***Afternoon Bump***
Originally posted on 7/13/11
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OK...I promised I would share my experience with the homemade OxiClean recipes I found....and I am now sufficiently prepared to do so. :-)I couldn't bring myself to post about it until I had given it a thorough test.
I made my first batch on Saturday. It was kind of a mess. The most common recipe you will find when you Google "Homemade OxiClean" is this one:
- 1 cup hot water
- 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide
- 1/2 cup baking soda
Of course, me in my infinite wisdom thought that didn't seem like very much. So I decided to quadruple the batch! My personality type tends to think....if ONE of something is good...then TEN of something must be much better! :-) Hmmm...might have played a part in my stint in rehab...ya think? lol. Well...that's another story....for another day.
So I quadrupled the "recipe" and put it in a big mason jar. It immediately separated into what looked like a layer of baking soda on the bottom of the bottle...topped with water. I shook it up REAL good and poured it in a load of laundry. Seemed to work ok. But nothing to write home about.
I wasn't ready to give up on it though...so, I decided to do a little more research on the subject. While I was waiting for my son's prescription to be filled at the pharmacy....my Droid and I found some interesting things about "faux" OxiClean:
Most of the recipes out there call for BAKING Soda...but what the ingredient SHOULD be listed as is WASHING Soda
. Baking soda will work...but it's a lot less effective. Washing soda has a pH of 11 (with 7 being neutral), while Baking soda has a pH of around 8.1. That being said....if you are laundering baby diapers...I might stick with the Baking soda...but for normal dirty clothes...I would recommend the WASHING soda.Another thing I learned is that once mixed together....the hydrogen peroxide and washing soda only remain effective for up to 6 hours. If it sits around, it will loose it's efficacy because the oxygen boils off. I guess that explains why the original recipe was for such a small amount. :-/ So I basically wasted my "quadruple" batch.
Finally, for maximum effectiveness you need to let the clothes SOAK in the solution for awhile, preferably overnight...but at least for a couple of hours.
Soooooooooo.......all that having been said. I had a MUCH better experience with the homemade OxiClean recipe today! In fact, it isn't really a "recipe" at all. This morning before work I tossed in 1/2 cup of Washing Soda (already had a box from my detergent-making) and 1/2 cup of Hydrogen Peroxide (I pay .88 cents for a 32 oz bottle) to the load of whites I was washing, along with the homemade laundry detergent I made, and after letting it agitate for awhile...I left the load to soak until lunch time. When I came home for lunch I finished washing the load, threw it in the dryer and tonight when I got home from work I was extremely happy with the results!!!! The whites I washed were NOTICEABLY whiter and brighter! I thought about posting a picture....but since they were my "delicates", you're just going to have to take my word for it! :-) Or better yet......TRY IT YOURSELF! I can't wait to hear what your results are!
Love it! So what is the recipe for laundry detergent? Will you share? Thanks
ReplyDeleteHi Terri! So glad you liked! I continue to use this stuff and continue to be really really pleased with the results. Even my hubby noticed a difference...and THAT is something! lol.
ReplyDeleteI actually posted the "recipe" for homemade laundry detergent here.
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2011/07/brand-name-laundry-detergents-last.html
I am really enjoying this stuff too...and it just gives me a certain feeling of satisfaction when I walk through my laundry room and see that jug of soap on my shelf, that *I* made! Good thing. :-)
Let me know what you think if you try it out! And thanks for posting!
Peroxide and baking soda also works when a dog has been sprayed by a skunk! Do NOT get the paste in their eyes, avoid the head just to be safe. The smell won't be completely gone but they will be tolerable.
ReplyDeleteGreat tip! If I had a dog....or lived near skunks. lol. Actually, I'm sure there are skunks around here somewhere...I just hope I never find out where!
ReplyDeleteIs it safe to use in high efficiency washers?
ReplyDeleteAnony...I think it would be perfectly fine in a high efficiency washer. There is literally no suds...which, from what I understand, is the main no-no for HE machines.
ReplyDeleteHave you used this on a load of colors? I usually throw OxiClean in with all my laundry and I just wanted to be sure the hydrogen peroxide wouldn't cause bleaching. This question stems from some memory of mine as a child and girls putting it in their hair for "highlights"? I was tired of boring, unscented laundry with the homemade laundry detergent, and your blog convinced me to try out the Downy Unstoppables and I think I'm in love! :) -Liz
ReplyDeleteHydrogen peroxide is the 'active' ingredient in the store brand OxiClean so this recipe shouldn't 'bleach' anymore than the real OxiClean does.
ReplyDeleteThis is my new favorite blog. I love all the homemade stain and laundry recipes. Keep them coming.
ReplyDeleteJill, do you then just make up your "oxiclean" on the fly for each load since it only stay potent for 6 hours..
ReplyDeleteFound your blog via Pinterest..Love it..gonna definitely be trying these!!
Carrie, Southern Indiana
Liz...I too am in a love affair with Downy Unstopables. shhhh. ;-)
ReplyDeletekajo...right on. I use this on colors all the time.
Downing D....Thank you! Can't ever hear that kind of thing enough. ;-) I will definitely keep sharing my homemade alternatives with you.
Carrie...that's exactly what I do now. After I put in the laundry soap...I pour in approx 1/2 cup Washing Soda and 1/2 cup Peroxide for a full load and let it do its job.
I love it when my higher power helps me find a place I need to be. I found your place! Love it! You are so much like me. I see we are blessed to be the lucky ones(recovery) Happened to me at about the same age. Thank you for your recovery and thank you for giving back. I have learned so much reading your info! What you have done is truly tried things out and investigated. I always seem to get half way there. I am truly grateful! May God keep blessing you!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this great info. I wash dirty softball uniforms for 18 college girls. I'm looking for ways to keep our white uniforms white and not be dingy and stained by the end of the season. Will this work on these uniforms?
ReplyDeleteFan-freaking-tastic! I might make this tonight if I'm up to it. I can't find my Oxiclean (yeah, I know - weird) and this is just awesome. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteKarla...so happy to hear there is another lucky one out there. :-) We truly are blessed. Thanks for dropping by! Hope you'll keep coming back.
ReplyDeletePam....18 uniforms????? yikes! This will save you tons of $$ over the name brand stuff! Should work really well on uniforms. I would let the soak in it for awhile before washing. Hope this helps!
Natalie...If you have the washing soda and the hydrogen peroxide on hand...go for it! It's super easy. :-)
I love these laundry recipes! The thing you have to watch with hydrogen peroxide is that, if you leave exposed to any light, it will actually turn into water. That's why it comes in the brown bottle. If hydrogen peroxide is really important to keep this "Oxi-Clean" working, then you'll probably want to store the stuff in an opaque, dark-colored bottle or at least in a dark cupboard.
ReplyDeleteWhat size load are these amounts written for? I do not have an HE washer so a large load is quite a bit of water. Is 1/2c each still sufficient?
ReplyDeleteAnony...interesting info! I did not know that. Explains the ugly brown bottle! :-) thank you!
ReplyDeleteHaley...my washer is quite large and 1/2 cup of each seems to be working well! Course I don't actually MEASURE it...I usually just eyeball it...so I guess there's the chance I might add a titch more. ;-)
Since you need to let the clothes soak in this stuff, I'm wondering if anybody out there has tried it with an HE washer? On a top-loader you can obviously open the lid to let soak, but I don't know how I'd do that with my front-loader. I suppose I could soak the clothes in it beforehand, but I hate transferring drippy clothes into the washer. Or, has anybody tried using it without letting it soak?
ReplyDeleteHave you found anyway to make this in the powder form, like Oxy-Clean comes in? Also, what is this Downy Unstoppables you speak of?
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a fabulous idea. I have an HE washer, so if I add the liquid soap to the dispenser, where would I put the powder and peroxide?
ReplyDeleteI will have to give this a shot! I've already been using my own homemade laundry soap for about 6 months and love it. I've heard that a little vinegar in place of fabric softener works great and is much cheaper (they swore the clothes wouldn't smell like vinegar). I'm still working on a large jug of softener I got on sale so I haven't tried it.
ReplyDeleteAbout the Peroxide and people worried about it bleaching...
As a Vet Tech I get blood on my clothes, shoes, etc from time to time. I learned from my first clinic that you can put peroxide-straight from the bottle-directly on the blood and it dissolves it. Peroxide bursts the cells (which is why it can do more damage to our wounds than good when we use it to clean them-and why it bubbles and hurts) so it works great to remove blood from fabric! In the many many times I've used large amounts on my scrubs and shoes it has never left any sort of bleach mark or stain. Even if I don't wash that item immediately afterwards; or for days until it's my laundry day. We use it to get blood out of dogs and cats hair as well. It just dissolves and wipes away. I hope this gives some people more confidence in giving it a chance!
Do you only use detergent and your ox-ee kleen when washing whites or do you also use bleach? I use Clorox every time I was a load of white clothes but I really want to try this!
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle Bell....that is very useful information!
ReplyDeleteAngela...I hardly ever use bleach anymore. I still have a bottle...but after using the detergent and the homemade oxi-clean or homemade shout...I haven't had to use any bleach for the longest time!
@Michelle Bell about her comment about the vinegar....I put white vinegar in my fabric softener dispenser (in the agitator- I fill it right up) instead of using the "blue" fabric softener, especially for towels and sheets. I also use my homemade detergent (same recipe as Jill's, made in a 5 gallon bucket). My laundry comes out clean and soft, and doesn't have the slightest smell of vinegar. I buy the cheapest 5% white vinegar I can find by the gallon; I usually stock up in the late summer when it's on sale for canning season. I use it for so many of my homemade cleaners that I use around the house, I like to make sure I always have some around.
ReplyDeleteI have an HE washer, so would I just fill a sink with my whites, or stained clothes and then add the 1/2 c of washing soda and 1/2 c. of peroxide and just let sit? Or have you figured out a way to add it to the HE machine with the laundry soap in there. I have no issues with ringing out the clothes and tossing them over, I'm just not the best wringer outer. Thanks bunches.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to fess up here and say that I tried this and I put the remainder back into the peroxide bottle and left it sitting in my living room. I happily went out and did my laundry (at a laundry mat) When I came home the bottle had exploded and splattered everywhere from the front door into the kitchen and of course the living room. It took the rest of the day to clean it up. Soooooo, although I was extremely happy with the results may I recommend learning from my mistake and using a bigger container and leaving some room for air.
ReplyDeleteThe last post on the explosion... wow... whoops! I agree... I just started using the homemade laundry soap and I am addicted to the savings I am getting. I do the dry mix so I don't worry about melting and pouring and shaking. It works fine, however. I do notice that my clothes don't get completely clean like they had before. But I still love it overall. I also add straight vinegar to my softener cup and love the results. By doing this step, it eliminates the mildew smell off of towels that sat wet too long or even the pee smell from my kids clothes. (they still leak once and a while). I have not tried the oxi-clean homemade version... I never really needed an oxi-clean and I always skipped that step. I may, however try pouring some peroxide in the mix too.
ReplyDeleteHi There. I just found your blog because I was looking for the oxi clean recipe on pinterest. I have enjoyed reading all of this valuable money saving information. Here is a question for you: I have used the homemade laundry detergent for over 6 months and like a few previous posts, found that my clothes didn't get quite as clean (bright) as I want. I LOVE the idea of saving money, though. I get a funny smirk on my face when I am clipping coupons and skip the TIDE coupons. ha! Anyway, since the homemade detergent I use already contains the aforementioned washing soda, I'm wondering if you can just add 1/2 cup of peroxide with the laundry detergent and do a pre-soak with all ingredients for an hour or so, then finish the wash as usual. I guess I'm asking if you think you could save that extra 1/2 cup of washing soda per load? Additionally, with regard to fabric softener. My recipe has vinegar and backing soda, and as others have mentioned, it does eliminate that mildewy smell, but I do not notice anything with regard to actual softness. I have seen a recipe that adds hair conditioner to the mix, but would like your comments on how that would work.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much! Cheryl
Here's my thought about the washing soda - remember that you're using a couple of tablespoons of the laundry soap at a time, but the recipe for the booster calls for an extra 1/2 cup of washing soda. So I'd say, yes, you'd still need to add the 1/2 cup of washing soda along with the peroxide.
ReplyDeleteCheryl...I would have to agree with Denise...I think the extra washing soda and peroxide are BOTH needed in order to get that extra cleaning boost you are looking for. I hardly do a light/white load without this combination anymore and I think my clothes are every bit as clean/bright as ever. :-) Hope this helps.
ReplyDeleteOh...and on the homemade fabric softener...while I don't use it...yet. I will do a post about it soon. And yes, the recipe with the hair conditioner in it is the one I have seen the most with the best reviews.
Thanks for sharing! I just happened to have some laundry to do...imagine that! lol
ReplyDeleteIf your homemade laudry soap already has the super washing soda in it; is it necessary to add an extra 1/2 cup or can you just throw in the peroxide?
ReplyDeleteomG, forget that last post! I see you have already answered the question.
ReplyDeleteMy question would be is this any cheaper than the oxyclean you buy. I know peroxide isn't that cheap and if you are using 1/2 a cup per load plus the washing soda????????
ReplyDeletehow do you use this in HE washers?
ReplyDeleteI have been using this recently to clean up after cat pee. If I can throw an item in the washing machine I use white vinegar & soap to get the cat pee out. But the carpet cleans great with this stuff. I have a light beige carpet and have not had any problem with carpet discoloration. I have put it also in my home rug shampoo cleaner. If I have a oil spot I spot clean with spray n wash on the carpet spot or dawn dish soap. I'm going to look at your other cleaning recipes see what other great things you have here. I love cutting costs and making stuff I need. Thanks for you hard work here.
ReplyDeleteYou can buy Sodium Percarbonate powder, which is the active ingredient in Oxyclean. It is available on ebay rather cheaply. From what I understand, it is a powder that releases hydrogen peroxide in water, so you could actually make the "dry" oxyclean by mixing this and the washing soda together.
ReplyDeleteWhen water is combined with hydrogen peroxide it loses its effectiveness because of the chemical make up of the items. So adding a cup of peroxide to a load of wash is actually wasting money. You need to treat each stain before adding to the washer where you can control the amounts of each ingredient.
ReplyDeleteThank you, thank you. I love OxyClean, and I bet I'll love it even better now that it is cheap.
ReplyDeleteThe Sun brand of oxiclean is not expensive...I think you would be spending more money on all of that hydrogen peroxide...right?
ReplyDeleteThe hydrogen peroxide I buy is .88 cents for a 32 oz bottle. I probably use 4 oz per load (I don't use it on EVERY load I wash). That's .11 cents a load. Not bad.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for this recipe Jill! I tried it last night on my son's lovey, which I could only get away from him by giving him a bath, and it looks better than it has in months!
ReplyDeleteHave you found any recipes for the dry oxiclean?
ReplyDeleteJill, just curious if you've done the math on this one. Your peroxide is costing you 25 cents per batch. Are you sure that's cheaper than OxyClean deals that are often available? If the homemade works better than the real, than it's worth it. But I'm skeptical that this is actually cheaper.
ReplyDeleteThe hydrogen peroxide I buy is .88 cents for a 32 oz bottle. I probably use 4 oz per load (I don't use it on EVERY load I wash). That's .11 cents a load.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone with sensitive skin used these items??? We've had to use the ALL Free Detergent and Downey Free products for years and I'm wondering if Washing Soda and HP irritate the skin in any way, shape or form.
ReplyDeleteThanks:-))
FYI ladies, had a very very bad bed wetting episode, so I got out the baking soda (not the washing soda), peroxide, and added some white vinegar for good measure and scrubbed it down gooooood with a toothbrush (a lot of scrubbing, but worth it cause a new mattress is out of the question financially). I let it sit for several hours, then vacuumed all the baking soda off. Let it dry, and it looked and smelled perfectly brand new. There was not the first sign of a yellow stain, not the first odor. Amazing!
ReplyDeleteHmmm... I wonder if we should just add peroxide to our whites? Since the laundry dgt (I use a similar recipe) has washing soda already. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteJill: so if I'm wanting to use this w kids clothes, I have a 7 yr old & 7 month old, I should use 1/2 peroxide & 1/2 c BAKING soda not WASHING soda??? I'm trying to find something to get out those stubborn baby food & milk stains!!!! :p
ReplyDeleteI have a HE washer and I turn the machine on to a regular cycle, let it run for a couple minutes and then press the Pause/Stop Button. (If I hit it twice the water drains and it truly does end the cycle, but if I only hit it once then it 'pauses').
ReplyDeletei've begun using a ball of aluminum foil in the dryer to eliminate static and it works! found it on pinterest and gave it a try. saving tons on bounce dryer sheets!
ReplyDeleteperoxide will get dried blood out of cloths even if its been in there for months ... a vet tech told me this ... its how she cleans her scrubs ... i dont use it unless i have an accedent...or like cut my self ... i use home made laundry soap ... you use your favorite bar of soap i use dial and use very small amounts i also include 1 cup of oxi in a double batch of laundry soap works great even on my monkey wrench husbands cloths ... very good on sensitive skin too as the main thing that iratates the skins are the dyes and perfumes there are very few and if your already useing the bar of soap your good
ReplyDeleteJust turned my mom onto this site!! Thanks for all of the wonderful information and pinterest or I would of never found this wonderful blog!!
ReplyDeleteI used Oxydol when my children were little. (can't find it anymore) I would put the clothes (whites and sox - hated using bleach because it destroys clothing)and detergent in the washer at night, let it run for a minute to mix and turn it off. In the morning, I would just start the washer. My kids had the cleanest sox (and clothes) anywhere and numerous mothers/ teachers asked how I got them so clean. This was twenty years ago and we never pretreated anything! Let your detergent work overnight and save yourself a lot of extra work!
ReplyDeleteI was wanting to make my own laundry detergent but could not find washing soda. I then got to thinking, can I make it? Is looks like baking soda can be put in the oven at 400 degrees for an hour and it changes the ph from 8 to 11. Which is washing soda. Putting baking soda in the oven removes the moisture and carbon dioxide. It is now not edible. Which made me wonder as to why it does not change it when baking. From what I read the reason it does not turn into washing soda when used in baking is because of the other ingredients in the recipes. So may be worth a try. In some areas washing soda is hard to find. Also baking soda may be cheaper.
ReplyDeleteWhat great ideas!! Thank you for making my day go smoothly and clean!! Sparkle is my new nickname.. LOL
ReplyDeleteSo, I've written down all ingredients for soaps and detergents and I think I feel myself already saving money.
ReplyDeleteDo NOT use homemade laundry soap in your front loader washing machine!!! I used that homemade laundry soap for about 8 or 10 months and was thrilled with the money I saved until my machine started squealing and squeaking.... the repair man said the HE detergents are not only low sudsing, they also have a special lubricant that front loaders' ball bearings need.... it will cost you far more in the long run.
ReplyDeleteI've been reading through your blog for about an hour and a half now (love it!) and I must say that the information is very informative and also a little confusing. I find that if I read the comments I gain more knowledge but I also get a little more confused! I want: a stain remover, a whites booster, detergent, and fabric softener. I know there is some stuff I can mix and store and other stuff I have to toss in when I start the load. There are times when I need to pause my machine and let things soak overnight and I can either throw a sponge soaked in fabric softener in my dryer or add the softener to my HE washer. I need to buy high quality essential oils so I don't get residue but some children have adverse affects from Lavendar. Or is it Tea Tree oil? May I suggest one page on your blog where you explain the different methods so that your faithful followers can choose a system that fits them? Like you don't have enough going on already, I know ;) Anyway, I'm going to keep going over your blog so I can hit the store tomorrow; keep up the good work!
ReplyDeleteAwesome information! Thanks so much for posting. I actually am excited to do some laundry and some stain removal! lol!
ReplyDeleteDo You need to use hot water to make this work? I wash a lot of my cothes in cold water. Thanks love your blog.
ReplyDeleteI am soooo laughing at myself. Just made a batch to help clean my tile floor (grout) put it in a water bottle. Put the lid on to give it a shake and well.. I guess that was a mistake, the heat felt through the bottle should have been a clue. Pressure really built up and boom! Good news? My ceiling is spotless! hahah
ReplyDeleteI've been reading your blog non stop for days and I think I've read so much about vinegar that even though I knew the recipe called for hydrogen peroxide for some reason I used vinegar instead. So regular baking soda (because I was too anxious to try it to wait to get washing soda), white vinegar and hot water. I soaked a pair of my daughter's white capris (who the heck gets a 3 year old WHITE!?!?!). They had been washed several times with these huge mud stains covering the entire butt, I'd tried shout, but the stain hadn't budged. After a 30 minute soak in the very wrong oxiclean I made, then a wash and dry. . .WOW, almost the entire stain came out. Imagine if I'd have made it the right way! I would have made a whole new shade of white! Thanks Jill!
ReplyDeleteto the Anonymous who couldn't find Oxydol anymore...I've been buying it at Dollar Tree. It's a nine load bottle for a dollar. Hope you can find some.
ReplyDelete