HE laundry detergent "recipe"?

[lil_miss_understood]

Does anyone know what can be used in a HE front loading washer in place of store-bought detergent? I read the sticky but I can't seem to find one.

[Malva]

I use the

1 bar grated soap
+
1 cup borax
+
1 cup washing soda

recipe in my HE washing machine (and I have for over a year now). It doesn't sud so it's perfect for a HE machine.

You only need to use 1 tbps per load.

I put a capful of vinegar (sometimes I add 4 drops of lavender EO to the vinegar) in the rinse cycle as fabric softener and leave the door ajar when not in use. I've never had any trouble with my machine at all. The clothes are really clean.

[lil_miss_understood]

That's great to know, thanks!

[LilMamiBella]

Would this be ok for cloth diapers? What kind of soap do you use? Where do you buy washing soda?

[lil_miss_understood]

Ivory works, from what I understand, but you need to grate it.
I get my Washing Soda at the Fred Meyer's in town here.

[Astrid1024]

I cannot cannot cannot say enough about Maggie's Soap Nuts. They are THE BEST! Especially for HE front loaders. They are super gentle, completely chemical free and you can use them for other purposes too - like to make your own 100% chemical free Shampoo, body wash, liquid dish soap, window cleaner. Seriously, they are awesome - They don't smell great in the box, but they work so well and leave your laundry with a fresh, laundered smell - not a fake, perfumed smell.

http://maggiespureland.com/

[LilMamiBella]

Originally Posted by sarah.astrid

I cannot cannot cannot say enough about Maggie's Soap Nuts. They are THE BEST! Especially for HE front loaders. They are super gentle, completely chemical free and you can use them for other purposes too - like to make your own 100% chemical free Shampoo, body wash, liquid dish soap, window cleaner. Seriously, they are awesome - They don't smell great in the box, but they work so well and leave your laundry with a fresh, laundered smell - not a fake, perfumed smell.

http://maggiespureland.com/

is this ok for cloth diapers?

[Astrid1024]

I will use them when I have my baby - I have heard that people have had good results using soap nuts on their cloth dipes - that it helped with diaper rash and irritation and that it got them clean - if you want white diapers, I would recommend using the soap nuts with a bit of hydrogen peroxide or oxygen bleach.