Laundry Soap

[lindalu]

Ok, I like using a natural laundry soap...BUT, I hate the stains. Have tried lots - tried different combinations, still searching for something I won't have to re-wash so much with.

I have a front loading washer - the kind that recommends HE detergent.

I live in the country. Lots of dirt - clay - on clothes. Also, three year old still has lots of food stains.

I think our water is on the hard side, but not overly so. There is iron in it - well water.

Can't wait for your suggestions!!! :-)

[zebra15]

I use ALL free and clear for HE. It works well for me. I have a 9 yr old DS who is really into 'art' and is homeschooled so I have my fair share of markers, paint,glue etc. We also have a dog so there is mud. We live in AZ so dirt, not grass. DS has asthma so the free and clear is the only detergent that does not bother him. I have the best luck finding this detergent at Target or Frys (Kroger)

[Katie T]

We live in town but have hard water. I use Charlies soap and love it. I have 3 kids and a dh who works in a shop and comes home covered in grease. It did take a little while till I loved it because it had to get all the build out from the other detergent. Once that was out I loved it and I noticed a huge difference in stain removal and how soft my clothes were. Also my towels never smell musty anymore. (When they would smell musty in the past I would run them through hot washes with no soap and that helped, so it was from build up)

I have been using it for almost 2 yrs and will never go back. They also have wonderful customer service!

[smpayne]

Have you tried adding "Washing Soda" (not baking soda) with the detergent? It helps with the hard water.

[lifeguard]

I have found many of the natural laundry detergents just don't get really dirty things clean - which is disappointing.

I recently switched to Sunlight Green. It seems to work pretty well so far. I don't entirely trust it is as green as they claim but I figure it's got to be better than wasting so much water rewashing things that didn't come clean the first time.

[proudmomof4]

Thanks for the suggestion about the musty smell in towels - maybe that's why. I thought it's because of the water here, the whole sewage system is a lot different from Europe. I'll give it a try even though I tend to put in a little less detergent than recommended.