[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Washday: Making my own laundry soap ****Very Picture Heavy**** Updated. (Page 2 of 4)
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Question: How does it do with cold water? Now that winter is here, I'm using cold water in the wash to cut down on natural gas costs. Great that's all I wash my cloths in. Quoted:
How much of the liquid mixture per large load of laundry? I just use a cap full from the old laundry bottle. |
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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) Powdered Laundry Detergent- Top load machine 1 Fels-Naptha soap bar 1 Cup Washing Soda ½ Cup Borax -Grate soap or break into pieces and process in a food processor until powdered. Mix all ingredients. For light load, use 1 Tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 Tablespoons. Yields: 3 Cups detergent. (Approx. 40 loads) So to break this down into portions that will last less than a decade; 1 C = 16 Tbs = 48 tsp 10 gal = 40 qts = 160 C –– 1/48th - 1/24th - 1/12th - 1/16th - 1/8th 1 bar soap = approx 1 C grated soap powder –– 1t - 2t - 4t - 1T - 2T 1 C washing soda (sodium carbonate) –– 1t - 2t - 4t - 1T - 2T 1/2 C borax (disodium tetraborate) –– 1/2t - 1t - 2t - 1 1/2t - 1T 4 C heated water to dissolve soap –– 4t - 8t - 1/3C - 1/4 C - 1/2C 2.5 gal = 40 C warm water to mix ingredients in –– 1/2C+1/3C - 5/3C - 10/3C - 5/2C - 5C 2.5 gal = 40 C water to dilute mixed ingredients –– 1/2C+1/3C - 5/3C - 10/3C - 5/2C - 5C 5 gal = 80 C cold water to dilute –– 5/3C - 10/3C - 20/3C - 5C - 10C Total portion of final soap mixture –– 3 1/3 C - 6 2/3 C - 3 1/3 qrt - 2 1/2 qrt - 1 1/4 gal Enjoy. |
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Di you find that ND hat on the beach or in the ocean? I lost mine 40 miles off of Montauk and id swear thsats its twin  Funny you said that. The hat I'm wearing's ancestor was lost at sea when a sailboat's boom made an abrupt stop against my forehead. This one's been in a dozen countries and molested by 4-5y of time and one over-eager beagle. Hope everyone's enjoyed this thread :) |
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I could have just used the subscribe button to tag this thread. But, I wanted to show my support and gratitude for the OPs efforts in bringing this valuable information. So, I made a post instead. Thank you sir. I have a question. Could the FELS NAPTHA bar, for the next batch of soap, be left in a container of water and allowed to dissolve while you are using up the bucket of detergent? I'm sorry, I missed this question. The bar of soap could be left to dissolve with no worries, though I'm not sure the necessity for doing so aside from avoiding the grating part. IMO, anyway you can make the large bar into smaller, easier to dissolve sections is win-win. |
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Argh. Lots of catching up. To answer several questions:
1. The main reason you'd do this is cost savings. I saw a 1/2 gallon of Tide at the store today for $8.00. This recipe makes 10 gallons for about $2.50. The cost savings should be evident there. We're talking big money. 2. The smell is, 'clean.' I think it smells exactly like a load of towels that have been left out to sun-dry. You can add essential oils to vary the smells accordingly. 3. My 2 friends have very sensitive skin. Their bottle of Arm and Hammer was too much for them. I gave them a jug of my soap to try and they've reported no issues at all. So, IMO, big thumbs up if you've sensitive skin. 4. I normally use 1/2 to 1 cap full of whatever laundry jug I have on hand depending on the load size. In all fairness, as it's so damn inexpensive, I usually err on the side of using a cap full per load. 5. This detergent works GREAT at stain removal. Simply soak the stain for a minute or two then wash like normal. 6. It WILL set up if left alone, but not solidly, think cream of wheat. Simply shake your jug of soap once or twice before each wash, done. Too easy. Hope that helps! |
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5. This detergent works GREAT at stain removal. Simply soak the stain for a minute or two then wash like normal. +1
I got home last night from deer hunting w/ a very bloody set of brand new, insulated, Dickie's bib's. I hit the blood w/ the detergent and brushed it in w/ a short bristled brush. Washed immediately, and had clean bibs this morning! They look just like new (like they were before I killed bambi's sister)! K |
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Although this topic has been posted before with a different thread, this was a very nice post with a lot of great pictures.
I am currently working on a dish washing detergent formula, but I'm still going through trials with different ingredients. I have found it difficult to get my hands on The Chemical Formulary book, which is invaluable when trying to copy/mimic commercially available products. I will post something when I have a decent alternative to store bought dish detergent. |
Seriously? This takes a max of 15 minutes to do and it makes your detergent basically free? That was my prep time anyway. I'll be doing laundry tomorrow and if it works for my stuff, the family clothes will be next and then on to siblings and parents. Great write up!!!
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Seriously? This takes a max of 15 minutes to do and it makes your detergent basically free? That was my prep time anyway. I'll be doing laundry tomorrow and if it works for my stuff, the family clothes will be next and then on to siblings and parents. Great write up!!! When you figure spending 15 minutes and you're saving(making) $100, that's pretty decent wages ;) |
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Yep I made this up a couple weeks ago and I just smile while doing laundry or open up the grocery ads and see the $10+ dollars for a gallon of Tide. I have found that really really dirty clothing needs to soak a little or use warm water to get it clean. We normally use cold water and it seems to work well, but works better in warmer water.
Won't ever go back to the store bought stuff - and yeah, it makes a LOT of detergent! |
| I made this stuff about a month ago, and it's worked great. I use just a little more than the recommended amount, and have noticed no extra suds in a front-load washer. I have to use a little more on my clothes when I've been in a fire, because I've found that the ONE smell that won't go away otherwise is a smoke odor. We use it on our son's clothes, and it does not seem to exacerbate his excema. |
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I really need to give this a try. Let me give one short testimonial for the Fels-Naptha soap. This is the best otc stuff I have found for poison ivy yet. When you know you have been exposed shower in hot water as soon as possible and about 90% of the time you will not break out. If you have rashed up it will help dry it out even the next day. Good stuff. BTW: if you have ever had any lye soap that is pretty much what the Fels smells like.
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| Been through 5 gallons of our first 10 gallon bucket so far. Only laundry soap we use. We go through it way faster then store bought liquid as you need to use a little more per load but I kinda think the wife thinks we need to use way more per load. She doesn't think its as concentrated as store stuff due to all the water you add. I try and tell her you add all that water because it is concentrated. What dose a guy do? Stuff cleans well, as good as any store stuff as near as I can tell. |
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I mentioned trying this stuff to a friend of mine, and he wanted to know if anyone had any experience using this in washers that called for high-efficiency soap. I never heard of such a thing, so I couldn't tell him. Anyone know? According to a few others in this thread, it's good to go. Wish I could tell you for sure. |
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Quoted: Quoted: I mentioned trying this stuff to a friend of mine, and he wanted to know if anyone had any experience using this in washers that called for high-efficiency soap. I never heard of such a thing, so I couldn't tell him. Anyone know? According to a few others in this thread, it's good to go. Wish I could tell you for sure. Yes, it is an HE detergent. |
| Before putting it in the washer, I run a paint mixer through it to stir it up. It tends to gel and foam at the surface when it sits for awhile. I haven't noticed any suds so I was skeptical at first...until I washed a rag that I had used to wipe down an oven that I cleaned with oven cleaner. It was a white rad what turned a reddish/black. After washing it with this soap, it almost turned white again. I'm also sensitive to detergents and haven't had any problems with this. I do a load a day and have used about 2 gallons in the last month or so. |
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How much vinegar are folks adding to act as a fabric softener? I take a large gallon size vinegar bottle and add a bit of essential oil to it and shake it before every load. For each load, I will use a downy ball and fill it just above the fill line. It does seem to work (even that little bit). I would expect 1/4 to 1/2 cup per load. The essential oil doesnt leave much smell... but I think I get a whiff every now and again. Likely not needed. |
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I made some! So far I have only washed my doggies blankets in it and they were't all that dirty so I can't tell how well it worked. I was surprized at the lack of suds. I also didn't dilute it 1:2 when I put it in the jug to be used. It's a jug from concentrated detergent so it's not really a cup. It seems to make more sense to just not dilute it, to use it how it is in the 5 gallon bucket, and just not add as much to the washer. So that's what I am doing. I also used fabric softner cause I like my doggies blankets to smell nice.
I was surprized at the nice smell, my doggies smell fresh and clean after laying on their blankets, even days later! It was fels-naptha smell, not fabric softener smell. I have a white towel that I have cleaned stuff with, that's now on the floor getting dirty. I am going to cut it in half and do a test of effectiveness. I will post pics when I am done. |
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I made some! So far I have only washed my doggies blankets in it and they were't all that dirty so I can't tell how well it worked. I was surprized at the lack of suds. I also didn't dilute it 1:2 when I put it in the jug to be used. It's a jug from concentrated detergent so it's not really a cup. It seems to make more sense to just not dilute it, to use it how it is in the 5 gallon bucket, and just not add as much to the washer. So that's what I am doing. I also used fabric softner cause I like my doggies blankets to smell nice. I was surprized at the nice smell, my doggies smell fresh and clean after laying on their blankets, even days later! It was fels-naptha smell, not fabric softener smell. I have a white towel that I have cleaned stuff with, that's now on the floor getting dirty. I am going to cut it in half and do a test of effectiveness. I will post pics when I am done. Cool. Looking forward to it. |
| Welp, I did the test. It didn't turn out well, as in the fels-naptha soap did not work as well as I would have thought. I am kind of hesitant to post the pics because it seems to work for some many people and I don't want to ruin it for them. I'll post them though if people really want to see. I only tested it once. Maybe someone else should try it as well. |
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Welp, I did the test. It didn't turn out well, as in the fels-naptha soap did not work as well as I would have thought. I am kind of hesitant to post the pics because it seems to work for some many people and I don't want to ruin it for them. I'll post them though if people really want to see. I only tested it once. Maybe someone else should try it as well. Post it and also post your recipe. Chances are, it just needs an adjustment such as more borax or more washing soda. |
| Made my batch up last night. Grated the soap with a coarse box grater and melted it slowly in hot water on the stove. Poured it into a bucket along with the borax, soda, and more hot water. Mixed thoroughly and then sealed up the bucket. Today, I popped the bucket open, and the soap had congealed into something like tofu or cottage cheese floating in thin liquid. I hit it with a paint stirrer on a drill, and I mixed it thoroughly into a smooth, even consistency. I don't have any clothes to wash right now, but I'll be trying it in the next few days. |
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Made my batch up last night. Grated the soap with a coarse box grater and melted it slowly in hot water on the stove. Poured it into a bucket along with the borax, soda, and more hot water. Mixed thoroughly and then sealed up the bucket. Today, I popped the bucket open, and the soap had congealed into something like tofu or cottage cheese floating in thin liquid. I hit it with a paint stirrer on a drill, and I mixed it thoroughly into a smooth, even consistency. I don't have any clothes to wash right now, but I'll be trying it in the next few days. It's 100% guaranteed to look like a mass of tofu each time you go to use it. Either give your bucket a quick stir or shake whatever soap just you're using and it'll mix up very nicely. |
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Yet another thread that I'm going to forward to my wife. A friend of ours does this, but my wife has been reluctant to try it. Good write-up and pics. sgt_seti ETA: I'm thinking that I'm lazy, so a food processor to grate the soap and drill-powered paint stirrer to mix in the bucket would be in order. I thought the same kitchen aid ..............whiiiiiirrrrrrrrrr..done! |