Help me make laundry soap- dry vs liquid, which one is better - Page 2

[sosurreal09]

I am fairly certain fels naptha is all natural although I can't find the ingredients. It has been around for a very long time though....my G'ma used it

[Koalamom]

Well googled it. Here are the ingredients directly form the felnaptha webiste:

Ingredients

Soap (sodium tallowate*, sodium cocoate* (or) sodium palmate kernelate*, and sodium palmate*), water, talc, cocnut acid*, palm acid*, tallow acid*, PEG-6 methyl ether, glycerin, sorbitol, sodium chloride, pentasodium pentetate and/or tetrasodium etidronate, titatium dioxide, fragrance, Acid Orange (CI 20170), Acid yellow 73 (ci43350)

*contains one or more of these ingredients

Too many big words for me. lol! It is cheap to buy though, one dollar per bar here.

[Koalamom]

Loahaire, do you have the rest of that liquid recipe?

Are you all using fels naptha or is there something else as cheap and more natural. Or should I just close my eyes to the ingredients and use it?

[cocoanib]

Originally Posted by bluebirdmama1 

Loahaire, do you have the rest of that liquid recipe?

Are you all using fels naptha or is there something else as cheap and more natural. Or should I just close my eyes to the ingredients and use it?

I have'nt made mine yet, but I'm going to use the bronners bar, mild or lavendar.

I like the ingredients better.

Here's the liquid recipe I have, I got it from one of the other laundry soap threads.

I'm not sure who posted it originally;

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!!

 

[Koalamom]

Tried the dry powder last night. Not sure the soap even dissolved as the water looked just like water and so soap or anything in sight during the wash cycle. Some of the clothes looked clean but several kitchen towels smelled kind of dirty or sour still. Perhaps the dry soap didn't dissolve? I am thinking about changing it to liquid, but the 5 gallon bucket intimidates me and I don't like the idea of making that much. I just don't have that much space either. Has anyone made it super concentrated? I would love to just make a gallon worth (2 1/2 gallon canning jar sizes).

[tkine]

I read someone said that having a 2 gallon bucket liquid laundry detergent for over 6 months was a CON ;)

I'd think THAT was a major plus, that it lasts soooo long.  I'm sure storing that much detergent is a pain.  

A person could cut the ingredients in half when making the liquid.  I did that for a while, but not because storing it was a major

pain.  I guess I am a nerd & wanted to make it more often...I find it satisfying & fun to make something that saves us

money.  Kind of the equivalent of making Mud Pies as a kid, but THIS is a good thing!

I've experimented with making a Paste/gel version that is just under a Gallon container, for my top load washer, and so far have been happy with that.  I only use 1 - 1 1/2 Tablespoons of the Paste version per load.  I use the same amount of ingredients for liquid 5 gallon liquid, 

EXCEPT cut the total water amount down to just under 1 gallon. 

[cocoanib]

cut the recipe in 1/2 or 1/4. That's what I'm doing.

Also, you could just skip mixing with water at the end and use a smaller amount of the concentrate.

[MrsH]

Bluebirdmama - what I do when using the powder is that I turn my washer on so it starts filling, then get the powder out and add it, and wait until it is covered by water.  I think that helps it dissolve a bit, before adding the clothes.  While it's filling I might sort laundry or spot treat a shirt or something, it doesn't take long.  Good luck!

[Koalamom]

Originally Posted by MrsH 

Bluebirdmama - what I do when using the powder is that I turn my washer on so it starts filling, then get the powder out and add it, and wait until it is covered by water.  I think that helps it dissolve a bit, before adding the clothes.  While it's filling I might sort laundry or spot treat a shirt or something, it doesn't take long.  Good luck!

Are you seeing any difference in the the water- trace of soap, as the water looks clear to me like I need to use more soap. You use only 1/8 cup right?


Tkine- welcome to MDC. Would you share your recipe?


Goodness, why am I making this so complicated, lol!

[sosurreal09]

Don't forget that natural soaps don't usually make bubbles and things. Are you using the Dr. Bonners still? That wouldn't cloud the water I don't think b/c it is glycerin soap right?