Make your own laundry detergent treads?

[petitemaman]

As I just mentionned in another tread I am thinking to try the soap nuts but was wondering how can I find other treads about it and about making your own laundry detergent.

[Think of Winter]

I have an easy, cheap recipe that works fine:

1 bar Ivory soap, grated
1 cup Borax
1 cup Washing Soda

Combine in an airtight container. Use 1-2 tablespoons per load.


Here's another (from the FlyLady boards):

2 c Borax
2 c Washing Soda
2/3 bar grated Zote soap (big pink bar in laundry section)

I haven't had trouble finding Borax or washing soda.

[sunnysandiegan]

I made a bunch of the recipes I found on tipnut dot com (or is it dot net?). The first liquid recipe and the first powder recipe are my favorites, but they all work.

[2cutiekitties]

What if you can't use Borax (itch) what do you use/do?

[petitemaman]

thanks for your input,
I have been doing Borax,washing soda and tried different bar soaps.
I believe that all the ones mentionned here have fragrances. Ivory doesn't work for his skin.
I've tried DrBronner baby soap bars,better on the skin but don't find that it cleans very well.

Still searching...

[Malva]

I use Sunlight bar soap in place of Ivory (available in laundry aisle around here) and although it smells lemony before use, my laundry smells like nothing.

I have very sensitive skin (atopic), react to perfumes and it has never bothered me.

I do use white vinegar in the rinse cycle. Not sure if it makes a difference.

[proudmomof4]

As a non-American: what exactly is Borax and where do you buy it? I just bought washing soda but I didn't find Borax.

[petitemaman]

@Proudmomo: Google "make your own laundry detergent", there are tones of blogs on that and I'm pretty sure you can find a link, seen some somewhere w/people asking the same question. I'm sorry I don't know which one anymore...

@Malva: I have never seen Sunlight bars, if I find them I'll try that. Just got some fragrance free Kirk's Castile soap today. I'll see how that goes.
I think my problem is mostly the hard water, makes it hard to really clean w/gentle stuff...

I do use vinegar for my diappers.