Trying to pick a laundry detergent...

[boogiebearlove]

I am trying to pick a green laundry detergent, and I came across the idea that no detergents are really natural, as they are all based on a petroleum substance. So I can't decide what to do! I had thought about trying Allen's Naturally powder detergent, but it is very expensive. Now I am wondering what to use if I don't go with an actual detergent. Can I just use baking soda? I don't feel like would get all of our grime out...
Thoughts?

[Naturalyst]

Not all are petroleum based. Some are plant-derived. My favorite is BioKleen.

[maggiemae]

I make my own, here is the recipe (Duggar Family Recipe):

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - in some stores or may be purchased online here (at Meijer.com). Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

I love it and have clean clothes!

[Naturalyst]

Originally Posted by maggiemae

I make my own, here is the recipe (Duggar Family Recipe):

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

Inasmuch as the OP expressed a desire to avoid petroleum-based products, then Fels-Naptha would not be a good choice. Fels-Naptha is based on a petroleum derivative.

The homemade laundry recipe can be made with other soaps, a soap toward the more "drying" end of the spectrum would be best. Even a bar of original Ivory soap would work.

In any event, there are also commercial brands that are eco-friendly available in most stores nowadays.

[tracyhos]

I like BioKleen and Ecover. (liquid version on both)

I am sure there are some that are more natural than these, but they are readily available at my grocery store and aren't near as bad as the Tide I used to use.

[wholewheatchick]

I use liquid Arm and Hammer, perfume and dye free. The website says that it is completely biodegradeable.

[tine1973]

I love BioKleen but found that it was not great for cloth diapers. Charlies and Country Save are both good and I don't think they are pertroleum based?

[amber913]

Charlie's shouldn't be petroleum-based, if i'm remember the ingredients correctly. Mine is similar to Charlie's:

1c. grated bar soap (i make my own coconut oil soap--super easy!)
1/2c. borax
1/2c. washing soda

Use 1-2 tablespoons/load.

And to add to what a PP said about purchasing washing soda, i've noticed that national chains (Walmart, for example) don't carry it, but the locally-owned grocery stores do--for the most part.

[artemis33]

I love Country Save. Bonus is it is safe for cloth diapers and for our septic.

[CookiePie]

Seventh Generation & Ecover are both great & not petrolum based.

[heidirk]

Originally Posted by amber913

Charlie's shouldn't be petroleum-based, if i'm remember the ingredients correctly. Mine is similar to Charlie's:

1c. grated bar soap (i make my own coconut oil soap--super easy!)
1/2c. borax
1/2c. washing soda

Use 1-2 tablespoons/load.

And to add to what a PP said about purchasing washing soda, i've noticed that national chains (Walmart, for example) don't carry it, but the locally-owned grocery stores do--for the most part.

This recipe works really well. I'm making another batch today.


I liked the Ecover, but it wasn't great on diapers.

[granthammom]

I'm seriously thinking of trying this recipe and wonder if it is earth friendly. Does anyone know?
Thanks.

[lucifugous]

country save
or home made, but use a recipe that doesn't have "soap" in it if you are cloth diapering!

[Ruthie's momma]

Country Save...

Great for everything including dipes!

[Hopefulmama]

I just started using a tablespoon or two of undiluted Thieves Household cleaner by Young Living. Seems to be working well. I don't use is it on CD's though.

[blessedwithboys]

biokleen powder

[christianmomof3]

We have been doing that recipe with the Fels Naptha - it is so cheap -comes out to 1.28 cents per load, which is a great price for us. Has anyone here done the same recipe with ivory soap? Does it work as well? Amber - can you share your recipe for the coconut oil soap?
Thank you!

[koofie]

I love soap nuts! They clean well and the nut (actually not a nut) is compostable when it is used up.