*~* mnewlee *~* re: laundry detergent

SusieBW

Tell me about your home made laundry detergent, please. 

We've been talking about doing it, but I think DH and I are secretly scared that it's going to be a pain in the a$$ to make it, so we haven't tried.  Now I'm starting to run low on detergent and it's almost time to buy more, so now would be the time to decide whether we're going to try and make it or not. 

What do you use, how much does it make, is it a PITA?  Tell me everything!  Thanks! 

Edit, because I typoed your name the first time.

mnewlee

It's really easy. Not a PITA at all.

The recipe I use is:

1 bar of fels naptha (but you could really use any soap, zote, ivory, etc)

1 cup borax

1 cup washing soda

Finely grate the soap and mix with the other two. Done!

I use my food processor to grate the soap and then add the other two and pulse a few times to get everything all mixed together. It takes about 5 minutes to make this way.

I use 1 tbl for my HE top loader. For a regular washer I'd imagine 2 tbl would be good.

 

I haven't had any problems while using it .It seems to get the clothes as clean as store bought detergent.  My wal mart has everything you need in one place in the laundry aisle.   An applesauce jar or a large yogurt container is the perfect size to store it. (that's why I put that in my tip since I've seen a few people here mention usin homemade detergent)

 

Oh, and I use this on G's clothes too and she's never had a reaction. 

SusieBW

That sounds so easy!

How often do you have to make more?  And could I double the recipe to make a whole bunch, and it'll be fine, right?  Like, it'll keep?

solsburyhill

mnewlee - have you had any problems with mysterious spots on your clothes?  I've been making homemade detergent for a little over a year and once in a while will get these dark spots on my clothes : (  What I've saved by making my own I've wasted in thrown out clothing.

My recipe is:

1 bar of soap (I use ivory and I grate it on the small part of my box grater)

1 cup borax

1 cup Arm and Hamer's washing soda

1/2 oxiclean

I have a reguler wash maching and I use 2 tbsp.  I love it.  My clothes are clean, they smell nice.  It's so easy to make, not a PITA at all.  And when you buy the supplies, you have enough for many batches so when you run out, you just take 5 minutes to make more vs. making a trip to Walmart.  I use it on A's clothes.

But now DH and I have sadly decided to go back to the regular store bought stuff because of the spots.  : (  We've ruined at least 5 nice shirts.

mnewlee

It is really simple. I think you could definitely make a double batch. As long as you kept it in a closed container so moisture doesn't get to it much. Even then it would probably still be usable just chunky.

 

Oh, and I use just about 2/3 of a bar of fels naptha instead of the whole bar because a whole bar seemed to be too much. I use the chunk that's left over to rub on stains. 

mnewlee

solsburyhill:

mnewlee - have you had any problems with mysterious spots on your clothes?  I've been making homemade detergent for a little over a year and once in a while will get these dark spots on my clothes : (  What I've saved by making my own I've wasted in thrown out clothing.

My recipe is:

1 bar of soap (I use ivory and I grate it on the small part of my box grater)

1 cup borax

1 cup Arm and Hamer's washing soda

1/2 oxiclean

I have a reguler wash maching and I use 2 tbsp.  I love it.  My clothes are clean, they smell nice.  It's so easy to make, not a PITA at all.  And when you buy the supplies, you have enough for many batches so when you run out, you just take 5 minutes to make more vs. making a trip to Walmart.  I use it on A's clothes.

But now DH and I have sadly decided to go back to the regular store bought stuff because of the spots.  : (  We've ruined at least 5 nice shirts.

Hmm. No I haven't noticed any spots. That's strange. Are they like stained spots or more like a build up of something spots? They don't happen with regular detergent? Sorry for all the questions. I'm just curious since I can't think of any of the ingredients that would stain. 

 Also, I really like your addition of oxiclean. I'm going to have to do that. 

SusieBW

mnewlee:

It is really simple. I think you could definitely make a double batch. As long as you kept it in a closed container so moisture doesn't get to it much. Even then it would probably still be usable just chunky.

 

Oh, and I use just about 2/3 of a bar of fels naptha instead of the whole bar because a whole bar seemed to be too much. I use the chunk that's left over to rub on stains. 

Brilliant!  Thanks for all the tips!  I'm definitely going to try it, probably either this weekend or next.

solsburyhill

mnewlee:

solsburyhill:

mnewlee - have you had any problems with mysterious spots on your clothes?  I've been making homemade detergent for a little over a year and once in a while will get these dark spots on my clothes : (  What I've saved by making my own I've wasted in thrown out clothing.

My recipe is:

1 bar of soap (I use ivory and I grate it on the small part of my box grater)

1 cup borax

1 cup Arm and Hamer's washing soda

1/2 oxiclean

I have a reguler wash maching and I use 2 tbsp.  I love it.  My clothes are clean, they smell nice.  It's so easy to make, not a PITA at all.  And when you buy the supplies, you have enough for many batches so when you run out, you just take 5 minutes to make more vs. making a trip to Walmart.  I use it on A's clothes.

But now DH and I have sadly decided to go back to the regular store bought stuff because of the spots.  : (  We've ruined at least 5 nice shirts.

Hmm. No I haven't noticed any spots. That's strange. Are they like stained spots or more like a build up of something spots? They don't happen with regular detergent? Sorry for all the questions. I'm just curious since I can't think of any of the ingredients that would stain. 

 Also, I really like your addition of oxiclean. I'm going to have to do that. 

I think it might be from the Ivory, DH thinks it's the borax.  But I'm pretty sure it's a build up of some sort.  If it happens to a light colored shirt, it seems to eventually wash out, but unfortunately, not on dark colored shirts.  I never had it happen with Tide or Cheer.  I still use Downy fabric softener but I'm not sure it's that because DH doesn't use it and he does probably 50% of the laundry.

Malin22000

solsburyhill:

mnewlee:

solsburyhill:

mnewlee - have you had any problems with mysterious spots on your clothes?  I've been making homemade detergent for a little over a year and once in a while will get these dark spots on my clothes : (  What I've saved by making my own I've wasted in thrown out clothing.

My recipe is:

1 bar of soap (I use ivory and I grate it on the small part of my box grater)

1 cup borax

1 cup Arm and Hamer's washing soda

1/2 oxiclean

I have a reguler wash maching and I use 2 tbsp.  I love it.  My clothes are clean, they smell nice.  It's so easy to make, not a PITA at all.  And when you buy the supplies, you have enough for many batches so when you run out, you just take 5 minutes to make more vs. making a trip to Walmart.  I use it on A's clothes.

But now DH and I have sadly decided to go back to the regular store bought stuff because of the spots.  : (  We've ruined at least 5 nice shirts.

Hmm. No I haven't noticed any spots. That's strange. Are they like stained spots or more like a build up of something spots? They don't happen with regular detergent? Sorry for all the questions. I'm just curious since I can't think of any of the ingredients that would stain. 

 Also, I really like your addition of oxiclean. I'm going to have to do that. 

I think it might be from the Ivory, DH thinks it's the borax.  But I'm pretty sure it's a build up of some sort.  If it happens to a light colored shirt, it seems to eventually wash out, but unfortunately, not on dark colored shirts.  I never had it happen with Tide or Cheer.  I still use Downy fabric softener but I'm not sure it's that because DH doesn't use it and he does probably 50% of the laundry.

Have you tried making the liquid laundry detergent instead? That might solve your problem. I have a recipe (the one I use) if you would like it. 

SusieBW

Malin22000:

Have you tried making the liquid laundry detergent instead? That might solve your problem. I have a recipe (the one I use) if you would like it. 

I would like your liquid detergent recipe, please!