MJN Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 besides financial reasons, did you start? Is it because of the chemicals in the already prepared detergents? Just wondering while I consider doing this - Molly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alphabetika Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 I started making my own detergent for both the reasons you mentioned (financial and chemical) but also because it's just a teensy step towards self-sufficiency, and I enjoy the teensy steps. It's just, well, fun. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FriedClams Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 I honestly tried it because it looked like fun. Now I usually make it because: it's cheaper, it's easier on my DH and DD's sensitive skin, and it works as well if not better than any other brand. I make the dry by using my food processor and I can whip up a 30-45 day supply in about 15 minutes. The hardest part is peeling the labels off the Ivory. LOL! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BikeBookBread Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 Anyone willing to share a recipe that really, really works??? :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in St Louis Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 I was making my own to save money a while back and after a while I noticed that the clothes just weren't getting clean. I have messy little people and NONE of the stains were coming out with the fels naptha/borax/washing soda mix. I am READY for one that works and will be gentle on my kiddos' sensitive skin. Tide Free is a killer at $8/week. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MomOfOneFunOne Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 I don't now but I tried it. I, too, found that our clothes weren't getting clean so I quit. The reason that I started were mostly chemical and the number of plastic containers thrown away with a heavy dose of desire for self-sufficiency thrown in. I'd try it again in a heartbeat if I heard of a new recipe. The one I tried was the same as the previous poster: fels naptha, et c. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hathersage Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 (edited) I've been experimenting with making my own. Trying to find something with sodium percarbonate (washing soda/hydrogen peroxide) I stumbled across this blog post while looking for other recipes. http://senselesshousewife.blogspot.com/2009/01/laundry-soap-research.html Edited May 25, 2009 by Hathersage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LaxMom Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 I don't now but I tried it. I, too, found that our clothes weren't getting clean so I quit. The reason that I started were mostly chemical and the number of plastic containers thrown away with a heavy dose of desire for self-sufficiency thrown in. I'd try it again in a heartbeat if I heard of a new recipe. The one I tried was the same as the previous poster: fels naptha, et c. I found the same thing, so I just ended up using Seventh Generation - not inexpensive, but the clothes are clean without any petrochemicals and I recycle the bottles. Trent, at the Simple Dollar, recently posted an article / video. It doesn't appear that he uses Fels Naptha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Firefly Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 I started making my own detergent for both the reasons you mentioned (financial and chemical) but also because it's just a teensy step towards self-sufficiency, and I enjoy the teensy steps. It's just, well, fun. :) Yep, what she said! :D This is the recipe I use: http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm It works really well for me. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FriedClams Posted May 25, 2009 Share Posted May 25, 2009 I grate the soap in the food processor with the grating blade. For each bar of soap - we use Ivory - I add 1 cup washing SODA and 1 cup Borax. When I am done with the grating (after grating a few bars I dump the soap shavings into a huge bowl and add the soda and borax) I switch to the regular blade in the processor and zap the soap with the soda and borax to a consistency that's the same as the store bought detergent. Then the stuff goes in a Tupperware and I shake it up to make sure it's all well mixed. I use 2 Tablespoons per load (big loads). It takes about 5 minutes per load with the hardest part being unwrapping the Ivory labels. I used to use a hand grater and that worked great - but the processor is so fast. I throw all the processor parts in the dishwasher and they come out sparkling. HTH!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimm in WA Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 The recipe I uses has OxyClean added in, so it works pretty good! 2.5 c. grated fels naptha soap (leave bars out to dry and use one of those Olive Garden parmesan cheese graters) 1 c. arm and hammer super washing soda 1 c. mule team borax 1 c. oxyclean Use 2 TBSP. for large load, more for heavily soiled clothes, less for smaller loads. Kimm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiddenJewel Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Yep, what she said! :D This is the recipe I use: http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm It works really well for me. Good luck! This one doesn't work real well for me although it is about the same as the store bought I was using. But it doesn't get the socks very clean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiddenJewel Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 The recipe I uses has OxyClean added in, so it works pretty good! 2.5 c. grated fels naptha soap (leave bars out to dry and use one of those Olive Garden parmesan cheese graters) 1 c. arm and hammer super washing soda 1 c. mule team borax 1 c. oxyclean Use 2 TBSP. for large load, more for heavily soiled clothes, less for smaller loads. Kimm I bet the OxyClean would help a lot. I'll have to see how expensive it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hathersage Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Seventh Generation and Oxyclean and Shout!'s OxyPower have sodium percarbonate as a cleaning agent. And is missing from most homemade recipes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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