while before she actually washes them. I have used hydrogen peroxide successfully instead of bleach, if you want to avoid bleach on sensitive baby parts! It’s pricey, but I have stocked up using my flex savings plan since I won’t be able to use it on OTC meds next year. You would only be using it for dipes though, so it might not be too bad.

[dynachrome]

takes up too much space

true. I am going to try the powdered version next time.

[JoeProBono]

[HanneyBean]

I’ve been using the powdered version for about 2 months now and I love it. I originally tried Fels Naptha, but didn’t care for the smell. Then I tried Yardley’s Old English Lavender and loved it. I’ve also used a green tea soap which was subtle and nice. I won’t be going back to manufactured detergent any more. I also dry my clothes on a line (I have no dryer and don’t want one).

I’ve also just started making my own bread with a $25 breakmaker - yum! I feel like Ma Ingalls 2.0

[JoeProBono]

[HanneyBean]

Yep - looks alot like my Breadman TR570. Good stuff right out of the baking pan, slathered in butter.

[MissNomer]

Also, I use distilled white vinegar instead of fabric softener. It does just as good a job, it’s an additional way to eliminate odors, and it keeps the machine clean.

I would like to know more about this. How much vinegar do you add, and when in the cycle do you add it?