Homemade Laundry Detergent

[dtr_angel]

Does anyone else make their own?

I've been using homemade for over a year now. I'm just not impressed but I don't want to go back to store bought. I feel like our clothes are fading very quickly. I also don't feel like it's getting our clothes clean. I pre-treat the stains (I have a 22 month old so there are food stains almost daily) and even if I treat the stain right after dinner and throw the load in, it still stains. The kind I make is powder. The first recipe I used was just a combination of washing soda, borox, and grated soap. I used a new recipe almost 4 months ago that uses washing soda, borox, 3 bars of soap, 3 lbs of oxi clean and purex crystals (its for the scent) and I don't see any difference with that. It dissolves easily in water but it doesn't suds. Before I started making my own I was using Arm & Hammer for over 5 years and I always felt like my clothes were clean, not fading, and stains came out if I didn't leave them set.

 

[softballmom3]

I made a super large patch of detergent using basically the same except I use Zote soap. It worked fine and then all of a sudden my daughters were bringing me clothes that had pink stains on them (color of the Zote) so.....we are now using that soap for jeans, undies and towels. Anything I worry about I have went back to store bought detergent.

 

[dtr_angel]

I made a super large patch of detergent using basically the same except I use Zote soap. It worked fine and then all of a sudden my daughters were bringing me clothes that had pink stains on them (color of the Zote) so.....we are now using that soap for jeans, undies and towels. Anything I worry about I have went back to store bought detergent.

I used fels naphtha soap because I could not find zote. It's white so no stains. The batch I made is huge too!

 

[Swimalie]

A friend of mine had a party where we made our own soap just last Friday night. It was made from the same combo you mentioned (even down to the Fells Naptha). I do like the fresh scent and haven't noticed a problem with the clothes yet but I have only done 3 loads with it. Prior to this new soap I used Arm and Hammer as well. I'll be watching my clothes more closely now that I know others aren't really happy with the home made detergent.

 

[Happyjen27]

I used it for my babies' clothes and was happy that there were fewer chemicals and no scent for much cheaper than dreft. However, I was very unhappy to unpack some of my favorite outfits a year later to loan to someone and there were tons of yellow stains all over the clothes. It would appear that not all of the milk solids were broken down, and that made stains over time.

I use store bought Arm and Hammer "free" now. It works great, and no extra stains that have developed over time.

 

[Jedimom]

There's a way to get those yellow stains out of old baby clothes, if that's what you're talking about, and maybe even other clothes? I don't recall the recipe exactly, but I used it once when the same thing happened to me (lent somebody baby clothes and got them back all stained) and it worked.

From what I remember it involved filling the bathtub with all the baby clothes, filling it, and adding a solution which involved cascade dishwasher detergent (had to be cascade for some reason), maybe some borax, baking soda, vinegar too -- I forget. I want to think it was a homemade oxi-clean recipe. Can't hurt to try it if the clothes are already ruined, right?

 

[ElenaRN]

I use a recipe that calls for Borax, washing soda, baking soda, oxiclean and soap- I use fels naptha.

I have been generally pleased with it.

 

[nene0182]

I used to make my own but my husband refused to use it. He just felt like his clothes weren't getting as clean. So, I've stopped. We now just use the individual pods.

 

[crisi]

Food stains are tough - and toddlers are tough - and its hard with any detergent at that age because you wash everything so often.

My sister does clothing sales and says powdered detergent is much better for clothes in terms of fading than liquid. I believe there are homemade powdered recipes, but powder is also much cheaper.

I use Fels Naptha, washing soda and borax, nothing else, and am happy with it. I don't use a recipe - I put the grated naptha in a pot with a bunch of water and let it melt, add the soda and borax, let it sit and gel, then add more water to get a slurry. Its a handful here and a handful there recipe. But my kids are teens - not as many peas mooshed into their clothes as their used to be.

 

[pjlla]

I started making my own detergent over a year ago.... tried a few different recipes and combo before settling on one that I thought dissolved well in cold water, rinsed well, and washed well. It is the same that many of you mention, the borax, washing soda, and Fels Naptha. I grate/blend it SUPERFINE in my food processor or it won't dissolve in the cold water.

It seems to wash okay and I am fine not having a perfumed detergent.... but we are finding that it is affecting the absorbency of towels.... most especially notice it with kitchen towels. They don't absorb ANYTHING any more! If I try to wipe down a damp counter I just end up pushing the water around. It is SUPER frustrating when I am cleaning or trying to dry dishes.

I have tried using a vinegar rinse on the towels on several occasions, but it doesn't seem to change anything. I have read recently that I should/could soak/wash the towels in with baking soda and it will help remove residue and improve the absorbency, but I haven't tried it yet.

I do pre-treat spots with Dawn and hydrogen peroxide..... I tried making my own stain pre-treater with the detergent combo, but it didn't work well enough, especially on greasy stains or food stains. Dawn works FABULOUSLY on food stains and the hydrogen peroxide helps with yellowing and other stains like grass and bodily fluids (sweat, blood).

I am OUT of my detergent as of yesterday and was planning to make a new batch today (I make about 3 months worth at a time), but will hold off a bit in case anyone comes up with a better recipe!......................P

 

[laurafergie]

I started making my own detergent over a year ago.... tried a few different recipes and combo before settling on one that I thought dissolved well in cold water, rinsed well, and washed well. It is the same that many of you mention, the borax, washing soda, and Fels Naptha. I grate/blend it SUPERFINE in my food processor or it won't dissolve in the cold water.

It seems to wash okay and I am fine not having a perfumed detergent.... but we are finding that it is affecting the absorbency of towels.... most especially notice it with kitchen towels. They don't absorb ANYTHING any more! If I try to wipe down a damp counter I just end up pushing the water around. It is SUPER frustrating when I am cleaning or trying to dry dishes.

I have tried using a vinegar rinse on the towels on several occasions, but it doesn't seem to change anything. I have read recently that I should/could soak/wash the towels in with baking soda and it will help remove residue and improve the absorbency, but I haven't tried it yet.

I do pre-treat spots with Dawn and hydrogen peroxide..... I tried making my own stain pre-treater with the detergent combo, but it didn't work well enough, especially on greasy stains or food stains. Dawn works FABULOUSLY on food stains and the hydrogen peroxide helps with yellowing and other stains like grass and bodily fluids (sweat, blood).

I am OUT of my detergent as of yesterday and was planning to make a new batch today (I make about 3 months worth at a time), but will hold off a bit in case anyone comes up with a better recipe!......................P

Bolding mine. I use one box Borax, one box Washing Soda and 6 bars of Fels Naptha soap. It lasts about 3-4 months with four people at home. I don't even use the grater attachment in the food processor, I put one cut up bar of soap and about a cup or more of the borax (for extra grit) in the processor. I let it go until it is powder.

I use this soap because I am on a septic, and wanted the least amount of suds. This does not sud at all.

I had to experiment on the amount of soap to use for my water. That may be the problem for some of you. All water is different. Hard, soft etc.

I have a measuring spoon that is 1.5 Tablespoons and have 4 levels (the biggest washer you can buy) in my top loading washer. I use 1/2 of the spoon per LEVEL. (this makes it about a teaspoon per level) I may use even less for my work clothes and also cold water for my clothes. All other get at least warm water. I put in first, then the clothes. I treat with the Dawn/Peroxide combo (this does need to sit a few minutes) I do admit to not being able to give up my Downing addiction. My clothes come out great, and DH's clothes are nasty. He gets his own load.

As far as the baby clothes issue. The storage spots can be a problem even with commercial soap. With my kids, I found the best way to go was having a soak bucket on the washer with a heavy squirt of Dawn. Every night that day's clothes would go in the bucket. Then wash every few days and double rinse.

 

[Altoqueenkelly]

I do!!!!!!!!! I use her recipe (but I get Purex crystals instead of UnStopables):

http://aprons-n-pearls.blogspot.com/2012/11/homemade-laundry-soap.html

I made this last Aug and still have half a jar left!! I think we'll probably get a whole year out of one batch! I love it, cleans great and can't beat the price

Here is what you will need to make 2 gallons:

Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
Arm And Hammer Baking Soda (the big 4lb box)
20 Mule Team Borax
Oxi Clean (2 of the 1.3 lb containers, or 1 3lb container; generic is fine)
3 or 4 bars Fels Naptha Laundry Soap (people have had success with both - I personally use 4)
2 containers Downy UnStopables (I get the black and purple container. The scent is called Lush.)
garbage bag (or a garbage bag-lined 5 gallon bucket)
food processor (to make your life much easier) or cheese grater
container to store your soap (I bought a 2 gallon glass jar for approx. $10.)
measuring scoop

*I found the first six supplies in the laundry aisle and the glass jar in the kitchen department. The other items I already had.

 

[sherry7]

I confess that I've never made homemade laundry detergent, so I cannot comment on the effectiveness. For the last several years, I've been buying Sears powdered laundry detergent. From newborn baby clothes, to messy toddler clothes, to greasy grimy work clothes, it has worked for everything. I do pre-treat stains if I notice them. I haven't noticed any fading of our clothing or bedding.

At the current price for a 275 load box, it works out to just under 10 cents a load. But, it goes on sale for around 1/2 price a few times a year, which makes it about 5 cents a load. (I rarely use a full scoop, except on DH's work clothes, so it lasts much longer for us.) They also sell smaller boxes, but I buy the largest one since I know I like it. Like all HE detergents, it suds very little. (But can still be used in a traditional washing machine.). It has very little scent, even though it isn't marketed as fragrance free. This is the one that I buy. Oh, and for some odd reason, they stock it in the paint department, instead of near the washer and dryers...at least they did the last time I went to the store to buy it. http://www.sears.com/ultra-plus-tra...ergent-w-stain-fighter/p-03209898000P?prdNo=2

 

[stefplus3]

I use a recipe that calls for Borax, washing soda, baking soda, oxiclean and soap- I use fels naptha.

I have been generally pleased with it.

Ditto. I use the same recipe plus purex for scent and I've found it does a great job...even on stinky sports clothes.

 

[MSLRAC]

I made both liquid and powder soap and was not impressed with either. Our whites were dingy, our colors faded, stains wouldn't come out, towels didn't smell fresh, and the clothes just didn't feel or look clean. After about a year, I switched back to Gain and have never looked back. It was a huge money saver to make detergent but when I took into account the damage to our clothing, it wasn't worth it.

 

[gr8tdame]

I just recently made " laundry Sauce" Budget101.com - - Mom's Super Laundry Sauce | Whipped Laundry Soap | Make your own Laundry Detergent

http://www.budget101.com/myo-household-items/whipped-cream-super-laundry-soap-3993.html

I have a Maytag front loading washer and I have already done 16 loads. I was a die hard tide user . So far I have been very happy...we all have sensitive skin.
Since it does not have a lot of suds it is ideal for a ffront loading HE machine. I use one heaping tablespoon per load. It looks like Mayonaise.

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[bigbabyblues]

My MIL has made her own for awhile, and she sent me the link to it. It doesn't make a huge amount, but the supplies we bought will last quite awhile for us. It works great for our family; no babies, but two very active boys ages 13 and 10 with lots of stained clothes. No grating!

This is the link:
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com...trated-no-grate-liquid-laundry-detergent.html
We also add oxyclean and some Downy scent crystals.

 

[pixiewings71]

I've been making and using homemade detergent for about 4 or 5 years now. I do notice my whites get dingy but I had that issue before so every 6-9 months I put all my whites in a bucket of bleach and hot water, let them sit until the hot water is cold and dump it all in the washer to wash. Works great. Of course that won't work on whites with designs on them but it works great on plain white tank tops, tee shirts, socks. I've never had any problems with my towels losing absorbency either.
My recipe is 1 cup of washing soda (NOT baking, it has to be washing soda, they are different), 1 cup of Borax and 1 bar of grated Fels Neptha soap. I make up 2 batches at a time and it lasts for months, and we do a lot of laundry in this house. I have a day job in an office and dress nicely, then I have a night job as a line dance instructor so I wear casual clothes for that, in one day I can wear 3 different outfits. lol I'll keep making my own for the foreseeable future but if I decide to buy it I use Tide.

 

[gr8tdame]

I've been making and using homemade detergent for about 4 or 5 years now. I do notice my whites get dingy but I had that issue before so every 6-9 months I put all my whites in a bucket of bleach and hot water, let them sit until the hot water is cold and dump it all in the washer to wash. Works great. Of course that won't work on whites with designs on them but it works great on plain white tank tops, tee shirts, socks. I've never had any problems with my towels losing absorbency either. My recipe is 1 cup of washing soda (NOT baking, it has to be washing soda, they are different), 1 cup of Borax and 1 bar of grated Fels Neptha soap. I make up 2 batches at a time and it lasts for months, and we do a lot of laundry in this house. I have a day job in an office and dress nicely, then I have a night job as a line dance instructor so I wear casual clothes for that, in one day I can wear 3 different outfits. lol I'll keep making my own for the foreseeable future but if I decide to buy it I use Tide.

.
It seems to be the same formula I am using. I find my dh's t shirts were getting grayish previously and I only used tide and oxy clean. We bought new t shirts and I have been using my sundry sauce and I put white vinegar in the softener dispenser of my HE maytag washer. I do a load of wash everyday and have used this sauce for over a month now and the new t shirts are still bright white. I find it does the job and I am saving a bundle. I think it would be great for travel as it is thick like mayo and you only need a tablespoon per load.

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[DawnM]

I did for a while (about 18 months, 2 large batches) but after a while it just wasn't working like I would want it to (dingy clothing, etc...)

I have gone back to Kirkland Tide knock off, which Consumer Reports has rated as a very close second to Tide if not the same, and I use half the amount recommended. It still cleans better than the homemade.

http://lifehacker.com/5833434/save-money-by-using-just-half-the-laundry-detergent-recommended

With Costco sales I calculated that I spend about .05 per load. With homemade I spent about .03 per load. I can afford the extra .02 per load.

Dawn