Moment of Pride!

[Willow Rosette]

I just need a moment to brag. I made my first ever batch of laundry detergent and Im feeling like quite the little Kitchen Witch :lol: It was pretty easy and soooooo cheap. I dont know why I didnt try this before!!! :boing:

[Brónach Druid]

:clapping:
Good for you! I have thought of trying that but I am using the cold water tide and I am not sure homemade would work with cold water.

[Willow Rosette]

The site I found it on didnt say not to use it on cold and it is cheap enough that trying it would be worth it.

[Willow Rosette]

http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm

Here is the site if anyone wants it.

[Brónach Druid]

Hmm, maybe I will give it a try then. Thanks for posting the site. :)

[Willow Rosette]

It took like 20 minutes and makes so much from so little. Ill let you know tomorrow how it turns out.

[Willow Rosette]

The laundry detergent apparently turned out pretty well. I threw a nasty old dish towel in there and ok it isnt as white as when I baught it but I think it is clean. I am now testing stinky excercise clothes _inabox_ that will be the true test.

The one thing I would change is find a container with a bigger opening. I used a milk jug and most of the goop is pretty think and kinda hard to get out, although it will eventually slip out. I havent decided what would be better but I have plenty of time since it made a juice jug, a full milk jug, and about a half another milk jug. And a load only takes a 1/2 a cup. I liked the idea of recycling the milk jugs but well.....I dont know on that one. Id like to know how anyone elses turns out too.:wave:

[Lunacie]

Yay VM :woot:

I've been making my own laundry soap using this recipe for over a year and I love it. I've posted the recipe and instructions around here two or three times. I tried it because I'm allergic to so many soaps and detergents (actually allergic to the scents and other additives) but I love that it's cheaper and works just as well or better. I don't even add the borax most of the time and it still works very well.

I don't like the gel consistency, so I make mine thinner and more pourable. So instead of using a half cup, I use a whole cup. I saved several Simply Orange juice jugs because they have a larger opening. I use my large funnel to fill them from the cook pot and let them cool before putting the lids on.

[Willow Rosette]

I would love to know how you make it thinner...simply by adding more water?? And what happens if you dont use the borax? Isnt that important?

[Lunacie]

Yeah, I just use less soap and washing soda - or - more water. The borax is a booster and brightener, not necessary unless you have very hard water or very dirty or greasy laundry. In my opinion of course. The borax is the most expensive ingredient. Since I don't seem to need it I'm saving even more money. Not to mention my health and the environment.

I read one site where the instructions were to use a food processor to grate the soap and mix it with the washing soda. I just use my cheese/carrot grater to shred the soap and then cook it in the water until it disolves. I don't boil it. I take it off the heat before stirring in the washing soda and stir until it dissolves. I use a whisk to stir it. Wash up is a breeze. :lol:

[Willow Rosette]

Thats exactly how I did it. Except I shreded a piece of my thumb with it. _inabox_ But I made it the exact same way. At first I was like I really dont want to use something I am going to cook in again. LMAO and then I was uhhhhh HELLO it is soap :lol: Deffinately a stupid moment.

I did add some lavender oil in the attempt to get a nice smell, but I didnt get any. But the smell was still very nice and way less over powering than the store baught stuff.

[forestrangergrrl]

have you tried using old laundry detergent bottles? i bet if you take out the spout thingy the mouth would be wide enough. it's worth a try anyway.
thanks for posting this! i'm gonna have to try it sometime.

[Willow Rosette]

LOL I would if I had thought to save them. Im putting the message out to my friends and family that I need a couple. I sware everyone should do it, its easier and soooooo much cheaper.

[Annest]

I just need a moment to brag. I made my first ever batch of laundry detergent and Im feeling like quite the little Kitchen Witch :lol: It was pretty easy and soooooo cheap. I dont know why I didnt try this before!!! :boing:
:thewave:

And thanks for posting the link, I wanna try to:hahugh:

[Willow Rosette]

I just started another load and it was much easier to get out of the milk jug this time. I dont know if the little swish I gave it helped or just a chance to sit for a couple of days but this time it was the egg soup consistancy that she described and came out easy. :boing: Love home made detergent!!!

[Cindlady2]

I think I'll try this too! I use Fells soap on tough stains and greasy stuff anyway.

For jugs, I'll have hubby raid the laundromat! hehehe

[Willow Rosette]

I think I'll try this too! I use Fells soap on tough stains and greasy stuff anyway.

For jugs, I'll have hubby raid the laundromat! hehehe

Good luck! If you have any questions feel free to give me a holler!

[banondraig]

it's good stuff, but mine always comes out clumpy, what could be causing that?

[Lunacie]

Sometimes mine is clumpy too. I think sometimes that's because there's too much soap or not enough water. And sometimes it's because I've cooked it too long. Just simmer until the soap melts. Turn off the heat and whisk in the washing soda (and boraxo). All done.

Maybe... you're not using a whisk to stir in the washing soda and it doesn't get dissolved good enough?

[banondraig]

that's probably it, as i haven't been using a whisk. thanks.

[Lunacie]

Even using a whisk I've had that happen. Maybe I didn't stir long enough to dissolve all the washing soda? Maybe I used too much washing soda? These are all things I've played around with in the year or so since I started making my own. Wish I had a bigger pot.

[moonbride]

Alright... I would love to do this as well but I have a question that might seem silly but I honestly haven't a clue about such things LOL. A few months ago our washer croaked on us and we splurged on a replacement and purchased one of those new front loader washers that are supposedly conserve more energy and water than the more "traditional" washers. (We haven't had it long enough to really notice the difference much yet.)

Anyway... we didn't really realize when we purchased this type of washer, that they recommend you use a special detergent... HE detergent. They say it causes less sudsing which would be bad for these washers since they use less water... blah blah blah.

So my question is... I wonder if anyone else has this type of washer and is using the homemade soap and how is it working for you? Also, how is the sudsing with these homemade soaps?

Geez... I hope this made sense! LOL

[Lunacie]

The homemade detergent causes very little sudsing in my opinion. I think that's something chemical that is added to commercial detergent to make it look like it's working but doesn't actually add anything to the cleansing abilities. But I can't say for sure that it would work in your front-loader since I don't have one of those.


edited to insert missing word :geez:

[TheWomanMonster]

Moonbride,

seems to me that after a quick search a lot of people are using homemade detergents in their front load machines. The general consensus is, use about 1/2 as much as you would in a top loader and when in doubt call the manufacturer with a list of ingredients and check it with them.

:hugz:

[moonbride]

Thank you for the input Lunacie and WM. I think I will go ahead and give this a try then. I just felt I needed to ask and check into it because we've never had anything quite this nice LOL. It's my baby and I don't let anyone else touch it! I just want to make sure it's around for a while... ya know.

[SSanf]

So, is this soap OK for washing yourself in the shower if you do not have overly sensitive skin? Any reason it wouldn't be OK?

Cheap is great! Good on all of you!

[banondraig]

So, is this soap OK for washing yourself in the shower if you do not have overly sensitive skin? Any reason it wouldn't be OK?

Cheap is great! Good on all of you!

i think it would be a little too strong for that. washing soda can be caustic.

[Lorrie]

i think it would be a little too strong for that. washing soda can be caustic.


Believe me, caustic can be very bad!!!!_inabox_( I have caustic burns from a construction accident back in 2000, a heavy case of nerve damage in my feet and ankles too). I can't wait to try this, I have very very sensitive skin. I found one local woman that makes soaps and is at the Farmers Market every weekend, it is rose and sandalwood, I have had no reaction, and I haven't had to use lotion since I began using it! I so love the smell. I have her online info, but can't find it and I really may need to do this online as I hate the thought of trying to take that double stroller with the grandbabies through that place. I'll have to have my mom pick up another of her cards when she goes to see if she has the soap this weekend for me. I love using the more natural soaps since the grandbabies bathing is usually up to me also. It was nice when I accidentally got some of that soap in my eye last night, I waited for the sting to begin, and it didn't happen.
I tend to do my gardening all by hand, even the turning over the soil, I get really smelly and dirty, but I cannot use oxyclean, any other suggestions? My gardening clothes tend to never really get the smell out in the wash all the way either. :fpraise:

[wolfjan1]

EXCELLENT! How is it working, and what recipe did you use?
And Howdy!

[Lunacie]

So, is this soap OK for washing yourself in the shower if you do not have overly sensitive skin? Any reason it wouldn't be OK?

Cheap is great! Good on all of you!

The soap itself is what you use in the shower, but not the washing soda.

You buy a bar of plain cheap soap (Castile is very good for this), you grate half of it into a pot or kettle, add a gallon or so of water, and let simmer until the soap is melted. Turn off the fire and add 1/2 cup washing soda (Arm&Hammer - not baking soda), whisk that in until dissolved. Then pour into a bucket, or an old detergent bottle, or any plastic jug. It only takes about 1/2 a cup for a large load of laundry. We think our clothes have been cleaner since we started making our own detergent, it's way cheaper, and best of all I'm not allergic to it.

[Lunacie]

Believe me, caustic can be very bad!!!!_inabox_( I have caustic burns from a construction accident back in 2000, a heavy case of nerve damage in my feet and ankles too). I can't wait to try this, I have very very sensitive skin. I found one local woman that makes soaps and is at the Farmers Market every weekend, it is rose and sandalwood, I have had no reaction, and I haven't had to use lotion since I began using it! I so love the smell. I have her online info, but can't find it and I really may need to do this online as I hate the thought of trying to take that double stroller with the grandbabies through that place. I'll have to have my mom pick up another of her cards when she goes to see if she has the soap this weekend for me. I love using the more natural soaps since the grandbabies bathing is usually up to me also. It was nice when I accidentally got some of that soap in my eye last night, I waited for the sting to begin, and it didn't happen.
I tend to do my gardening all by hand, even the turning over the soil, I get really smelly and dirty, but I cannot use oxyclean, any other suggestions? My gardening clothes tend to never really get the smell out in the wash all the way either. :fpraise:

We don't get really smelly around here very often, but when we do I think this has worked great to get the smell out. When he's stressed the basset hound potties on the rug in front of the door, and it always smells clean when I take it out of the dryer. We've washed his bedding a couple of times and that comes out smelling clean. It's cheap and fairly easy to make, so what have you got to use by giving it a try?

[Lunacie]

EXCELLENT! How is it working, and what recipe did you use?
And Howdy!

I wrote the recipe I use in post #30. :)

[moonbride]

Alright... following this thread all day talked me into it. I had to run to the store for a few other things just a bit ago so I purchased everything to make my own laundry soap. I'm starting to run low on what I have now but I'll probably wait until I'm totally out before I make it... that way I can reuse the container my laundry soap is in now.

Thanks so much for this thread, ladies!

[Willow Rosette]

WOW I didnt know this thread has taken off so much. The detergent is supposed to be lumpy. The description says "egg noodle consistancy".

[Lorrie]

We don't get really smelly around here very often, but when we do I think this has worked great to get the smell out. When he's stressed the basset hound potties on the rug in front of the door, and it always smells clean when I take it out of the dryer. We've washed his bedding a couple of times and that comes out smelling clean. It's cheap and fairly easy to make, so what have you got to use by giving it a try?


Oh, yes, I will be trying it!!:boing:

[Lunacie]

WOW I didnt know this thread has taken off so much. The detergent is supposed to be lumpy. The description says "egg noodle consistancy".

I think there may be a difference between "lumpy" and "gooey". Mine is almost always "gooey" and it kind of pours out in "glugs". But I've had it turn out kind of lumpy a time or two.

[Lorrie]

I printed extra copies of the recipe out yesterday and handed them to the women in my family at the cookout yesterday, most of them are going to make it too! My middle sis just read something about all the uses for borax, I wish I could remember where she said she read that now!

[Willow Rosette]

I have never regreted switching to home made detergent. It got rid of Torias itchies almost instantly. And the cost alone makes it worth it.

[banondraig]

I printed extra copies of the recipe out yesterday and handed them to the women in my family at the cookout yesterday, most of them are going to make it too! My middle sis just read something about all the uses for borax, I wish I could remember where she said she read that now!

borax is great for cleaning toilets! you just dump it in there so it sticks to the porcelain before you go to bed, and then brush a little bit in the morning. poof! stains gone.

now i just need to see how to get it to stick to that little part under the rim.

[LadyKaty]

Bumping this thread because I wanted to let you all know that I found another brand of washing soda at Stater Brothers.

It's called White King Laundry Booster and Water Softener. I checked the ingredients, and it's washing soda, sodium carbonate.

I was VERY happy to find it! I had been looking EVERYWHERE for the Arm and Hammer stuff, and it just was nowhere to be found around here. I was going to have to order it from Soaps Gone Buy or Amazon, and either way, it was not going to be worthwhile.

YAY! Now I just need to finish up my current jug of laundry detergent, so I can re-use the jug when I make laundry soap.

[Willow Rosette]

Ohhh thats good to know that there is more than one brand out there. I have also used milk jugs and the 1 gallon water jugs for detergent.

[Lunacie]

Bumping this thread because I wanted to let you all know that I found another brand of washing soda at Stater Brothers.

It's called White King Laundry Booster and Water Softener. I checked the ingredients, and it's washing soda, sodium carbonate.

I was VERY happy to find it! I had been looking EVERYWHERE for the Arm and Hammer stuff, and it just was nowhere to be found around here. I was going to have to order it from Soaps Gone Buy or Amazon, and either way, it was not going to be worthwhile.

YAY! Now I just need to finish up my current jug of laundry detergent, so I can re-use the jug when I make laundry soap.

Here in the midwest, the Arm & Hammer brand is all I can find. Glad you were able to find something locally instead of paying shipping costs.

I use empty juice jugs (Simply Orange and Tropicana both have large openings), they aren't as heavy as those big liquid laundry jugs so even on my bad fibro days I can give them a shake and pour them easily.

[odd_duck71]

Oooo.. I' m going to have to try this. Has anyone successfully scented the stuff?

Regarding smelly laundry, I've had really good luck with filling the little fabric softener spot with white vinegar. I've used it on loads of laundry that I forgot about and left in the washer *blush* and also on things that the dog decided to claim as his very own, so I'm pretty confident it would work on gardening or exercise clothes.

[banondraig]

Oooo.. I' m going to have to try this. Has anyone successfully scented the stuff?

Regarding smelly laundry, I've had really good luck with filling the little fabric softener spot with white vinegar. I've used it on loads of laundry that I forgot about and left in the washer *blush* and also on things that the dog decided to claim as his very own, so I'm pretty confident it would work on gardening or exercise clothes.

yet another snazzy use for vinegar! thanks for sharing!

[Lunacie]

Good idea about the vinegar. I forgot about it because I don't have a washer with automatic dispenser anymore.

[banondraig]

[QUOTE=odd_duck71;3207467]Oooo.. I' m going to have to try this. Has anyone successfully scented the stuff?
QUOTE]

i, personally, haven't tried, but i think there was some advice on how to do so on the original recipe page.

[Willow Rosette]

I have tried essential oils and that didnt help much. But recently I have put in dried herbs and although it doesnt change the laundry smell much it does make it smell nice when you open it up.

[odd_duck71]

When I read the part about the essential oils on the link, I was having visions of sandalwood scented clothing. But now I'm wondering if maybe all she meant was that it scents it in the container. Bummer.

[banondraig]

When I read the part about the essential oils on the link, I was having visions of sandalwood scented clothing. But now I'm wondering if maybe all she meant was that it scents it in the container. Bummer.

really you'd want a linen spray for that.

[LadyKaty]

I love it, the laundry soap works SO well!

My towels and clothes come out so soft, and smell of that sweet smell of clean fabric. Not like laundry detergent, but like clean fabric.

I'm a happy girl today.....

[Lunacie]

I love it, the laundry soap works SO well!

My towels and clothes come out so soft, and smell of that sweet smell of clean fabric. Not like laundry detergent, but like clean fabric.

I'm a happy girl today.....

Yay! I think that's one of the best things as well, that clean smell. Not using one scent to cover up for other scents. Bah. And yeah, I think our clothes have been softer too. Not to mention all the money I've saved in the last year or so. :)

[banondraig]

Yay! I think that's one of the best things as well, that clean smell. Not using one scent to cover up for other scents. Bah. And yeah, I think our clothes have been softer too. Not to mention all the money I've saved in the last year or so. :)

it's a win/win/win situation!

[LadyKaty]

Yay! I think that's one of the best things as well, that clean smell. Not using one scent to cover up for other scents. Bah. And yeah, I think our clothes have been softer too. Not to mention all the money I've saved in the last year or so. :)

I love it!

See, my favorite scent in the whole world is the smell of clean laundry. Not laundry detergent scent, but the smell of sweet, clean fabric, that you get when you use detergent that has no scent at all.

With the laundry soap that I make myself, and save a TON of money on, I get that smell. God, I love that smell! And I REALLY love the softer towels, and can't wait to strip my bed tomorrow and wash my linens in the laundry soap!

[odd_duck71]

really you'd want a linen spray for that.
Linen spray? *perks up ears* What a lovely idea. Off to Google I go!

[moonbride]

It seems like ages ago that I said I was going to do this and went out and bought everything. I've just been waiting to get through using all of the laundry soap I had... and I had just bought some at that time. It's about empty now so in the next couple days I'll be making my first batch. Hope it turns out!

[Lunacie]

Of course it will turn out. This isn't quite a foolproof recipe, but there isn't a lot that seems to go wrong with it. I love any recipe I can set to simmer and just forget it for awhile. Eventually the smell of cooking soap reminds me to turn off the heat and stir in the washing soda. I only make a little over a gallon at a time because it takes so little to wash a load. I only have to make more about once a month. Enjoy!

[banondraig]

Linen spray? *perks up ears* What a lovely idea. Off to Google I go!

gelluminations.com sells a linen spray base, and a HUGE range of fragrance oils with which to mix it. they're not 100% natural, though, in case that bothers you.

[Zoritsa_Nepenthe]

I have all the ingredients and can't wait to make some!!! I'm slowly getting away from all store bought cleaners and this will be my last step.My clothes are gonna love me :uhhuhuh: Not to mention that I wont have to worry about hubby getting an allergic reaction anymore to the different brands I used to try.

[LadyKaty]

What I'm really loving is that on the website that VM posted, there's all kinds of household cleaning recipes. They're cheap and easy to make, and you don't have to use the commercial crap.

Once I run out of, say, Windex, I will clean out the bottle, and make my own. As I run out of cleaning stuff, I'll just make my own.

[Lunacie]

I have never used anything but vinegar and water to clean windows and mirrors in my whole life (although my boss tried to get me to use a commercial glass cleaner that made me horribly sick). I don't know why I didn't know about using baking soda to clean stovetops and bathtubs until my sister showed me when I was in my 30's. And I have always used baking soda and vinegar to clean out the drains instead of harsh chemicals or lye cleaner. But I can still learn a new trick or two... like making my own laundry detergent. :hahugh:

[Willow Rosette]

What I'm really loving is that on the website that VM posted, there's all kinds of household cleaning recipes. They're cheap and easy to make, and you don't have to use the commercial crap.

Once I run out of, say, Windex, I will clean out the bottle, and make my own. As I run out of cleaning stuff, I'll just make my own.

Ohhh another one I have started using was thanks to ladyalpha. She was talking about useing a rose oil spray on her hard wood floors. So I went and made one with orange, lemon, ginger, and spearmind to clean with. It turned out wonderfull!! Not only does it clean as well as scrubbing bubbles and has no chemicals but my kitchen smelled wonderfull!! I even used it to wash my floor and it smelled as good and worked better than Pine Sol!! Literally I cleaned my kitchen with out any chemicals and felt like I could breathe afterwards with no chemical smells in my house for my daughter or animals to breathe! I cant tell you how much I enjoyed this!

[Lorrie]

I have been using tea tree oil to clean everything, mixing in baking soda when needed! It smells so clean, I love it! And, the smelly clothes... they smell clean for the first time with the homemade soap!Babies smelly clothes from leaking diapers, smell clean! EVERYTHING smells clean and fresh. I am now about to try homemade bath soaps. The supplier that I got the lye from said many people do this because of the skin allergies like what I have a problem with, and that it usually turns out to be the chemicals, not the perfumes or fragrances that cause the problem! I was happy to know that! I will try making the melt and pour as well as the lye kind. The lye gets here tomorrow, but I still have a few more things to pick up top make any yet. I have already gone around and thrown out all chemical cleaners, no matter how full or new they were. I had a problem the past few days, it was cooler at night so the windows have been closed at night, and in the morning the dirty doggie smell is terrible. I took a sheet of paper towel, dumped a heap of baking soda in the middle, tied it with a string, dabbed lemongrass frangrance oil on it and hung it up. Everyone was saying how good it smelled today!!
The closest I came to scenting the laundry soap is I found it smelled alot like the Castle soap I used in it, so next time I am going to try the scented Castle soap, I have one of lavender and one of rose. I love rose scented stuff, but have a very hard time finding something real rose smelling. I want to scent lye soap with rose, but haven't been able to find a rose scent to use. I have some rose water that smells just right, but it won't probably do soap.

[Lunacie]

Oh, lemongrass smells so good, one of the few fragrances that doesn't make me ill.

Are you going to make some soap specifically for bathing the dog? We have a dog and when the weather is wet he gets a little funky smelling too. I hadn't thought about making a dog bath soap before. I usually use a little bit of my Suave shampoo because I know the skin on my hands won't react to that.

[Lorrie]

Well, my dog is part Rotty, I cannot lift him into the tub, last time I tried, he growled. I never tried it again. He never growls at me, so I figured he really meant it! Hence the icky doggy smell in the carpet that I just scrubbed last week!! Oh well, carpet is going through potty training an almost 3 year old, so it just is not gonna smell too great, her little brother is next. It's gonna be a while before scrubbing carpet does much good. The other dog is the same way, she is Pit and Boxer mix. She refuses to be picked up too.

[Lunacie]

Buck the Basset doesn't like to be picked up either, not that I could do that since he weighs almost 60 pounds now. Fortunately he's generally agreeable to getting into the tub. He does like the water although he doesn't much care for getting washed and rinsed with the sprayer.

[banondraig]

I have been using tea tree oil to clean everything, mixing in baking soda when needed! It smells so clean, I love it! And, the smelly clothes... they smell clean for the first time with the homemade soap!Babies smelly clothes from leaking diapers, smell clean! EVERYTHING smells clean and fresh. I am now about to try homemade bath soaps. The supplier that I got the lye from said many people do this because of the skin allergies like what I have a problem with, and that it usually turns out to be the chemicals, not the perfumes or fragrances that cause the problem! I was happy to know that! I will try making the melt and pour as well as the lye kind. The lye gets here tomorrow, but I still have a few more things to pick up top make any yet. I have already gone around and thrown out all chemical cleaners, no matter how full or new they were. I had a problem the past few days, it was cooler at night so the windows have been closed at night, and in the morning the dirty doggie smell is terrible. I took a sheet of paper towel, dumped a heap of baking soda in the middle, tied it with a string, dabbed lemongrass frangrance oil on it and hung it up. Everyone was saying how good it smelled today!!
The closest I came to scenting the laundry soap is I found it smelled alot like the Castle soap I used in it, so next time I am going to try the scented Castle soap, I have one of lavender and one of rose. I love rose scented stuff, but have a very hard time finding something real rose smelling. I want to scent lye soap with rose, but haven't been able to find a rose scent to use. I have some rose water that smells just right, but it won't probably do soap.

mske sure you don't add your scent until the end of the soapmaking process . . . . the chemical reaction tends to nullify scents, and real rose in particular is too expensive to waste.