laundry detergent

[organicmommy]

I want to make some laundry detergent to use. I have been using some stuff that I got from a wahm but would love to make it myself. Does anyone have any recipes? The one I have been using has lye in it and I willing to go that route, I think I prefer a powder over a liquid for storage reasons.

Thanks
Jessica

[Astrid1024]

This is from the sticky at the top of this forum

Dry Laundry Soap
by Simply Nurtured
2 cups castile soap flakes (you can grate a bar to get flakes)
1 cup washing soda
1 cup borax
3 - 6 drops essential or fragrance oil
Mix all ingredients, store in sealed container. Use 1/8 - 1/4 cup per load.
Recipe doubles fine.

I have used a formula similar to this and it works great even in my HE washer. The grated soap I used was Fels Naptha. Washing soda and Borax are both super cheap so that's great. Washing soda is different that Baking soda, just wanted you to know (you probably already do) to avoid the initial mistake I made.

From the internet
"Washing soda—sodium carbonate—is in the same family as baking soda. It has just been processed differently. It is much more caustic/alkaline, with a pH of 11, and while it doesn’t give off harmful fumes, you do need to wear gloves. It is found in the laundry section of most supermarkets. Arm & Hammer is one brand; Shop and Save has a generic house brand.

Washing soda cuts grease, cleans petroleum oil, removes wax or lipstick, and neutralizes odors in the same way that baking soda does. Don’t use it on fiberglass, aluminum or waxed floors—unless you intend to remove the wax."

Anyway, the DIY stuff I made worked well, but I have since switched to soap nuts which I love. I use them with a little borax and vinegar in the final rinse and my laundry comes out as clean as with detergent and smelling fresh, not perfumey. They are the best.

[Jojo F.]

This isn't a recipe but we love our soapnuts

[thefragile7393]

Some recipes here, similar to what has already been posted

http://www.diaperjungle.com/homemade...detergent.html

[Siennaflower]

Originally Posted by Jojo F.

This isn't a recipe but we love our soapnuts

How does one use soapnuts? Are they economical?

[Astrid1024]

Originally Posted by FlutterBee

How does one use soapnuts? Are they economical?

http://maggiespureland.com/learn.html

I'm still working the math out to see if they are as cheap as making laundry detergent with borax and washing soda but they aren't spendy, that's for sure. You can get two pounds of them and the box says that 200 loads, for $33 through Maggie's soapnuts. You can use them for more than laundry detergent too - dish soap, shampoo, window cleaner. I think that you could get way more than 200 loads for that $33 dollars by using them a couple of times, which the box says you can do. I posted something over in another thread in this forum about how to make shampoo and liquid soap with them. http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...d.php?t=928700

Seriously, they are the best.

[Siennaflower]

Originally Posted by sarah.astrid

http://maggiespureland.com/learn.html

I'm still working the math out to see if they are as cheap as making laundry detergent with borax and washing soda but they aren't spendy, that's for sure. You can get two pounds of them and the box says that 200 loads, for $33 through Maggie's soapnuts. You can use them for more than laundry detergent too - dish soap, shampoo, window cleaner. I think that you could get way more than 200 loads for that $33 dollars by using them a couple of times, which the box says you can do. I posted something over in another thread in this forum about how to make shampoo and liquid soap with them. http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...d.php?t=928700

Seriously, they are the best.

Thanks!!

[Jojo F.]

I get way more washes out of them then what is stated. Even after I *think* they are done I boil them and even more soap come out of them!! I then use that liquid for other cleaning

Then you can compost them!!

There is another site that sells them too and they sell seeds so you can grow your own tree- provided you live in the correct climate- or you could try growing it in your house Haven't tried growing one myslef but when we get out own house I will certainly give it a try.

Here's the site- http://thesoapnutshop.co.nz/index.php?pr=Home_Page

I soapnuts

[Mallori]

Right now I am using Vinegar in a downy ball for fabric softener. Do you guys use anything in the rinse cycle for softener when you use the soapnuts? Would I be able to eliminate the vinegar?

[Astrid1024]

Originally Posted by Mallori

Right now I am using Vinegar in a downy ball for fabric softener. Do you guys use anything in the rinse cycle for softener when you use the soapnuts? Would I be able to eliminate the vinegar?

I have used the soap nuts with and without vinegar in the final rinse - they aren't stiff when they come out of the dryer if you haven't used vinegar, but adding it to the final rinse does make a noticeable difference in terms of softening - plus it gets rids of static.

I also like adding vinegar because it's supposed to cut down on mold and mildew in my front loading washer.