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Cheaper to make my laundry detergent or buy something like Charlies??  

post #1 of 26
6/23/08 at 5:25pm
Thread Starter 
Things are REEEAAAALLLLLLYYYYY tight here right now but DH thinks it may actually cost us money for me to go back to work (clothes I don't have, etc.) I am currently making my own laundry detergent which I love but I wonder if maybe something like Charlies might be cheaper??

I use leftover grated soap, a cup of A&H Essentials, borax, washing soda, mix up, add water and let sit til thick. This stuff does last forever. I am seduced, I suppose, by all the cool detergents out there now that are eco-friendly and better for clothes. Soapnuts, I will say, seemed quite expensive to me for what you get. I wonder about some of the others. Seventh Gen. is way overpriced where we live (10.00 for a bottle that will do about 35 loads).

Well, mamas?? Educate me!! what's the cheapest thing to do?
post #2 of 26
6/23/08 at 5:31pm
I have no idea what Charlies is or how much it costs, but if you are thinking solely on money saving I don't see how you can get much cheaper than making your own. It costs me less than 1 cent per load when I make my own. Seriously.
post #3 of 26
6/23/08 at 5:35pm
Thread Starter 
OK, tell me what you do....that's the best I've heard of yet!
post #4 of 26
6/23/08 at 5:35pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pancakes View Post
I have no idea what Charlies is or how much it costs, but if you are thinking solely on money saving I don't see how you can get much cheaper than making your own. It costs me less than 1 cent per load when I make my own. Seriously.
It doesn't get much cheaper than that! I use Charlie's, and it's pretty cheap but not anywhere near that cheap.
post #5 of 26
6/23/08 at 5:40pm
I don't make my own laundry soap, but I keep hearing how much cheaper it is. I've seen many many mamas on here saying it's saving them so much money. It seems as though everyone who has tried it agrees it does save. I have yet to hear someone complain that it didn't. (Not saying it's not possible, just that I haven't heard anything!) I do suppose it depends on where you live and how much the ingredients cost you, vs. how much buying it would cost. I guess the only way you'll know for sure is if you figure out what it's costing you per load to make your own, then compare that to store-bought. My guess, though, would be that making it yourself will prove to be the better bargain.
post #6 of 26
6/23/08 at 6:41pm

places to find these on the Internet

Hi All,
Anyone already have a great place to find these items cheaply on the Internet?

A&H Essentials, borax, washing soda

TIA
post #7 of 26
6/23/08 at 7:04pm
I have never made my own soap, but just switched to charlies. it is a tiny bag but you only need a tablespoon and the bag does 80 loads. works out to be .17 cents a load.

I also like that it does not leave a residue on our clothes and we no longer need fabric softner.
post #8 of 26
6/23/08 at 8:47pm
: if its cheaper id like to makemy owntoo. BUT it would have to work for clothdiapers andbaby clothes too.
post #9 of 26
6/23/08 at 9:32pm
Charlies would be about $30 a bag for me, which is about 37.5 cents a load and homemade is just pennies so homemade is cheaper for me. (I actually just loaded up on laundry detergent supplies during a good sale : )
post #10 of 26
6/23/08 at 10:05pm
whats everyones recipes? can it be used on diapers?
post #11 of 26
6/23/08 at 11:18pm
how is it $30 a bag. I ordered straight from their site and it is $14.99 a bag, and if you buy it and one other thing (i get the 17 oz all purpose spray) it lowers the bag to $13 something and shipping is free.

Quote:
Originally Posted by bwylde View Post
Charlies would be about $30 a bag for me, which is about 37.5 cents a load and homemade is just pennies so homemade is cheaper for me. (I actually just loaded up on laundry detergent supplies during a good sale : )
post #12 of 26
6/23/08 at 11:41pm
It costs me about a buck to make two gallons of concentrate. Even if I use 1/2 cup per load (double what I actually need) that's 64 loads (I think) which works out to 1.5 cents per load.
I have to say that I have been battling diaper stinkies for months then the *first* time I washed them in the homemade stuff the stink vanished. My kids are usually rashy too and they haven't had a rash since I switched. I will NEVER go back to purchaced detergent.


I do the felsnaptha (1/3 bar, grated then melted in a pan of water) added to 1 cup each of borax and washing soda (sodium carbonate--not baking soda). After it's all mixed and gelled I add enough water to make about two gallons.
post #13 of 26
6/24/08 at 12:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Synchro246 View Post
It costs me about a buck to make two gallons of concentrate. Even if I use 1/2 cup per load (double what I actually need) that's 64 loads (I think) which works out to 1.5 cents per load.
I have to say that I have been battling diaper stinkies for months then the *first* time I washed them in the homemade stuff the stink vanished. My kids are usually rashy too and they haven't had a rash since I switched. I will NEVER go back to purchaced detergent.


I do the felsnaptha (1/3 bar, grated then melted in a pan of water) added to 1 cup each of borax and washing soda (sodium carbonate--not baking soda). After it's all mixed and gelled I add enough water to make about two gallons.
thanks! how do you store it?
post #14 of 26
6/24/08 at 1:00am
:
post #15 of 26
6/24/08 at 8:16am
Quote:
Originally Posted by kris4chloe View Post
how is it $30 a bag. I ordered straight from their site and it is $14.99 a bag, and if you buy it and one other thing (i get the 17 oz all purpose spray) it lowers the bag to $13 something and shipping is free.
I can't find it in stores and it's $21.99 on the Canadian site plus almost $7 for shipping (ok, so not quite $30, but close). If I were to buy two it would be $42 plus $10 for shipping, but we really cannot afford that. Things are almost always more expensive in Canada.
post #16 of 26
6/24/08 at 10:01am
I've got a dry recipe for the homemade soap, I've been using it over a year and I'm happy with it. I make a huge batch at a time so I don't have to mess with it but every few months.

1 cup borax (about $4 a box)
1 cup washing soda (about $2 a box different than baking soda, yellow box)
1 bar of Fels Naptha grated (about $1.50 a bar, I grate in my food processor)

Use 2 Tablespoons per load (1 for light load, 3 for super heavy or soiled)

For diapers I use 1 or 2 tbsp of washing soda, depending on side of load and 5 or 6 squirts of simple green. I've been doing this 2+ months with no problems.

ETA - I've heard that you should NOT use fels on diapers because it will cause a waxy build up over time.
http://www.sunshinediapers.com/cloth...g-a-detergent/
post #17 of 26
6/24/08 at 1:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by counterGOPI View Post
thanks! how do you store it?
In an empty laundry detergent container--one of the ones with the push-button dispenser
Oh, I do have to shake it before dispensing. That is the only downside. I try to look at it as a mini arm workout
post #18 of 26
6/24/08 at 1:58pm
How are these recipes on HE washers?
post #19 of 26
6/24/08 at 2:45pm
Is there a way to make your own detergent without washing soda?

I was using washing soda a year ago when I was having trouble with my dh's stinky shirts not getting clean (summer sweat - bleah!). I used the soda in addition to the regular detergent we used. Well, it worked *great* on the shirts! The stink totally disappeared!

And then my son broke out in a rash so I stopped using it. I can't imagine why washing soda would do that but I also haven't tested it again to see.

Also, do homemade detergents work in cold water? I've been washing in cold water this past week after reading about it saving money. I'm really surprised to find that the clothes are coming out just as clean! (I have read it depends on your water though - we have good water, not too soft, not too hard). I've also found out (and this should be a "duh" moment) that my mama pads are coming out cleaner than when I washed them in warm or hot water.
post #20 of 26
6/24/08 at 2:56pm
Hmmm... and I thought I got a good deal... bought a 50 lb. box of Bio-Kleen for $95. I use about 1 oz. per load (in my HE washer), so that's 800 loads at about 12 cents per load. But then I also use vinegar for fabric softener, and sometimes hydrogen peroxide in the bleach compartment, so I'm actually paying more than that per load.
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Mothering › Forums › Natural Family Living › The Mindful Home › Frugality & Finances › Cheaper to make my laundry detergent or buy something like Charlies??