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I am committed to using non-toxic products. Every once and a while I miss the gagging smell of pure bleach. After learning all about what is in most commercial products, coupled by the fact that I have an adventurous 2 year old always craving a good dive into unexplored territory, I will have to replace a good bleach whiff, for a good vinigar whiff...and both sort of clear you up!I sort of gave up after making my own crazy soap concoctions with no real success. Under the guidance of some "green home" book I got on line, I was pouring 1/2 cup of straight borax and washing soda into my wash cycle. All my clothes faded and balled up like crazy, and I decided that the $13.99 spent on a gallon of 7th generation was a better deal than having to replace Nike pants every other load.
Defeat.
After seeing this recipe on a blog last week, I realized how concentrated this stuff is (for example, that same 1/2 cup of borax and 1/2 cup of washing soda makes 2 GALLONS of detergent) I now understand my error. Just because it is "all natural" doesn't mean its wimpy!
So, round two and I think have a winner! Grab your pencil, you are going to want to write this recipe down:
1 bar Fels Naptha soap
6 cups water
Grate the Fels Naptha laundry soap into a large pot of water, on medium heat until soap is dissolved
1/2 C washing soda
1 /2 C Borax
Add the washing soda and borax into the pot of soapy water and mix
Add 20 drops of your favorite essential oil (I used lavender and lemon)
Grab two one-gallon containers (I'm reusing old laundry soap containers) and fill them half way with warm water.
Add half the mixture to each gallon container, then shake.
Fill the containers all the way with water, shake again, and let sit over night to gel.
If it gels too much, just add more water.
Use 1/4-1/3 cup of liquid detergent per load. (roughly .3Cents per load)
4 Fels Naptha bars, a box of borax and a box of washing soda is about $14 on line . I went to www.soapsgoneby.com to order the products. They have more recipes on this website as well!
Happy soap making! And holey moley, happy savings!
8 comments:
So does this work in front loaders?
Wow that sounds great! I might just try that, David goes through laundry detergent like its nobodys business! I wonder if he will use it though.....
I don't see why it wouldn't work Leah! Give it a try! And if not, there are a billion other uses for borax and washing soda!
Also, Monique, David will love it! It smells just like laundry, and his clothes will come out soft too, with out that filmy residue.
Taylor LOVES your blog. She says, "I want to look at the food pictures, it's my favorite!" =) I love reading your advice and tips!
Tabitha
Happy soap making! I'm glad it's working for you! I have a front loader and it works GREAT!
you should check out our blog...it's pretty much all about Zac though! it looks like things are going really great for you, that is awesome!
And there is NO modern product made that beats a good rub with a bar of Fels Naptha for getting out stains. No mom should be without it. As for front loaders, I think perhaps less would do more? Worth a try.
Okay, wow! I'm excited... Have made home-made baby wipes before, but never thought to try home-made laundry detergent! =) Have jus t bought more expensive "green" stuff, you know? I like this plan!
Thanks, Nina, for still bein' so darn cool! ;)
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