Homemade Laundry Detergent - Page 5

Mav2007 · 08-02-2009, 08:13 PM

What recipe is everyone following?
I found one on the internet that called for 1/2 bar fels naptha, 1/2 cup each borax and washing soda and a total of 7.5 quarts of water. It then says to use 1/2 cup for each load of laundry. Seems like a lot less water than other recipes.

Seanachie · 08-07-2009, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lady_MCSE

I
b) I kinda hate to post this but you know how back in the 70's (or was it 80's?) they took phosphates out of everything because it was turning lakes and streams into super algae blooms ... well phosphates are wonderful for turning whites really white again ... and Spic & Span still has phosphates in it. So if\when I ever get around to making my own soap based on what others post here, I will most likely make two batches, one that's phosphate free for 95% of my washing, and one that's got just a smidge of spic & span thrown in so I can do my whites every now and then with it ... I hope sparingly isn't too terrible for the environment!!!

I don't think Spic and Span still contains phosphates but you can always add some TSP (Tri-Sodium Phosphate) which you can get at any hardware store. Don't get the 'environmentally friendly TSP" It's not actually TSP and doesn't contain phosphates.

Seanachie · 08-07-2009, 10:22 PM

Problem: Ours didn't gel.

We used a bar of Ivory soap, 20 Mule Team borax, 1/2 cup of lime Dawn, and Arm & Hammer washing soda. After 3 days and several stirrings, it's still essentially just watery with some white streaks in it.

Any suggestions?

ToveroMom · 08-08-2009, 09:43 AM

At first all my gel was hiding WAY down in the bottom. My stirrer did not reach. I went and got a stick off my tree and finally got the gel mixed in. THEN it gelled up.
PS I used that same recipe

Mav2007 · 08-08-2009, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seanachie

Problem: Ours didn't gel.

We used a bar of Ivory soap, 20 Mule Team borax, 1/2 cup of lime Dawn, and Arm & Hammer washing soda. After 3 days and several stirrings, it's still essentially just watery with some white streaks in it.

Any suggestions?

I would think that regardless of texture, it still has all the right ingredients and should work anyway. I have read online that sometimes certain soaps won't gel as well as others, but I unless it matters to you, I don't think it matters as far as quality.

dlperry · 08-08-2009, 11:56 PM

What a wonderful thread. I'm going to have to mix up my own batch. Have used Fels Naptha a few years now and love it's stain removal properties. Here's a link for other uses for it as well as a laundry detergent or search for "Soaps gone by".
http://www.soapsgonebuy.com/ProductD...Show=ExtI nfo

BTW the original bar I bought over 3 years ago is still in use!

Jadelover · 08-11-2009, 04:08 PM

Well, today I tried the fels naptha soap, and 1/2 cup of dawn dish soap along with the borax and washing soda. It works better than the Ivory or the irish spring, has a nice scent, and was pretty easy. Much more sudsy than previous trials. I am soaking a t-shirt in it right now that was covered with oil...just to see what it does...I'll let you know. Towels came out good...

SunnyHaf · 09-29-2009, 01:47 PM

I tried the small recipe (1/2 cup Borax, 1/2 cup Washing Soda & 1/3 bar of soap, plus water) using Sunlight soap. It took a lot of searching to find the Sunlight soap in bar form in the stores.
It gels and has suds. Laundry smells nice.

northernhorses · 10-07-2009, 10:38 AM

We've been using the fels naptha version with 2 cups of Dawn. We can't tell a difference with the cleanliness of the clothes between that and our old Tide. I doubt if we will ever go back to buying laundry detergent.

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08-02-2009, 08:13 PM
Mav2007 Started Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,672	What recipe is everyone following? I found one on the internet that called for 1/2 bar fels naptha, 1/2 cup each borax and washing soda and a total of 7.5 quarts of water. It then says to use 1/2 cup for each load of laundry. Seems like a lot less water than other recipes. __________________

08-07-2009, 10:22 PM
Seanachie Greenbroke Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,100	Problem: Ours didn't gel. We used a bar of Ivory soap, 20 Mule Team borax, 1/2 cup of lime Dawn, and Arm & Hammer washing soda. After 3 days and several stirrings, it's still essentially just watery with some white streaks in it. Any suggestions? __________________ Seánachie "I'll keep my guns, my religion, and my money - you can keep the change." Last edited by Seanachie : 08-07-2009 at 10:34 PM.

08-08-2009, 09:43 AM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 17,059	At first all my gel was hiding WAY down in the bottom. My stirrer did not reach. I went and got a stick off my tree and finally got the gel mixed in. THEN it gelled up. PS I used that same recipe

08-08-2009, 11:56 PM
dlperry Newborn Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Magnolia Posts: 14	What a wonderful thread. I'm going to have to mix up my own batch. Have used Fels Naptha a few years now and love it's stain removal properties. Here's a link for other uses for it as well as a laundry detergent or search for "Soaps gone by". http://www.soapsgonebuy.com/ProductD...Show=ExtI nfo BTW the original bar I bought over 3 years ago is still in use!

08-11-2009, 04:08 PM
Jadelover Weanling Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Central New York Posts: 497	Well, today I tried the fels naptha soap, and 1/2 cup of dawn dish soap along with the borax and washing soda. It works better than the Ivory or the irish spring, has a nice scent, and was pretty easy. Much more sudsy than previous trials. I am soaking a t-shirt in it right now that was covered with oil...just to see what it does...I'll let you know. Towels came out good...

09-29-2009, 01:47 PM
SunnyHaf Newborn Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: BC Canada Posts: 1	I tried the small recipe (1/2 cup Borax, 1/2 cup Washing Soda & 1/3 bar of soap, plus water) using Sunlight soap. It took a lot of searching to find the Sunlight soap in bar form in the stores. It gels and has suds. Laundry smells nice.

10-07-2009, 10:38 AM
northernhorses Newborn Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Alaska Posts: 38	We've been using the fels naptha version with 2 cups of Dawn. We can't tell a difference with the cleanliness of the clothes between that and our old Tide. I doubt if we will ever go back to buying laundry detergent.