Step-by-step-by-step-by-step-by-step....There have been a lot of questions posted lately about the whole laundry detergent-making process. Which I take as a great sign that more and more people are getting fed up with the ridiculously high-priced brand name stuff and turning to time-tested, "mother-approved" formulations that date back to before most of us were born! :-) And work JUST AS WELL, if not better than the over-priced, over-packaged stuff we are forced to lug home from the store in huge plastic bottles that chances are won't be recycled. *deep breath* (Stepping down off soapbox....for now).
In any case, I thought it might be helpful to post another "update", if you will, on the Homemade Laundry Detergent project with more pictures!
Keep in mind, however, there is no "right" way to make this stuff....this is just the way it works best for me. I would suggest if you want lots more VALUABLE INPUT from other readers....visit one of the following ORIGINAL POSTS and read the comments. GREAT information there!!
Let's start with the basic recipe again:
- 1 bar grated Fels Naptha soap (or whatever soap you like.)
- 1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
- 1 cup Washing Soda (not BAKING soda)
- water
Many people make this in a big, 5-gallon container, but call me lazy, cuz I don't like to drag in a 5 gallon bucket from the garage. When it's time to make soap, I just pull out my 4-quart saucepan like I'm cooking up a double batch of rice. :-)
First I add the grated bar of soap and add water to about the halfway mark.
I "cook" the soap soup at on medium low until all the little bits of soap are completely melted. To make sure of this...I will let it come to a boil for just a minute. That way I'm pretty sure no pieces of soap will be floating in my finished product.
I then add the 1 cup of Borax and the 1 cup of Washing Soda. Once again, we are only "cooking" it long enough to make sure it is all a combined and smooth texture. I try not to let it actually come to a boil because it will "boil over" very easily! (Not that I would know about that.)
When it's all nice and combined and sorta creamy looking (if kind of reminds me of cooking pudding at this point)...it's time to pour it into your soap containers.
I use (3) 1 gallon Minute Maid Orange Juice bottles.
I use a glass measuring cup and scoop the mixture out of the pan and pour into the bottles.
I THINK it ends up being about 4-5 cups in each bottle but I haven't actually measured it. I just keep adding a little to each until they are all at the same level (and the pan is empty.)
Now I take each one to the sink and hot water until each bottle is about 1/2 full.
This allows for room to shake the contents after it hardens AND to add more water to aid in that process.
Then I give each bottle a good shake! Come on...get your aggressions out! Feel the burn! ;-)
This is what it looks like when I'm done...and this is the way it will sit overnight.
Then in the morning.....it will look like this.
Pretty much one big blob of goop. lol.
DON'T BE ALARMED! DO NOT PANIC! This is perfectly normal!
Everything is going to be OK! I promise.
What *I* do at this point is take a long handled wooden spoon and break up the goo a little bit
then add more hot water...
....to just a few inches from the top
...and give it another vigorous shake!! Repeat with other 2 bottles.
They should look SOMETHING like this. But remember...this is not exact science...if they are a little thicker or runnier...don't worry. It will still be a great laundry detergent and as you continue making and using it...you'll figure out just what works for you.
TADA!! You just made your own homemade laundry detergent for PENNIES a load!!!!! Sure it might be a little lumpy...but who really cares?? It works! Pure and simple.
Honestly, I love this stuff. I don't miss the store-bought stuff one bit! Especially since I started using just a tiny bit of fragrance booster in each load. I kind of missed the scent of the old stuff...but I've found most people prefer this unscented version, especially those with sensitivities to that sort of thing.
There you have it. I really don't think I could have taken any MORE pictures of the whole process. I tried to cover every single step. Hopefully this is helpful for those of you who are trying this for the very first time. You "old-timers" shouldn't even be reading this...what are you doing here anyway? Just teasin'. :-) I can't tell you how grateful I am for the "old-timer" comments when people have questions because I can't always keep up AND your answers are usually better anyway! :-)
Thanks to everyone who participates in my little corner of the world wide web, and for your support of One Good Thing By Jillee! I hope it continues to be a
long and beautiful friendship!
A photo tutorial for us "visual learners" is today's.....
Regarding High Efficiency (HE) Front-Load Washers
HE front-load washers require low suds soap. Because they use less water, they require soap that is less sudsy. The good news is, this homemade detergent is VERY low suds. So it is my PERSONAL opinion that you should be able to use this in HE washers with confidence. But I am NOT an expert. :-)
Thanks so much for this! Call me naive, but it never occurred to me that you could MAKE most of the consumable products that we BUY all the time, including granola bars (the husband was sooo impressed!) I've made one batch of laundry detergent, and am almost due for a second batch. I used cold water to fill my jugs the first time got a whole bunch of chunks. I dumped each gallon separately back into the pot to reheat, and that worked. It was still a bit lumpy when I used it, so I would shake it before using it, and about the first six or eight loads, used water from the washer to fill the jug back up, and gave it a good shake every time. About half way through the jug, I got it where I thought it should be. I only made two gallons with mine, but my mom and sister have been requesting some, so I think next time we'll each get a gallon of a batch, (hey, they can buy the stuff, I'll do the work, and my laundry is FREE!!!) One big suggestion would be to not fill the jugs up too full, so that the liquid has room to shake. Thanks, Jillee, I love your blog!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat is "Washing Soda" and where do I buy it? And what type of fragrance do u use?
ReplyDeleteKellie...that's terrific! Sounds like you've got this thing down. :-)
ReplyDeleteRachel....washing soda is a deodorizing, cleaning and disinfecting agent. It is closely related to baking soda but the manufacturing process is different.
I use this recipe and I love it....Super easy!!!
ReplyDeletewhat about those of us with an "HE" washer. Is this safe enough and will it harm the washer?
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to try this! Is it safe for use in HE washers? I remember another post you did on it and someone had commented that they didn't add the water to it, they just let it harden and then scooped about a tablespoon of it into their machine. I wonder what the better option would be?
ReplyDeleteDitto to the "HE" washer questions. Also, does anyone know if this detergent is cloth diaper safe? Seems like it is because no oils are used, but does anyone know for sure??
ReplyDeleteOh I was going to ask the same thing about it being HE safe, lol.........
ReplyDeleteI had about the same results as Kellie. I will definitely be using 3 gallon containers instead of two, because I ended up having to transfer it into the boughten (now empty) detergent containers so there was more room. It worked fine but took a little bit too long to do everytime. I will just have to remember to leave more room for shaking. And to use hot water when filling it! Lumps or ok but I'd prefer without! Other than those two things, I am SOLD on this. SOO cheap! And great with our cloth diapers.
ReplyDeleteWe find the washign soda in the cleaning isle, but it's always on the bottom shelf. I think the package is mostly yellow.
ReplyDeleteI've read it's safe for HE because there are no suds.
The only thing I've noticed is that over time my clothes are a little dingy? I've started adding a clorox booster and it's much better. Still a LOT cheaper
One question I have, you mentioned how the Gold Dial takes out those horrible stains why not use it instead of fels nephta? I think I will when I make mine use the gold soap because my family really needs the extra boost.
ReplyDeleteYou dont have to boil everything, you can actually just grate the fels naptha bar and add a cup of borax and a cup of super washing soda put it in a jar and add just one tbsp (or less)
ReplyDelete^ @Anonymous. This is what I do, too. I prefer my mix dry and don't boil or add water.
ReplyDeleteI mix 1 cup Borax, 1 cup of washing SODA with one grated Fels Naptha bar. 1 Tbsp per load.
TIP: I recently started adding adding those new small (half green-pea size) Downy *scent* discs to the mix for scent. Works like a charm.
I've been making and using this homemade laundry detergent for a couple of months in my front loader HE washing machine and it works FABULOUS!!!
ReplyDeleteI am anxious to here the HE recs, also how much do you use. We use liquid soap for the most part, so do you really mean any kind of bar of soap?? Dove, or like another comment noted, is there a bar of soap that helps get things cleaner? We do have an allergy prone daughter, wonder how Dove, Nutragena, or even Aveeno would work?? I haven never made anything on my own, but I am noticing more and more just how expensive everything is. Thanks so much
ReplyDeleteYes, this is safe for HE washers. The problem with regular detergent in an HE washer is the suds. This has very little suds, if any. It's a little bothersome, but according to my Internet research (take it for what it's worth), the suds don't do anything in the way of cleaning anyway. My assumption is that it's true, or how would HE detergent clean? I use the same as I used to use All. I think that I may even be over using, but at the cost, so what?!?
ReplyDeleteRachel, I found Washing Soda right between the Fels-Naptha soap and the Borax at my Wal-Mart. I had never heard of it either, and had no clue where to look. I had seen Jillee's picture of her ingredients on her second post about laundry detergent, the link is at the top of this page. That was the trick - I knew exactly what to look for. :)
My mom and I both use this is our HE machines. It works great! I have been using it for a year and my mom has been using it for several years. As for the measurements, we use old laundry softener bottles, you know, the ones with the big lids? Dump in about 2 lids worth of detergent, which works out to be about a 1/3 of a cup. If I am washing really dirty things, like the kids' clothes or towels, I will use another lid-full. We have also noticed that our whites are not as white as they should be, so you can use bleach or oxiclean or any laundry booster really, to help with that. I don't suggest the homemade oxiclean just because it has to soak for several hours (preferably overnight) and with front load HE machines, the soak cycle is only about 20 minutes. We buy oxiclean at Sams Club and use about 2 tablespoons per load of whites or really dirty loads. One box has lasted us almost a year, pprobably 9-10 months, doing 6-10 loads a week.
ReplyDeleteDo you use about the same amount of this as you do the regular detergent?
ReplyDeleteFor those who are concerned about whites...I use my homemade oxi-clean (which is basically 1/2 cup of washing soda and 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide dumped straight into the washer) and my whites are just as white as before.
ReplyDeleteYou can read more about it here:
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2011/07/move-over-oxicleantheres-much-cheaper.html
How much of this do you use for a regular load in a non-HE washer?
ReplyDeleteSo excited to try this one with this paycheck. Since I have to haul laundry I will do the dry version. HEY! This is a chance to re-use that lemonade container. That's got to be hittin' a double for sure!
ReplyDeleteHas anyone tried using essential oils {like a lemon scent or lavender} to add scent?
ReplyDeleteI have been making my own soap for about 3 years, I won't go back to commercial detergent. I actually make mine a little different. For me its easier to dump it all in a 5 gallon kitty litter bucket and wisk it really well. I actually melt mine in about 2 quarts of water, then add 2-3 gallons of hot water to the soap/powder mixture in the bucket. I don't let the whole thing gel overnight before adding all the water. I also do use essential oils, but the cheapo walmart stuff. We love our laundry scented, so I add about half a bottle to the 3 gallons of detergent. I used to pour my soap into bottles using a funnel, but now I just scoop right from the main bucket,
ReplyDeleteare you able to reuse the empty large liquid bottles with the presure button on them or is it two thick to reuse these?
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know how well this works with very hard well water?
ReplyDeleteJust read all these posts.. great information folks. I made the dry version of this the other day when I ran out of my usual laundry detergent.. and used Dove bar soap.. in my HE front loading machine.But having run about 3 loads,there is still detergent in the soap dispenser (seems like the Dove).So I thought I would try adding the water and boiling it up, all together since it was already mixed. Stirred away, thought I was lifting the Dove that was getting stuck on the bottom of saucepan but when I was finished and it was creamy.. I poured it into a container and the Dove had melted and totally stuck on the bottom of my saucepan! Very difficult to scrape it off too. Wonder if it's because I added all ingredients to the water at the same time? I use the dishwasher "soap" too, but having trouble balancing so my glasses don't get filmy... Any suggestions? Thanks for the info!
ReplyDeleteCan this soap be used in just cold water wash.?
ReplyDeleteI've heard adding vinegar as a rinse helps soften and get the soap out. I've been using it instead of fabric softener but am still finishing up a jug of commercial laundry soap. The only difference is I do have static with vinegar as softener (Ican i use some tennis balls as dryer balls)?
ReplyDeleteI've been making my own detergent for about a year. I use a kitty litter bucket and do what Amanda does with adding the water all at once. As far as my whites, I use the oxyclean. I keep thinking I am going to buy oxydol just for my whites but I will never go back to bought again for all my other laundry. This is too easy and it works great!
ReplyDeleteGreat step by step :) I also have one on my blog and answer some common questions. This stuff really is awesome! I have been using it for a while now and will NEVER go back!
ReplyDeletehttp://ashleyshomemadeadventures.wordpress.com/2012/01/04/homemadelaundrydetergent/
lovelylisa84- We have very hard well water and it works great for us. I also use vinegar in my homemade laundry detergent so I think that helps too.
ReplyDeleteIt never even occured to me before to make laundry soap. I am going to give it a try this week. It is amazing the things we have let go and just buy at a store that can be made and save us money. Thanks for all of your tips and your blog.
ReplyDeleteAnother money saver. . . Make your own washing soda! Simply bake traditional baking soda on a baking sheet for 1 hour and 250 degrees (f). Make sure to use right away or store in an airtight container as prolonged ir exposure will make it revert back to baking soda. I found this out when I was having trouble finding washing soda in my area. Adds a little more time to the process, but saves a lot!
ReplyDeleteWhere do you add the detergent in a HE washer? I've read that you add the dry stuff right into the drum of the washer. But what about this version?
ReplyDeleteI am SUPER excited to try this!!!! When should I add my scented oils and what types of scented oils would be good to buy or not good to buy??
ReplyDeleteHow do I add conditioner to make my clothes soft and smell good?
ReplyDeleteJillee, I was wondering.... I don't have any more Fels Naptha soap on hand, but I do have Dr. Bronner's liquid Castile soap and a bar of the soap. Do you think the liquid soap would work with your recipe? I'm anxious to try your liquid method. I use the powdered version, but sometimes find little balls of soap on my clothes. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteDo you think you can use a bar of Mrs. Meyers soap?
ReplyDeleteQuick Question: I'm single and 3 gallons will last me forever....is it good for that long??
ReplyDeleteI think any kind of soap would work. I think it just needs SOME sort of soap ingredient.
ReplyDeleteApril...I would add the essential oils before I started dividing it into bottles (or if you keep it in a big bucket like some people...just add it to that.) I personally LOVE lavender in my laundry smell. :-)
Nichole...I don't see any reason why it wouldn't last a good long time. There's really nothing in it that can "spoil". :-) I would just give it a shake every once in awhile to keep it from separating too much.
I just made my first batch & added lavender to the mix before I poured it up. I don't think I used enough lavender for my liking so I will buy more & add it. Thx!
ReplyDeleteANOTHER QUESTION: I have a small, European style HE washer/dryer combo. How much would you use per load for that? (I'm seeing comments here using 1-2tsps up to 1/3cup per load in a regular machine, so how do you know if you've used too much if it doesn't sudz? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAND ANOTHER: Will it ruin your pan (should you use an old, separate pan to cook it in?).
ReplyDeleteCan I use something other than Borax? My husband and toddler get hives from it....
ReplyDeleteI want to try this but don't know where to find the washing soda... Can someone tell me where to find it?? Also can you use any bar soap or do you have to use a specific kind?
ReplyDeleteSo, I have a question; Why does it have to sit overnight? Every recipe i've found for diy liquid laundry soap says to do it. Just curious why? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteCAN SOMEONE PLEASE ANSWER my question on how much to use for each load? (sorry for the caps, trying to get noticed this time, haha) Is it still the same as store bought detergent? I don't want to use too much. Oh - I have a regular top loading non HE washing machine. Thanks! :-)
ReplyDeleteAfter a while you might find that your whites are yellowing a bit using this laundry soap (detergent is chemically different than soap) so you might try adding bluing to your rinse water like your great-grandmother used to do. Soap doesn't rinse out in hard water as well as detergent does, which is why almost all the laundry detergent you buy in the store is.... well... detergent :) Still, homemade laundry soap a nice way to go if you have soft water!
ReplyDelete1/2 cup is all that is needed
ReplyDeleteI read all these through, will it work on an HE washer in cold water? We only wash our stuff in cold but are using free and clear store bought stuff, wanted to try this out but didn't know if it will work. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteKristin- I found Washing Soda in the laundry detergent isle right next to the Borax! Also, I used Gold Dial per someone else's recommendations.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous- I used a brand new pan and it did nothing to ruin it, so I don't believe an old pan is required :)
can i use something else besides the washing soda? I cant find it?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous- if you have an Ace Hardware in your area they might carry, mine does.
ReplyDeleteArm and Hammer WASHING SODA should be readily available in any grocery store .... definitely at Walmart, too
ReplyDeleteThis is a LOW SUDSING detergent - works great in HE washers. No problem.
ReplyDeleteZOTE bar soap works very well too ... I couldnt find the Fels Naptha at first. It is a WHITE SOAP ... and has a lighter fresher fragrance that Fels Naptha.
ReplyDeleteWell, I made a batch of the liquid laundry soap yesterday and I sure put it to the test tonight!! My grandson came home from college for the weekend with 2 weeks worth of laundry...dirty, smelly, sweaty laundry. I LOVE THIS HOMEMADE STUFF! His clothes came out smelling so fresh and clean! I used an old laundry bottle and just used a capful of my homemade soap and of course, just vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser. He will never know it was homemade laundry soap and not the store=bought. I like this so much better than the powdered homemade soap! Signed, one happy grandma!
ReplyDeleteI can not wait to try this. But questions I have are, where do you find the "essential oils" to scent it AND I noticed people mentioning adding vinegar to the rinse cycle. I use a downy ball for my liquid softener, can I use that for dispensingthe vinegar and is the vinegar replacing the softener? And how does the clothes not come out smelling vinegary? I am probably thinking too deeply into this process!!! LOL. Thanks
ReplyDeleteHow well does this work when washing with cold water?
ReplyDeleteI use this stuff all the time, so random answers to questions that I've seen pop up.
ReplyDelete--The detergent is fine in HE washers, because it doesn't suds much at all. (BTW, the suds are just an additive in most detergents to make you think it's a better detergent, but suds don't do any of the real work.)
--DIY powder detergent doesn't work in cold water cycles, but DIY liquid (this stuff) works fine, because the soap has already been dissolved.
--It will not ruin your cookware, it's just heated soap!
--1/2 cup per load is fine. Put it right on dirty armpits or other tougher spots for an extra clean.
--I saw borax for sale at Target today, but haven't found washing soda anywhere. I got mine from alice.com, good prices and free shipping.
--I had a hard time finding reasonably priced bar soap like Fels Naptha or Zote, so use Ivory and it works just fine.
--I make a 2 gallon batch with 1 bar Ivory, 1/2 cup washing soda, and 1/2 cup borax. I heat the entire amount in a big pot so that everything dissolves properly, then pour it into a rectangular storage container to gel. I break up the gel and just measure a 1/2 cup from the container whenever I do a load.
--For tougher loads or stains, just a tiny amount of Oxyclean, will provide enough surfactant to allow the DIY detergent to do its job.
--To figure out your cost per load, do something like this: soap cost ($1.92 for 4 bars = $0.48 for 1 batch) + washing soda cost ($2.99 for 6.5 cups = $0.23 for 1 batch or 1/2 cup) + borax cost ($4.29 for 20.5 cups = $0.20 for 1 batch or 1/2 cup) = $0.91 for 1 batch. 2 gallons is one batch, so using 1/2 cup for each load equals 64 loads from 1 batch = $0.0142 per load! Wow!
Where do i get essential oils. Don't know where to look for it at walmart.
ReplyDeleteGina...thank you so much for your expert answers! So helpful!
ReplyDeleteFor those asking about essential oils...I haven't ever found them at Walmart...but you can get them at any health food store and they have them on Amazon.com. But they are not "essential" to this recipe. ;-)
So im pretty sure im in big trouble!!!! I finally started the mission make the things i have pinned. Specifically the soap, well i thought id mix in some stan booster, smart kid move to combine it all at time making instead of load by load, well lets just say NO!!!!. after reading reviews - i added sun oxygen cleaner (1 cup at that) even tho i have never used it before thinkin its like oxy clean. well as awesome as that is, i now have a bucket over flowing with suds, removed an entire icecream bucket and then some of suds!! Its been 30 min and it wont stop, im thinking at this point i might wanna count my loss,and start over no sun oxy but really this stuff still might have a purpose if i could contain it! Trying to decide really were i could even disguard this at anyway without it foaming even more. oh geezzz why do i always try to improve.. if it aint broke! Would you keep it? Wait for the suds to stop and see where it goes?
ReplyDeleteOh dear! lol! I'm sorry nelson. Sounds like something that might happen to me! I might be tempted to start over....even though I totally know how you feel about wasting stuff! I hate that. Good luck?
ReplyDeleteFirst off i LOVE the blog kudos! I made my first batch of detergent and fabric softner today. I am waiting for morning when i can use. I used half a bar of the fles naptha and half a bar of yardley english lavender soap (for scent). The yardley soap claims to be natural and contain essential oils so it is like killing two birds with one stone and at one dollar a bar it was worth a try. Thanks again and with two little boys laundry is plentiful and this saves a TON of money ..a little fun to make too. keep the diy cleaning solutions coming. :)
ReplyDeleteI made this and it totally jelled, I can't get it out of the bottle! The cooking part was a pain in the neck and the soap doesn't dissolve in the washing machine!
ReplyDeleteI made the dry version on the weekend and do far so good. For those of you who don't know what washing soda is, it is the BEST stuff for cleaning sterling silver. Put a tablespoon in a bowl lined with aluminum foil then add hot water. Just drop in your sterling silver pieces and it starts to fizz away. Leave on for about 5-10 minutes then take out and rinse in cold water.
ReplyDeleteOh I love reading all of the comments, it really helps. I will be trying my hand at this next week I think and I am really excited! :) I read a lot of comments about getting your products at Wal-Mart. Please please please try to shop locally for your products. Wal-Mart does not treat their employees well and promotes the "big man" instead of families in your community. It's usually the women doing most of the shopping, so we need to know how important our decisions are. Thank u for reading my post and considering making better choices. Happy soap making!!!
ReplyDeleteAnti-Walmart Anony....I live in a small town and UNFORTUNATELY Walmart is the ONLY choice I have for a lot of the things I mention that I get there. But thanks for your concern.
ReplyDeleteDitto Jill! We have crappy local stores and they don't carry a LOT of things that I can find at Walmart. And their prices are way higher, so sorry Anonymous, but it's Walmart for me.
ReplyDeleteI recently started adding 1 cup Oxyclean to this recipe. It seems to make things a tad brighter.
ReplyDeleteI just (JUST) made this. I did a third-batch, hoping to only get 1 gallon of soap as this is my first try. I didn't read the instructions carefully and just dumped all of the soap/borax/soda in together at first. The problem with this is the soda and borax foam significantly more and necessitated that I melt the Fels Naptha at a much lower temp... making it take For.Ev.Er. Then I thought myself wise and dumped a cup of Oxyclean in at the end... and it immediately foamed up and over my pan, and continued to do that until pretty much my entire "recipe" was boiled out (even after rushing it over the sink and therefore removing it from heat). Boo. Major FAIL.
ReplyDeleteSo I tried again. I put a 1/3-bar of grated Fels Naptha in my pot. I added water- but only about a third of the way up the pot (using a medium-sized pot). I brought it to a boil on high heat, then immediately reduced the heat to medium. This time, it took me only FOUR minutes to melt the soap. Woohoo, much better. (I know; you told me so.) :) Then I reduced the heat to low and added the 1/3 c. Borax, a little bit at a time, stirring continuously. Then the soda. THEN I removed the mix from heat and added 1/3 c. Oxyclean- a teensy bit at a time, stirring constantly, praying frequently. (wink)
And it worked! Or at least it didn't boil over and looks moderately normal. We'll see how it washes my clothes, but I feel pretty hopeful.
Thanks for the well-written, well-pictured, well-detailed "recipe." I'm excited!
Bec...good for you! I'm so proud of you for sticking with it. Many would have thrown in the towel. It definitely took me a few tries before I felt like I had a handle on it. Now I can practically make it with my eyes closed and I still LOVE it! (And I still have to watch it closely or it will boil over. Done that SEVERAL times!) ;-) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI just melted the fels in a pot with water. I used the 5 gal bucket..Filled it half way with hot water and added the washing soda and borax to the hot water and then added the fels and 1/2 cup oxyclean and stirred with a yard stick!! Let it set overnight covered...stirred again and when I get ready to fill up my container....I measure out my soap mixture and wisk it with just enough hot water and then fill the rest of the bottle up...seems less lumpy!!
ReplyDeleteCan you put the homemade oxiclean in the detergent mix? Or add it to your wash separate. Also how much oxi do you put in a wash. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely love this! I'm very fussy about detergent (only like Tide) but I thought I'd give it a try. Not only is it cheaper, but I like it better. I'm going to try the homemade fabric softener next. I'm a convert.
ReplyDeleteOk - i want to try the diy dry mix - but only wash in cold water. I've read it doesn't dissolve well in the cold water wash - has anyone tried dissolving it in hot water in the microwave before adding to the wash? Just seems like it might be less time at the stove than cooking, less electricity used if not using the stove to cook - less mess for those of us prone to over boiling, etc.... Would love to know if you dry recipe users have done this and how it might work before i dive in. Thanks!!!
ReplyDeleteI've read about this for cloth diapers, but never thought to use it for my clothes. I'm definitely going to give it a try!
ReplyDeleteWindi - why not just add some hot water to the dry mix and melt it that way before adding it to the load? I have to do this to my lanolin for washing wool.
Windi, I haven't tried it but I'm pretty sure you just answered the question I've been worrying over for the past 20 minutes: How can I save time and effort by making powdered soap and make it work for cold water washes?
ReplyDeleteI'm *pretty sure* you're a genius :)
(You too, Jillee! I love your Blog!!)
Wow! I didn't realize so many people were making their own cleaning agents. I make my detergent a little different. I use pure vegetable soap, grate it in a pot and cover with water. cook on medium heat till all soap is melted. then I pour this into 2 gallons of HOT water in a bucket. Mix. Add 2 cups of powder (see below)when it becomes room temp, add about 10 drops of essential oils.
ReplyDelete***Tips***
*you can mix your powder to suit your family needs/wants.
-Super Washing Soda (Arm & Hammer) thicker and tougher on stains
-borax (20 mule) medium on both
-baking soda any brand I think is the weakest of the 3
you can mix or combine any of the 3 to get the consistency that you prefer
**vegetable soaps do not produce suds but still clean wonderfully
regular soaps can be used also but will leave a build/residue up in washer, if you choose to use regular soap as your base, you should run the washer with 1 cup of vinegar and hot water, once a month to get rid of the buildup.
***Vinegar can be used in the rinse cycle to act as a softener and also anti static agent
**** for Whites, add 1 cup off Borax to your washer and HOT water, soak for 30 minutes, then wash.
****I use 2 cups of super washing soda to make mine, It will start to gel within a couple hours, It does get a little thicker than the others, If you don't get all the lumps out, you can also use your electric mixer to blend it and make it smooth.
***** 1/2 cup for regular washers and 1/4 cup for HE washers
******Good for HOT and Cold Washes
*******Essential Oils
Lavender, Tree tree and Rosemary have Antibacterial agents. But you can use whatever scent you like, or mix it up.
Have Fun
Jamey
Just made my first batch, it's gellin as I type. I've never been so excited to do a load of laundry. When this batch is all used up I'm going to make the powdered version. It your worried about using the powdered version in cold water just turn your washing machine dial to hot, and run the hot water over your scoop of powdered soap. It only takes moments for it to dissolve, then turn your washing machine dial to cold.
ReplyDeleteJillee - thanks for the tip about using homemade oxi-clean for whites. I just washed clothes for the 1st time with homemade soap and thought maybe I had done something wrong. FYI-another good source for essential oils is eBay. You can find great deals as low as $12 (w/shipping) for 4 drams (small vials) of essential oil. It made my clothes smell wonderful.
ReplyDeleteAlrighty - first of all thanks to Claug and Anonymous for your comments. I made some dry diy laundry soap today with the above ingredients. I haven't actually washed a load yet - but i did heat 1-1/2 cups water in the microwave to boiling, then mixed in 1 Tblsp of the mixture - and IT DISSOLVED WITHIN SECONDS! Here's the thing though, I left it sitting on the counter while i went about other household duties and when i returned - it had Gelled up. No biggie - I whisked the lumps out and don't see why it shouldn't work when i get around to washing later this evening. I now have a cup and a half of "gel" to add to my load of wash.
ReplyDeleteBtw - i used ivory instead of the fels-naptha.
I have started using the dry mix and really like it but noticed last night when I was folding my bra's I could still smell my deoderant. This is the first time I have noticed this, has anyone else noticed this. I really like the fact that I am making my own and saving money but I want my clothes clean.
ReplyDeleteAnswer to questions about what washing soda is:
ReplyDeleteWashing soda is sodium carbonate Na2CO3. (Sorry I lost the subscript formatting for the numbers.) Higher pH and alkalinity, wear gloves, keep out of reach of children and pets.
Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate NaHCO3. Less toxic than washing soda, but less useful as a solvent.
I use the dry mix...for a great scent and clean clothes I tried Yardley bar soap it is all natural come in English Lavender and Oatmeal Almond. Found it next to the Lava bar soap on the bar and Liquid body soap isle at Walmart. We love it. Washed my sheets & blankets in the English lavender then used homemade dry sheets with a sprinkle of Lavender esstenial oils. Talk about heavenly. BTW lavendar is a natural scent to assist in calming and restful sleep. So I killed two birds with one stone. Clean, great smelling bedding and a good nights sleep;)
ReplyDeleteI was just curious if I have to wait overnight before using it? Do I have to add the second part water to the jugs after they sit all night or can I do that after a couple of hours? Also, rightnow my washing machine just uses cold water...will that make a difference? Thanks! =)H. Woody
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I'm going to try this ASAP.
ReplyDeleteI'm wanting to know how much I should use at a time. I've read through the instructions and through all the comments and no one mentions quantities.
ReplyDeleteGina, I use both the liquid and powdered. I use about 2tablespoons of the powdered, and about a half-cup of the liquid. :) My hubby is a steel worker, and his clothes get a lot of steel dust, and grime on them and this even works on HIS nasty clothes. Love it!
ReplyDeleteInstead of bleach, you might try adding a little Mrs Stewarts laundry bluing to keep your brights bright and not dingy. I rarely ever use it now but used it a lot when we were stationed in california and my whites would take on a yellow tinge from too much iron in the water.
ReplyDeleteI can't find the answer to the question about why you have to let it set overnight....why can't you use it right away as a liquid?
ReplyDeleteWashing Soda has been hard to find! I live in a big city and Target, Walmart, or Whole Foods didn't have it! So surprised! Trying Ace Hardware tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteACE HARDWARE HAS EVERYTHING YOU WILL NEED!
ReplyDeleteI am wondering if you can use the soda used in swimming pools to raise the PH level? Does anyone know. I was told at one time that i could raise my PH level by adding just regular soda to my pool..or is this different from 'washing' soda? thanks and BTW I love this blog.
ReplyDeleteI make the powder version (love it!!!) to help keep the whites bright I added a 16oz can of LA's awsome oxygen base (you can get it at the dollar tree for $1.00 it is their version of oxyclean) hope this helps
ReplyDeleteJillee,
ReplyDeleteHow much detergent do you add to the laundry?
I've been using this detergent for about three months now in my HE washer. I use 2 oz (1/4 cup) and my clothes come out clean and smelling good. Found my recipe on the Duggar's website.
ReplyDeleteGina and liz...I use about 1/2 cup per full load. :-)
ReplyDeleteAdd I couple drops of eucalyptus oil for an extra germ killer. If your like me and your towels get a little stinky eucalyptus oil is a natural germ and bacteria killer. Plus it smells good!!
ReplyDeleteHey Jill I so love your website!! I have a question...I just purchased Dr. B's mild liquid castile soap but I also have a ton of ivory bars..do you have a recipe that combines the two?? I would be using up the extra bars of soap and it will make my castile last a lot longer. Thank you so much, Nita.
ReplyDeleteJust a quick question. How much do you use in the laundry? 1 cup, 1/2 cup. What works best?
ReplyDeleteNever mind just say your post for 1/2 cup.
ReplyDeleteI made up 1/3 of a batch yesterday and this morning when I went to check it it hasn't hardened up like it should. Does this just mean that it's already as thin as it needs to be? Should I be worried or just continue on using it? It seems to be (pretty much) the correct consistency and the gallon jug is only half full. I guess I'll just try a load and see how it turns out.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE this!! I have been using it for about a month now and will NEVER go back to buying laundry detergent again!! Love your site!! Keep up the awesome work!!
ReplyDeleteThis soap is great! Made three gallons and love it. Do you have to let the mixture sit overnight before adding water to make each gallon? Just wondering if I could add the water right away. Thanks!
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ReplyDeleteJust made my first batch of laundry soap. Used Dove {white bar} and made 3 gallons as per the instructions. It is sitting on my counter as I type. I am hopeful this will be a homerun! I would love to save $$ by not having to purchase the overpriced store brands in laundry soap & other products/ie: dishsoap/dishwashing deter-gent/fabric softner/dryer sheets. Last weekend I made dishwashing detergent & fabric softner. Haven't used the fabric softner yet but used the dishwashing detergent last nite. Seemed to do a good job. I am an optimist & am hopeful this is going to be a great find for me. Love saving $$. Too bad we all can't discover a way to make toilet paper & paper towels. What a rip off in the stores. Thanks for a great site & the information. Tena
ReplyDeleteI have been using this recipe for about two months and I love it!!! I just have one question...what about adding the clorox oxi to the recipe? I noticed on another blog that their dry recipe called for the clorox oxi but said nothing about using it in a liquid recipe. Do you know if this would be a good addition and how much?? Thanks for all your wonderful tips, love, love, love them.
ReplyDeleteso - has anyone seen the experiment of putting a bar (or 1/2 bar) of ivory soap into the microwave to make a "cloud"? Hang with me - this is relevant - i wonder if any of you do it yourselfers have tried this - and used it for the dry mix rather than grating. I haven't tried it yet - but I am thinking it should probably "Crumble" or "powder" fairly well after it poofs, thereby making it easier to use as a dry mix.................anyone??
ReplyDeleteoh and i forgot to mention - i don't think this would work with other brands of soap - from what i've read - ivory whips air into their soap which is what is effective in producing the poof.
ReplyDeleteI am totally going to do this after I move. I was wondering about the oils for sent. What if while heating on the stove you put real lavender in there and let it boil with the bar soap? Or do you need it to be the oil?
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of adding Yardley lavender soap to the mix! Also, I'm thinking about trying Zote next.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, your recipe, as well as most others I've read on different blogs and websites, say to add a portion of water, let set overnight to jell, and then add more water. I'm wondering if there is some specific reason for this, or is it something that was done initially and so everyone has picked up on it?
I mean, is there some scientific reason or something? I'm thinking, like a poster above said, that you should be able to just go ahead and fill up the bottles with hot water all at once.
Any ideas?
SUCCESS - NO GRATE _ NO COOK!! For you who like using the dry mixture but don't like the soap floaters that don't totally dissolve - try this...
ReplyDeleteCut a bar of ivory in half, place half on microwave safe plate, and microwave for appx 90 seconds. Remove dish and let soap cloud that forms cool and dry on the counter while you do the second half. Once both "clouds" have cooled so there is no moisture left, place cloud chunks in ziplock bag and smoosh. Manipulate bag until there are no large chunks left. Then add 1 cup each of borax and washing soda - and there you have dry mix with no flakes.
I was curious to see if the "cloud" powder would dissolve so I placed a tblsp of it into some hot water, gave a quick stir - and once again - total disolvation (is that a word? I dunno!). It clumped up initially, but quickly dissolved to nothing. I imagine with the borax and soda mixed in that it will dissolve just as quickly and may even be more evenly dispersed.
I can't wait now to try it in a load of laundry - but i am forcing myself to finish the rest of my first batch (with flakes) first....excercising my frugality.
Sorry - i should also mention - i think this only works with ivory because it has air whipped into it. Other brands (yardley, fels naptha, etc. may only melt and not poof into a cloud - not sure how effective that is for dry mixture.....just saying.
ReplyDeleteI should also say - very little mess in the microwave and what little cloud was left in there wiped right off - no sticking or cooking onto the surface.
AND - it was fun - i bet kiddos would love to get in on it too (maybe?)
Hope this helps someone.
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ReplyDeleteJust a quick note it is not a good idea to put nonfood items in food containers
ReplyDeletetwo questions...
ReplyDeleteIf I was to substitute Dr Brommer's liquid soap for the bar of soap, how much would you use?
Could you stop at the gel stage and just use a small amount of it as a concentrate? Then you wouldn't have to have as many containers...
I'm one of those people who can't get past the idea of cooking soap in my good pans. However I really wanted to try this recipe out. After making regular visits to my local thrift shop I finally found everything I needed: 1 big pot ($5.00), 1 cheese grater ($1.00) and 1 glass measuring cup ($2.00). I have a long dowel rod leftover from another project so I'll be using it instead of a wooden spoon. I'll be making my 1st batch this weekend and I can't wait! For others who don't want to cook soap in their good pans, I highly recommend that they check out second hand stores in their area.
ReplyDeleteI'm highly considering doing this but I had a suggestion/question- Has anyone considered using a container with a wider mouth spout and placing a shaker ball (the metal kind that come in tumblers for protein shakes, the metal ball knocks around inside the tumbler for mixing). This seemed like a possible solution for mixing (it would need to be added as a final step, after the gel process).
ReplyDelete1st I just wanna say I LOVE YOUR BLOG! It's so awesome to find someone willing to share all these GREAT ideas. I just ran across this recently & have been working on several diffrent DIY ideas :) my first project was your re-usable dryer sheets, LOVE THEM! second I made Jillies homemade "oxi-kleen" it was sooo easy & again I LOVE IT! my third lil project was the homemade makeup remover wipes :) yep, you guessed it, I LOVE THEM! the last project I did was the Quik n easy version of your homemade laundry detergent (with the Dawn Dish soap, I used the hawiian pineappple scent) & its amazing! honestly I cant wait to try the shampoo, Clorox wipes...among a few other things, LOL! My dear husband thinks I've lost my mind with all this homemade DIY stuff, but he's saving money so he's NOT complaining (: Again, Love the blog, wonderful ideas along with great tips.
ReplyDeleteAshley Massey
from
Calera, Alabama
Should you use a cooker that you do not use for food to make the soap in?
ReplyDelete@ Michelle, you may not want to use one of your good pans, in case it damages the surface (one poster had a problem with an anodized pan), I use one of my older pans with no problem...but I used the same one I use for food.
ReplyDeleteIt's just soap, so I don't see any reason to need separate utensils. I also use borax and baking soda for cleaning, so...I had no problem, everything just cleans right up, the soap cleans right off. Even better than with dish soap, because it's low sudsing, making them really easy to clean.
I've also been known in my life to wash dishes with a dab of laundry detergent in an emergency.
Has anyone tried using this to clean other things around the house? I'm getting ready to try it out by tackling some heavy duty kitchen jobs (top of the fridge, range hood, stained unsealed tiles, etc.).
ReplyDeleteFor one thing, I've used borax mixed with dawn for years to do those jobs, but I'm thinking that the extra concentration from the laundry soap may be even better.
Also, I ran across a really old post on an old frugal living forum to make your own "Soft Scrub" and the recipe was pretty much the same.
How do you grate the Fels Naptha? Does anybody put it in a food processor?
ReplyDeleteSo I just made my laundry soap last night, and I of my containers didn't gel. It's weird because the others did. I figure it's no big deal...I'll try to get it to the same consistency as the others for the finished product. But anyone else run into this? Did I do something wrong?
ReplyDeleteI love this blog, thank you for gathering all these great DIY things I've been meaning to do! Let me preface this by saying I really like my laundry soap and dryer sheets to match scents. I see some people using Yardley soap for this recipe. I'm pretty sure they have a matching scent lotion, so I'm wondering if lotion would work instead of hair conditioner in the DIY fabric softener recipe. Anyone try this? Alternatively, what do you think of trying to use the shampoo that matches scent with the conditioner in the fabric softener recipe for the laundry soap recipe, instead of bar soap? Perhaps it would suds more so the ratios would have to be adjusted? Sorry I don't have any of the accounts you can comment as so I had to be anonymous, but my name is Melainia :)
ReplyDeleteI have seen a lot of uses for essential oils in your posts, which is making me want to learn more about them. Can anyone recommend a website or boom about all the uses of different essential oils and the benefits they provide?
ReplyDeleteThanks!!!
Amber
I have and idea I was going to try and thought I would share it. For my next batch, I am going to leave it concentrated, and put into canning jars to store. Then as I need more, I will just mix together with hot water and add to my gallon jug. I haven't tried it yet, but plan to soon.
ReplyDeleteHaving fun already. I put the grater in the sink with hot water and it's really soapy. Yahoo! I'm soaking the dishrags too. Tell everyone not to sweat the grating. I have bad arthritis in my hands and I had no problem. I used fels naptha. I'm taking this batch along to my dear overworked daughter so she doesn't have to worry about running out of laundry soap for her family of four plus two nephews.
ReplyDeleteSTILL no comment on the "Why" let it sit overnight? Can we just add ALL THE WATER AT ONCE? Thanks.,..
ReplyDeleteMy daughters and I just made four jugs of this as a spring break project. They loved the grating and stirring part. We have just washed some clothes and are loving the results. I did purchase the fragrance booster to use (I bought Gain) so it did boost my cost up a bit, but you use such a minimal amount that it should last a while. Thanks for the great ideas!!
ReplyDeleteHi Jill I frequent your website since I saw it on Pinterest. I wanted to just say thanks for posting all of the laundry recipes. I have yet to make my own and thanks to Gina for figuring out the cost per load, I wanted to know exactly what the savings are if I were to do this myself and that's amazing at 1 cent per load, can't beat that. www.creativetizzy.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteTo answer those who have been asking how much to use in each load....I use about 1/2 cup per load...unless it's a particular "dirty" load. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAlso...several have asked why you have to wait overnight to add water. The only reason I do that is because it WILL thicken a lot overnight...and I have found that if I leave some of the water out and add it in the morning...it helps thin it out. I hope that makes sense. :-)
I never saw the step where you only fill your jugs half-full and wait til over night.. has anyone else flubbed up and added all their hot water? I'll post my results tomorrow to let you all know, in case this happens to someone else.. next time I'll do what I'm told, (winks) This is the first time I've come across this particular page, the others seemed pretty simple and I re-wrote them down in a 'recipe' book.. that's where I messed up, I guess. We'll see what happens!
ReplyDeleteOK.. lesson leaned.. UNLESS you want a solid jello like consistency in your jugs, DO NOT fill them with hot water all the way to the top. Next time I'll only fill half-full until the next day. I guess I'll just scoop out what I need, add it to the drum (I have an HE and I'm nervous putting anything solid into the dispenser) We'll see how THAT goes.. lol.. *shrugs* live and learn.. It's STILL cheaper than your store bought.. and it was a blast making it! AND it was easier than I imagined! Thanks again Jillee!!
ReplyDeletei work with special needs. my current client urinates his pants a LOT (soaks right thru his depends) anyway i was wondering if anyone had any ideas on what i can put in his batch to help eat oders even more than the average batch?
ReplyDeleteWonder if Eucalyptus would kill urine odors? Tea Tree is supposed to be anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-microbial.. I don't know if it'd help it if you put it in your laundry soap, since it'd probably get washed out.. you might try a febreeze method with the essential oils... Vinegar as a fabric softener will get out some nasty smells.. like vomit.. I've a 2 yr old that got sick recently.. Hope this helps!
ReplyDeleteI have been making my own laundry soap for almost two years and I love it. I use the the dry version and I make four batches at a time. I chop up the fels neptha soap then I put it in a food processor to get it real fine. I've found that if the soap is soft it's hard get it real fine, so I spread it out in a pan and let it dry out for a couple days then I'll run it through the processor again. My recipe is: 1 bar Fels-Nepth soap, 1 cup Borax, 1 cup washing Soda and 1/4 cup baking Soda. I use 1 heaping tbsp. per load more or less .
ReplyDeleteI haven't bought laundry detergent for over 2 years. I saw a a science project (for kids) on Pinterest about Ivory soap in the microwave. I cut a bar into quarters and put it in the microwave for one minute. It puffed up like a cloud. It was so cool that I did it 3 more times. It crumbled into flakes as soon as it cooled. Not wanting to waste a bar of Ivory, I used it to make a batch of laundry detergent. I have not grated soap since. It is quicker and it dissolves much faster.
ReplyDeleteLove your Blog!
Lyn
Great comments! I hadn't thought of making this a liquid. I use the dry ingredients in powder form and LOVE it! Thanks for all your great ideas :)
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love your your blog!! I really appreciate all of the information you put out!
ReplyDeletethanks for all your wonderful post...i just made this the other day and im patiently waiting on some dirty clothes so that i can put it to use :) i was also reading on another site and seen that this is basicly the same recipe that the Duggers use BUT they make it up into 10 gallons and use less than this calls for? jus wondering what the difference was in your opinion and could this also make more but still get the job done well?? thanks..
ReplyDeleteI made this & added some lavendar essential oil to it. However, on clothes with an oily based spot on them, the stain is extremely magnified (dark). One was the underarms on a shirt-I'm assuming the solid deoderant was somewhat oily (creamy) and the other was a bread cloth that had had biscuits wrapped inside it. Otherwise I like it.
ReplyDeleteJust made this up with kirk's castile soap for a friend who is expecting twins. I'm going to print some baby labels and tape on with that clear packing tape. I'm giving her two doz. india cotton prefolds some diaper covers and snappies. Anyway the castile smells great. Thankyou again. I know my young friend will appreciate it!
ReplyDeleteAnony....what a wonderful idea for a very thoughtful gift! :-) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI noticed several people saying their things turn out dingy after a while. I have an HE washer and had trouble with this too. I discovered that by adding bleach to the dispenser, about half a cup of the Borax and the washing soda to the tub of my front load of white things, bedding etc. they came out very nice and white. These products were what ladies in the 30s, 40s and into the 50s used. They knew what they were doing! I have used this same basic recipe for well over a year. The Duggar's have a similar recipe online. I also use white vinegar for softener. Laundry is much more economical!
ReplyDeleteI use Ivory soap which works great and is easy to find. You can find Washing Soda and Borax in most larger grocery stores fairly cheap. If you need extra whitening add in a half cup of Oxyclean or a home-made version of oxyclean.
ReplyDeleteSorry to many comments to read.
ReplyDeleteI am on my 3rd batch. First was a dry mix. I added 1/2 inch of warm water to the washer then added the soap and then switched back to cold. It dissolved just fine.
I added Essential Oils. 1/3 batch the smell disappeared in the dryer. 2nd 1/3 batch I added more and now have oil stains on my clothes (wasn't good quality peppermint and was trying to use it up).
I am making my 3rd batch today since the EO ruined the soap. I would honestly skip this step. Even when a lot more EO, the smell fades in the dryer.
Glass containers keep it from forming gel globs while plastic allows the gel to form with the liquids on top.