Does anyone here make their own laundry detergent?

[VenusRising]

I just saw an article about making your own detergent. It sounds like a great idea. It saves money. It's better for the environment. I'm just wondering how well it cleans, and if it's better for sensitive skin types. It seems like you have to use very little of it to do the job, and I was wondering if anyone has found this to be true in their experience.

http://disdressed.blogspot.com/2008/02/diy-laundry-soap.html

[Kajsa]

1. No, but I noticed Borax is used in

most soap mixtures.

I use less detergent and half a cup of Borax in every
laundry load. It boosts the detergent and makes for
cleaner rinses, too.

Good luck!

:hi:

[VenusRising]

3. Thanks for the tip!

I just bought detergent on Thursday and was aghast at the prices of it lately.

:hi:

[Kajsa]

7. You're welcome! Remember, I live in

an area that has VERY hard water, so try starting out
with 1/4 cup and see how it works. I use between
a 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup per load.

:) :hi:

[kiva]

2. Here a recipe from last1standing that he posted a few months

ago; I've been using it for about 6 months and it works very well, also saves much money:

last1standing Sun Jun-22-08 04:46 PM
Original message
Does anyone else make their own laundry detergent?

I started making my own a couple of years ago for two reasons. First it is much less expensive than buying even the economy stuff and second it's much better for the environment. I use the following recipe:

3 Pints Water
1/3 Bar Fels Naptha Soap, Grated
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax
2 Gallon Bucket
1 Quart Hot Water
Cold Water

Dissolve Fels Naptha in 3 pints of water over low heat. Add washing soda & Borax. Stir until thickened, and remove from heat. Add 1 Quart Hot Water to 2 Gallon Bucket. Add soap mixture, and mix well. Fill bucket with cold water, and mix well. Set aside for 24 hours, or until mixture thickens. Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load.


I just shake it up a bit before I pour it out and it works as well as anything I've bought from a store yet costs about $0.50 per two gallons.

Does anyone else use this or another recipe?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=3502520

[VenusRising]

5. Wow, thanks.

Maybe I should try doing a search next time. :rofl:

[kiva]

10. Honestly, glad to repost this for people who missed it.

I like liquid detergent--so often dry leaves 'soap crumbs' when you use cold water--so I was happy to find this recipe. The first couple of times I used this it felt like it left a bit of a residue, so now I put some vinegar in a Downy ball and it works great My roommate is pretty sensitive to some of the dyes and scents in commercial detergent, but has no problems with this. Also bought a set of those dryer balls, so no more fabric softener either--more money saved.

[VenusRising]

11. You answered a few of my concerns.

I'm going to have to give it a shot the next time I run out.

I'm excited! :bounce:

[Drunken Girlfriend]

4. Homemade laundry soap

Never made my own laundry detergent before,but I imagine it
would be financially costly to do so.

I just buy the generic 2 buck laundry detergent at the
grocery store.lol

[Sanity Claws]

6. What is washing soda?

I'd love to try one of the powder recipes but have no idea of where to get some of the ingredients, like washing soda.

[VenusRising]

8. From what I've read it is with the dry detergent.

[tanngrisnir3]

9. No, but I do make my own toilet paper out of cold cheese sandwiches.

[Flaxbee]

12. thanks for asking, VenusRising ...

I've been thinking about doing this.

Also wondering about making my own countertop cleaning products for kitchen and bath. Sort of an all-purpose spray cleaner .. :shrug: Anyone have a good solution I could try?