Sick of buying laundry soap?? Me too. This stuff is awesome because it is way stronger then the store bought laundry soap. You only have to use 1 Tablespoon per load. This recipe makes a huge cookie jar full of soap and is going to last a life time, well maybe not quit that long. I originally made mine in July and I still have a ton and I do at least 8 loads of laundry ever week. So I am thinking it will last me almost a year. 1 year of laundry soap for less than $20, have I got you sold yet? I love not having to buy laundry soap all the time anymore. This laundry soap also works just fine in HE washers. Update: **I just ran out of laundry soap and it is March. So July to March that's 9 months of laundry soap for $20 bucks. I am pretty happy about that.**
Here is what you need:
1 4 lb 12 oz box Borax (2.15 kg or 76 oz) found in the detergent isle1 4 lb box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (1.81 kg) found in the cooking isle
1 box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 55 oz (3 lb 7 oz) found in the detergent isle
3 bars of Fels-Naptha soap, found in the detergent isle
2 small containers of Oxy Clean or store brand Oxy Clean (try to get about 3.5 lbs total (1.58 kg)) found in the detergent isle.
(this is optional, I added it into mine because I have pretty messy kids and the cleaner the better)
(you can also use pink Zote soap instead of Fels-Naptha. I had really wanted to but could not find it anywhere) **Update: My sister found pink Zote soap at Home Depot**
(you can also use pink Zote soap instead of Fels-Naptha. I had really wanted to but could not find it anywhere) **Update: My sister found pink Zote soap at Home Depot**
You should be able to find all of these items at your grocery store.
This detergent is fairly mild smelling, it is not over powering. If you love a strong scent you may have to add a fabric softener to each load.
Start out by grating your Fels-Naptha soap just like cheese. You can use a food processor or just use your hand held grater, what ever you have.**Don't worry the Fels-Naptha will dissolve in your washer even if you only use cold water like me.**
Toss all ingredients in a 5 gallon bucket lined with a garbage bag. This part makes your whole house smell great. Once everything is mixed store soap however you like. I chose a jar that I keep above my washing machine, I also got a little scoop to keep inside. Wasn't that easy? Sure was! Enjoy your soap.
**Update** I have had a lot of repeat questions so I though I would answer a few here.
-This detergent is safe for HE washers and should be added to the barrel instead of the dispenser.
-This detergent is safe to use on sensitive skin.
-It does not have a strong scent, you can add laundry crystals to the batch to add fragrance.
-Some of my followers have used other bar soap instead of Zote or Fels-Naptha. I have personally not tried it but from the feed back I get it sounds like any bar will work.
Linked to:
Are you using this soap in a high efficiency front loader?
ReplyDeleteI have an HE washer- I think if it doesn't suds too much, it should be fine. However, it would probably need to go directly into the washer drum instead of the dispenser- I don't think the shredded soap would do well in the dispenser. I'm gonna' try it anyway- thanks! (found you on pinterest). :)
ReplyDeleteWe use this homemade soap in our HE washer. It doesn't suds much at all so it is fine :)
ReplyDeleteDo you know if it is safe to use with little babies (instead of Dreft)? I have a 4 month old....
ReplyDeleteTerri- I do not have a HE washer but from talking to those who do it sounds like you should put the soap in the drum and still use 1 tablespoon.
ReplyDeleteTiffany- I hate to break it to you but this soap recipe is made in a 5 gallon bucket. Don't let it overwhelm you, it does last almost a year and you can't beat that!
Good luck ladies.
Chris- This soap does smell good all year long. I made a batch and used it over almost a year period and it smelt nice and fresh the whole time.
ReplyDeleteWe have an he washer and it works wonderfully. I only use the borax, fels naptha and super washing detergent as a powder, not liquid. Instead of shredding mine, I put the bar soap into the food processor with the blade that basically destroys anything it touches! ha I also have a 5.5 month old and it doesn't bother his skin at all...and, I cloth diaper! Love it! Although, I'm searching for something that DOES NOT use Borax and is still powder. Oh, and instead of Fels Naptha, I am going to use Ivory soap. It's much milder and you can add essential oils to it to make it smell the way you'd like.
ReplyDeleteHomefire- I am pretty sure that the baking soda is for hard water users. I have a dishwasher detergent recipe that calls for baking soda and it is for people who have hard water. I personally use hard water and I love this laundry soap recipe!
ReplyDeleteLacewood- I do most of my laundry in cold water and the FelsNaptha soap dissolves just fine for me. I have never run a load and found undissolved soap anywhere.
ReplyDeleteI just finished mine, it was so easy! I found zote at the .99 cent store for .59 a bar and at walmart for.96 for two bars (too bad I found the cheaper price after I bought some lol). I think the zote made it looks really pretty, almost like strawberry malt powder and it smells so lovely! Thanks again for the instructions!
ReplyDeleteCan you tell me what kind of soap that Fels Naptha is? I need to find an Australian equivalent. Is it a laundry soap or a bathroom soap? Thanks so much if you can help!
ReplyDeleteAlso, how much oxyclean - ours comes in different sizes in Australia. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteDawn- I treat this laundry soap like the normal stuff. On occasion I have used spray and wash with it and it works just fine.
ReplyDeleteSooozie- A lot of people have been wanting to do something to make this smell even better, by the way it already smells good. So far nothing has been discovered. Let me know if you find anything.
ReplyDeleteEssential oils from Noterra make it smell great! In fact, theyhave products that make it all natural & even more cost effective!
DeleteThe Downy Unstopables are amazing! I love your soap!
DeleteJoan- Fels-naptha is a laundry bar soap that is ideal for pre-treating stains. It is 5.5 oz (155 g) a bar. Zote laundry bar soap is another option. You need 32 oz (2 lb.) of Oxyclean. You can use a name brand if you like, it works just as well. Let me know if you you need any other info.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! A great help - going to make it tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteVery good post. I've seen a million recipes, but I like the additions of baking soda and oxyclean. I've been using a 1c washing soda, 1c borax, 1 bar Ivory mix in my HE detergent dispenser, but I know we have hard water so I'm interested in the baking soda. (And wow about the comment re: soap in the microwave! That would be pretty cool)
ReplyDeleteMolly- mine is probably 1 1/2 gallons. 2 gallons will work just fine. It's a huge batch.
ReplyDeleteDoes the laundry detergent dissolve well in cold water?
ReplyDeleteHello i have a few questions.
ReplyDelete1) Do you use fabric softner with this? Is it needed or not needed?
2) Does it work well on colors and whites?
3) Do you have any suggestions for if i wanted to make a smaller batch just to try it out?
Thank you so much.
Bobbie- This soap totally dissolves in cold water. I do 80% of my laundry in cold and never have any problems.
ReplyDeleteTina P.- You can treat this soap just like you do store bought. I personally do not use fabric softener in my laundry but I bet it would work with this just fine. My colors seam to do okay, I always bleach my whites. As far as making a smaller batch you could try to cut it in half. You will still have to buy huge boxes of the ingredients becasue they only come in large quantity's. I personally love this soap and have been using it for about 2 years now. I hope you have the same luck!
ReplyDeleteI use this stuff in my HE washer as I do any laundry soap I have had my HE washer for about 8 years now and only have had it repaired one time (A sensor)I think all the talk on HE soaps is just a money gimmick. I use it all.
ReplyDeleteIf you use 1/3 cup of white vinegar as a "fabric softener" you will not have any build up on your machine and it really does soften your clothes. If you have an HE washer just put it in the softener dispenser & if not just use a Downy Ball. Once the clothes are dry you cannot smell the vinegar.
ReplyDeleteI use white vinegar as a softener as well. Do you us the vinegar with this detergent recipe? I was wondering if it would be safe or a science project gone wrong with the vinegar and baking soda.
DeleteThanks again everyone for the comments!
ReplyDelete@brittini, i have used essential oils..keep in mind though, if you are doing this to save money then you might not want to use it...you have to mix it in with your baking soda...it does clump up but if you use a fork it mash it around, it will work in...this is by far the best recipe out there...i like this recipe so much that i don't think i'll use anything else...this is the 3rd recipe that i have tried...
ReplyDeletehere is a link to ebay:
ReplyDeletei saved this on my ebay in case i wanted to order some...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-oz-Gain-Island-Fresh-Fragrance-Oil-Candle-Soap-Incense-Home-Fragrance-/290612569431?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item43a9dbe557
yes, after you mix the oil in with the baking soda just add it to the rest of the mix...
TaraS- I have never tried putting oil into my batch. Some of the other commentors have tried it. I am not sure how much they are using though. Sorry.
ReplyDeleteFor all of you looking for scent- Just discovered the Purex Crystals Softener. I add one bottle into the mix and it makes it all smell SOO good- even after drying. Smells like the high price detergents!
ReplyDeleteI just made my first batch of this laundry soap last night. I did use Ivory bar soap instead of the Fels Naptha and I added a bottle of the Purex Crystals Softner to the batch. Instead of the grating the Ivory bar soap, I put one bar at a time in the microwave and watched it marshmallow out. Once it cools down, it turns into a powdery substance when you touch it. Made it really easy to mix in with the other indgredients. I washed my first load with the soap and loved how the clothes came out. The only thing I have to get used to is that there are no bubbles with this soap.
ReplyDeleteFor fading colors use vinegar in your wash. That should help with your colors. Also add some in your downey ball instead of fabric softner.
ReplyDeleteAmanda- I hate to break it to you but this recipe does not bubble up at all. It was really hard for me to get past that however I could not be happier with how clean my clothes come out. Its kinda like dishwasher detergent where it cleans but does not bubble at all, it still gets the job done. I personally like the fels-naptha better then Zote even though I love having my soap be pink.
ReplyDelete@ Nancy and everyone else that has concerns about Fels-Naptha - It CLEARLY states on the packaging that it contains no Naptha, which is the chemical that has been outlawed. It has no Stoddard solvent and no petroleum distillates.
ReplyDeleteI have an he washer and it works wonderfully and smells so good and clean!
A bar of "any" soap is NOT the same as Fels Naptha. Fels Naptha does a great job of removing stains (like lipstick that accidentally got put in the drier . . . )
ReplyDeleteJessica- This recipe is fairly mild. When mixing the batch it can be really strong with all of the ingredients floating in the air at the same time. After it is made and put into a jar you only use 1-2 Tablespoons per load and it is not over powering. I just made another batch at my house a few days ago and while making it my house smelt pretty strong. If you do try it maybe make it outside so that the fragrance does not take over your house for a few hours. As for cloth diapers I have no experience. You can pretty much treat this recipe like any other laundry detergent.
ReplyDeleteOk, I just have to say, the Colgate Octagon soap smells AMAZING! It's kind of on the ugly side (think olive drab) but smells of lemongrass and coconut oil! After some research, turns out it's good for MULTIPLE purposes! Just thought I would share for anyone not able to find Fels-Naptha or Zote like me. I found Colgate's Octagon Soap in our local Food Lion!
ReplyDeleteIs the Colgate Octagon Soap a laundry soap or body soap? In the laundry aisle or health and beauty?
DeleteI made this soap and it is a huge success! Much, much, much better than the liquid versions. In addition, I used pink Zote and grated it very fine and put the entire mixture in a pretty glass jar. It is so sweet looking. I adore this recipe.
ReplyDeleteI used it to launder vintage aprons from my aunt (probably 60-70 years old). They smell fresh and clean, no old musty odor. They had been packed away in an old farmhouse for at least 50 years. Thank you so much.
Ayeita- You can find almost all of the ingredients in the laundry soap isle, they are by the pretreatment items.
ReplyDeleteI have not yet tried, but intend to make the following FABRIC SOFTENER recipe.
ReplyDelete6 cups HOT tap water
2 cups (any scent) Suave hair conditioner
3 cups white vinegar.
mix conditioner and hot water until conditioner is completely dissolved. add vinegar. mix well.
use 2 TBS per load, or soak a wash cloth in it, ring out well and use that for 2-3 loads before re-wetting with softener.
Whoever mentioned using the steel blades of the food processor to chop up the Fels Naptha--THANK YOU! I have a great food processor and it chopped the soap into itty bitty tiny bits. This really helps if with the problem of shredded Fels Naptha not dissolving in the wash (probably an HE washer problem--it has happened to me with my HE). Also, since that Fels Naptha is so small, I can put my homemade detergent right in the dispenser of my HE washer and I don't have to worry if I forget to put it in the drum before I put the clothes in. No chunky soap residue in the dispenser any more!
ReplyDeleteThe Confetti Cottage- Supposedly the store bought detergent has a lot of fillers in it so that is why you only have to use 1-2 tablespoons of homemade detergent. My laundry does not have an over powering smell, just clean. If you want a heavier scent you have to add fragrances to the batch. As for make-up does your normal detergent get make-up off your rags? Store bought or homemade never completely gets make-up of my rags. It cleans them but make-up stains them permanently. Back to the smell of laundry, I just purchased a bounce sheet laundry bar at the grocery store. It's a bar that you stick to the side of the dryer instead of using bouncy sheets, it makes my laundry smell really nice. You may want to try something like that instead of adding scents to your laundry detergent. I hope I have been helpful.
ReplyDeleteEveryone- Just a helpful tip, I have been using a bounce sheet bar that I picked up from the grocery store in the detergent isle. It is a bar that you stick to that side of your dryer. It replaces bounce sheets and lasts forever. It works really well for me and it has a very nice scent and is making my clothes smell wonderful. Just thought I would give you a heads up if you would like to try it out!
ReplyDeleteJust made this up and couldn't believe how easy it was. My girls thought the soap was cheese ;). I can't wait to try it out and will have to check out your dish detergent recipe next. Found you on Pinterest.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to try this... I bought everything at Walmart today and it was less than $20!!
ReplyDeleteYay, super easy recipe! I LOVE how it uses the whole boxes of ingredients, and it is by far the strongest recipe I've seen to date. As a general rule of thumb for homemade soaps they are essentially the same as the free and clear, and you can use any bar soap. I'll be using ivory since its a relatively "pure" bar soap and is super cheap. Like 8 bars for $4. Thanks for the recipe! I'm for sure going with this one and will be blogging about it afterwards!
ReplyDeleteHolly Hoopes- My clothes are never stiff, ever. It washes just like the store bought laundry soap. IThis recipe does have a more mild scent, other than that the end result is pretty much the same.
ReplyDeleteMuch Less expensive than a scented laundry softener or refresher it lavender oil you simply add a drop or 2 to the beginning of the start of your load( once the water has filled before you add your clothes or after it is filled and cycling.
ReplyDeleteWith a baby on the way, I am very interested in saving money this way (and saving myself from lugging home huge bottles of detergent).
ReplyDeleteI found that all the ingredients you use are safe for babies, with the exception of the dye/fragrance in both the Fels Naptha and OxiClean.
Fragrance and dye free alternatives are available for both though, if others are interested. I substituted Dr Bronners Baby Mild Soap Bars and OxiClean Baby.
Here is a great resource about what's safe for babies: http://www.marthastewart.com/268646/baby-laundry-101
(and all your ingredients are on the list!) Thanks!
I really enjoyed making the detergent, and the product is wonderful! I am a new follower and a relatively new blogger. Thanks for following me and I would love your readers to come and take a look!
ReplyDeletehttp://evenicandothat.blogspot.com/
karlamcurry- It does dissolve in cold water!
ReplyDeleteIs there anyway you could tell me what ingredients for the aussies? or contact Joan and ask her i looked her profile up but was unable to contact her lol I use to make the liquid version of this when i lived in the states and now since moving down under i am clueless as to what ingredients i should be using...or where to find them...ive looked in my grocery store and just find powder n liquid laundry soaps im so lost!!
ReplyDeleteJust got done making this. I have to agree, it was really easy. I have done 3 loads, using a HE Front Loader. I put the mixture right in the cup in the pull out drawer. I had no problem with the soap dissolving. I have to say, I think this is the cleanest my clothes have ever been. I was very nervous to use such little amt of soap, but it worked! I will be sharing this with all my friends!
ReplyDeleteI Have an HE washer and I am very very picky about my laundry soap, However I made a batch of this laundry soap a month ago and I LOVE it, it works wonderful. My work a group home also is using this now, Thank you for posting and saving us money :)
ReplyDelete00Minnow- Suppossedly any bar of soap will work in this recipe, however I have never tried anything other than Fels-Naptha and Zote.
ReplyDeletesupasumma- I do notice a small amount of fading. I try to wash my dark clothes in cold water to help with this.
ReplyDeleteI just made this today. I found a 3 lb tub of oxiclean that is perfume & dye free. Its a half lb short of the recipe, but I'm ok with that. It smells great with the pink zote soap. Finding Washing Soap took a little searching but my local Ace had it. I'm storing the bulk of it in a bucket & filled the oxiclean rob with detergent to set I top of my washer. I'm trying it out as we speak.
ReplyDeleteI read through the comments briefly, has anyone used this for cloth diapers? I've read some mixed reviews for some of the ingredients (borax & oxi clean).
Word of caution for those with HE washing machines....I used this recipe for 9 months and then I had to call in a washing machine repairman when my washer stopped working. The diagnosis was that the inexpensive laundry soap I had been making had actually clogged the components. So sad and so expensive.
ReplyDeleteJust made a batch and I am trying it out on my cream colored pants and sweater that had some makeup stains on the collar. My fingers are crossed! Thanks for sharing your recipe. I have used Downy Bars since they came out, I am excited to finish my first load. I don't dry my tops and tee's so I am hoping there isn't any of the stiffness mentioned before...
ReplyDeleteI have been making and using this soap for over a year with an HE washer and have never had the slightest bit of a problem!! I love it and it is soooo much cheaper!! I do still use softener but I only use a tiny bit (like 1/8 t.) and I fill my dispenser with vinegar. No vinegar smell on our clothes either. I have an 8 yr old boy and a 5 yr old girl so I have lots of ketchup, mustard, pizza stains to scrub but I never have trouble with them washing clean and smelling wonderfully!! My recipe is slightly different but I have recently changed it. I was just using Borax, washing soda, fels naphtha and irish spring soap but I have started adding a little baking soda to see if that makes it even better!! My husband has psoriasis and we have not had the slightest problem with sensitivity!! I am a RN and tons of others at my hospital are now making it too. I think you will very pleased if you try it. I am very particular about my laundry and it suits me and my wallet perfectly!!! ;)
ReplyDeleteI found this recipe and thought some of you might like to try it.
ReplyDeleteVinegar Laundry Softener
1 gallon white vinegar
20-30 drops of essential oil
Plain lavender is one of my favorites, or a combination of sweet orange and lemon when I need a pick-me-up on laundry day! A third suggestion is to use peppermint, although I would cut this back to 15 drops because it is quite potent.
Just shake well before each use and it’s ready for the rinse cycle. For small or average loads add 1/2 cup to the rinse cycle, for larger loads add about 1 cup to the rinse cycle.
I used my grater attachment for my Kitchenaid Mixer to grate the Fels-Naptha...worked great! Soap smells great. Thanks for the recipe.
ReplyDeleteCan you wash your whites in this and have them stay white? I use wisk laundry detergent for colors and Tide with bleach for my whites. I have found that other brands turn my whites gray after a while.
ReplyDeleteJust an FYI Powdered soap is hard on the sewer lines as it stops them up. WE learned the hard way.
ReplyDeleteI just found this on Pinterest... I'm super bummed I bought laundry detergent yesterday! I can't wait to try this!! Thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDeleteHolly, is it possible you have been using too much detergent? Usually stiff clothes are the result of build up of detergent and softener in the fabrics. When this has happened in the past I have successfully "stripped" the clothing. I start with a HOT wash and rinse with about 1T of dawn dish soap and 1/2 c. vinegar in the rinse. Then I continue to rinse over and over until there are no suds. Since this recipe doesn't have suds, you may just have to wing it and keep washing/rinsing with clear water until you think it's enough. In my water, it can take up to 4 or 5 wash/rinse cycles. Remember, only use the dish soap and vinegar in the first wash/rinse.
ReplyDeleteI heard from a friend about putting the laundry smell crystals in a little cloth sack and letting them float around in the dryer. The smell is much stronger and awesome. They melt in the little sack so after the first dryer load it is hard like cooled wax but I just keep leaving the sack in the dryer and it lasts a while and smells wonderful! I got the lavender laundry crystals.
ReplyDeleteI've just made this, but I've had to Anglicise it:
ReplyDelete1 kilo borax, which I bought from ebay.
1 kilo washing soda
1 kilo bicarbonate of soda
1 1/2 bars (225 grams) Boots brand household soap
500 grams (1 small tub) oxy cleaner
We can't buy borax in the shops here anymore, but it's available at amazon and ebay. The Boots soap is quite hard, so grates down almost to a powder, if you use the small side of your grater.
I just made some of this and am excited to use it! I LOVE highly scented clothes, so I got the pink Zote soap and it smells great. Smells like Ivory Soap and Citronella combined. In addition to that, I mixed in a whole container of the Downy Unstoppables to it and it made it smell even better!
ReplyDeleteHolly, try adding vinegar as your 'softener'. It cleans out all the excess buildup of whatever (soap, etc). You know when your towels sound 'crunchy? That is detergent left in them. The vinegar rinses all that out. I have quit using softener on my sheets and towels. Just white vinegar (in the largest jug I can find!). No vinegar-y smell after either!
ReplyDeleteOk gals this is going to be long...as I've read through the comments I found some answers for you. Why add baking soda? It has mild alkali qualities, dirt and grease are easily dissolved, while clothes are softened. It is especially helpful in homes with hard water because it will clean clothes better and prevent the stain buildup that can come with hard water.
ReplyDeleteSoap alternatives (don't like Fels Naptha) Dr. Bronners castile soap bars are as natural as you're gonna get!
If you are unable to find "washing" soda (sodium carbonate), you can make washing soda from baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), by heating baking soda in a baking dish/or on a cookie sheet in the oven. Heat the baking soda in an ordianry oven at 300 F for 1-2 hours. Overheating is not a problem, either with higher temps or baking times. You'll want to open a window or door just in-case because it off gasses carbon dioxide. You will know it's changed chemically when it becomes more crystaline and not powdery.
Safe alternatives to bleach 1/2c. white vinegar, or 1/2c. hydrogen peroxide, or 1/2c. lemon juice. These are all natural and safe, but use only one at a time. Do not combine them.
For scenting with essential oils. The amounts are really dependent on your liking. A good starting point is add 15 drops of eo to each 16 oz box of baking soda you use, mix in with a fork breaking up the clumps before combining with other ingredients. Similarly, if you add white vinegar to your rinse cycle(as a fabric softener), you can add 3-5 drops of eo's to each cup of vinegar added to help add a fresh scent and help deodorize at the same time, this does NOT have to be costly, many eos are very reasonably priced and a small bottle will last for quite a while. Also remember that scents like peppermint and eucalyptus are much stronger than lavender so you will need less. I have also found that the citrus oils tend to fade out during the wash so you'd want it a little strong to start.
A tip for those worried about blocking up your water lines or buildup in your washer...monthly clean your washer by running a cup of vinegar or lemon juice on an empty cycle using HOT water. This will break down any soap buildup in your washer and help flush out the lines, kills mold and mildew as well.
For those of you asking about cloth diapers. If you include vinegar in your final rinse or put it in your fabric softener dispenser then you won't have to worry about build-up and the rest of the ingredients should be mild enough. (especially if you use castille soap bars)
Hope this helps everyone!!
Dear Ms. Being Creative don't sweat the Front Loader Washers. I've gone through two of them and they put hole in all my sons t-shirt. I went back to sanity and got me a good old top loader... OK, I didn't even know that people did this! I saw the recipe for the liquid but it seemed like a lot of trouble. Nonetheless I was still going to try it until I found this recipe for powder!!! Awesome, I went to Wal-Mart and found all the ingredients. Stop by Home Depot and got me a 5 gallon bucket and got started. My 20 & 22 year olds said I was trying to kill them, that they like scented soap, and even went as far as to close the curtains so the neighbors couldn't see what I was doing!!! They said it look like I was mixing up something illegal!!! Yes, my boys have a great since of humor!!! Gotta love'em. When I was all done they said it looked like candy and could they eat it!!! Any way the house smells great and it was easy. My food processor didn't work but I used the pink ZOTE and it was very soft. It didn't take long to grate it and looked yummy while I did it! I can't wait to do some wash and see how it works!!! wooooohooooo
ReplyDeleteI've been using a similar recipe for over two years. Doesn't bother my two month old either. Also have a friend who switched to this because she had allergies with all others but Tide. Husband didn't believe in it until he had to wash greasy pants from working on a car. I also use dryer balls instead of softner. Works every time.
ReplyDeleteTori- My clothes seam to fade normally with this detergent.
ReplyDeleteGreenwald Family- I use bleach with this detergent to help my whites stay nice. This detergent acts like normal store bought detergent.
ReplyDeleteGuzman11610- I have used this detergent with 2 of my newborns, one of them has sensitive skin. It works great, no problems for us.
ReplyDeleteKlindsey- Some of my commenters have used body soap bars and say that it works out fine. I personally have never tried anything but zote and fels naptha.
ReplyDeletecmgriffin- I use bleach with my whites all the time and have no problem. Each batch of laundry only gets 1 tablespoon per load so you are not getting a huge amount of oxyclean in each load.
ReplyDeleteI love it already after 8 loads! My whites do look brighter and whiter. There were only two bars of the soap left at my wal-mart so that is all I mixed in, but it seemd to be just fine. I also used the off brand oxy clean as it was cheaper. So I spent $12.96. What a steal! I have also pretreated a couple of itwms and have had no problems. Thank you so much for posting this!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteMy grandfather used to make his own mild lye soap. When he was a boy there was no hot running water in his farm so they used this method a lot. He taught me to grate it like this so it is usable in the cold water washing machine cycle. Glad to say we still have many bars of his hand made soaps 20 years later. When I run out of other laundry soaps, I have been grating it into my washing machine just like you show for the Fels Naptha bar. I plan to try your soap recipe soon. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI am not sure if this has been mentioned, but for those of you who are worried that this detergent will eventually leave clothes stiff, add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to your washer's rinse cycle. If your washer doesn't have a dispenser for liquid fabric softeners, put the vinegar into a Downey ball. The vinegar will not leave a smell behind because it becomes odorless once it is dry.
ReplyDeleteHello again! I have done some research on my own, and have found this statement:
ReplyDeleteCitric acid powder chelates the metals in hard water, letting the cleaners produce foam and work better. It also helps soften the fabric.
http://senselesshousewife.blogspot.com/2009/01/laundry-soap-research.html
Given that i dont believe everything on the internet, im not sure if this is 100% true, but i have read other websites that say that citric acid is used to take away stinch in your washing machine so im sure its safe to use in your washing machine, what im worried about is my clothes.. I do not want them to have holes eaten out of them or faded considerably... so i will try it out on some clothes i really dont care about. might as well, since the dishwasher detergent is just sitting there going to waste, i would rather re-use it in another form to hopefully not waste that money i spent. so im going to walmart today to get the supplies to complete this laundry detergent! :) I will let you know the outcome of my clothes.
Thanks so much for this great recipe. I have been using a liquid version with the same ingredients for a few years now.
ReplyDeleteI don't want to burst bubbles for those who use front loader machines, but please read your owner manuals for your machines.
A few years ago my Sears front loader went out. The repairman told me I was not covered under warranty because I was using a non-HE detergent. I showed him my manual (I purchased this machine 8 years ago) and he said I was covered, but only because I had the old manual. The new ones clearly state that if you use anything but HE detergent you void the warranty. He told me that the fillers and chemicals in the non-HE corrode the plastic parts of the machine. This is what happened to my machine.
I still use home-made soap but I add some Tide-type, HE detergent to the mix, for added cleaning power and to help with corrosion issues. If you are concerned, I would call the company and verify their policy. I hope this helps.
Thank you! I love this stuff. I hate heavy scents and with a baby with sensitive skin heavy scents bother her...I made this with caution because of the baby but its been over a week and I will never buy store bought again!
ReplyDeleteI am a Massage Therapist always looking to save money on laundry. I have used this soap twice and it seems to work great. Massage Therapist's have to use bleach in the laundry, so far I haven't discovered any problems. Do you far see any reason I shouldn't use Bleach?
ReplyDeleteI have had a few commenters say that bleach is not safe with Oxy Clean. I personally use bleach in my laundry all the time. There really is not a huge amount in each load so I take that risk. You better decide for yourself if it makes you uncomfortable.
DeleteI use this and LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteI wanted a stronger smell so I bought a bottle of Downy Unstoppable Scents and mixed it in. My clothes come out smelling fresher than they ever have, even my husband who is a landscaper!!
How effective is it on getting EXTREMELY sweaty clothes clean without leaving odors locked in? I'm a runner so have sweat soaked clothes that need to be thoroughly washed as to not have odor. The Sport-wash is extremely expensive but since this has baking soda I was hoping it would work as well....any thoughts?
ReplyDeleteI am a runner too and get VERY smelly when I run. I use this detergent on my running clothes and they always come out smelling fresh!!
DeleteThis is similar to something I use for my diapers (minus the fels soap). Works great in my HE machine. I use wool dryer balls to keep my clothes soft. Love it!
ReplyDeletewww.dearbabyluhmann.blogspot.com
I just mixed a batch up....I am so excited to use it!!
ReplyDeleteI added a container (13.2 oz) of GAIN "fireworks" and 'in-wash scent booster' for an extra scented detergent! There are other "scent booster" products on the shelf, but I chose the GAIN one. Hope that works!
I mixed up a batch last night! I'm so excited to see how it works. I've done two loads of laundry with it and -- so far, so good!
ReplyDeleteI like more scent to my laundry, so I actually bought GAIN "fireworks" an 'in-wash scent booster' and added the whole container to the mix. I think this should work just great! AND! it adds PINK to the soap! awww... :) There were other brands of 'scent crystals' to choose from, but I liked the GAIN one best.
I found everything I needed at WalMart for under $20!! yahooo! I'm so happy to try this!
Figured out, using only two 14 oz Zote bars, that there are approximately 256 table spoon servings. At about $16 to make, it is only $0.06 per serving. Not too shabby.
ReplyDeleteFels Naptha soap is also sold at ACE hardware stores. I've used Ivory bar soap in my recipe for years now and works fine. Plus, I can get Ivory at most places, even at Target and use a coupon from time to time which makes the deal even cheaper!
ReplyDeleteIf you have hard water, homemade detergent IS THE WAY TO GO!
If you throw in a little white vinegar, it SOFTENS your clothes and freshens them up a bit!
FYI: It's NOT THE SUDS that clean your clothes. People think you have to have suds and a lot of them to clean your clothes, but that's NOT the case.
ReplyDeleteHOMEMADE detergent work great for HE washers. It's LOW suds, which you want.
Another note: The Washing SODA Powders (not baking soda) are what Whiten your clothes, if they whiten your clothes too much, back off recipe. I had to do this once. But, I love how it make whites look so bright!
I've made homemade detergent for years. It's great. NO more lugging heavy detergent bottles from the store. You run out or get low, just make more!
This is my personal experience with store bought powder detergent and a HE washer. I have not used this soap. We ruined our front loader with powder soap because the residue caked on the axle and through it off balance and destroyed it. We always put the powder in the detergent tray. I don't know if this mix would do the same or not. This is just a cautionary tale. I only use liquid soap with my new HE and look forward to trying the recipe I found on pinterest.
ReplyDeleteJust mixed my first batch. I was able to get all of the ingredients including the purex crystals for $21.99 at my local Walmart. Everything was on the laundry aisle, even the baking soda. Couldn't wait to try it out. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe!
ReplyDeleteFollowing up my last post. My second batch is in the dryer and I couldn't be happier with the results. For the first batch, I added the detergent directly to the drum and noticed that a few of the soap shavings had not dissolved. It's not because of the mixture; it's how my HE washer spins the clothes before adding the water. For the second batch I went ahead and put the detergent right in the detergent dispenser and it worked like a charm. Even without fabric softener, the clothes are soft and smell fantastic. Thanks again for sharing this great recipe!
ReplyDeleteWorks Great on Regular laundry Love it!
ReplyDeleteBut DO NOT use on CLOTH DIAPERS! not even if you do a vinegar rinse! Leaves a buildup! BAD BAD BAD TAKES forever to strip out of CLoth diapers. = tons of time and tons of product to get this buildup out. NO SOAP on Cloth diapers!!!!!!
Sorry ladies if I deleted you link to this post. I don't mind if you link to this post but please make sure it is a direct link to your laundry soap experience or else I might ditch it.
ReplyDelete1. I'm glad to hear the soap dissolves in cold water!
ReplyDelete2. I'm always happy to save money on the most expensive cleaning product I buy--Tide. I made the liquid soap. It was easy, works great, rinses well, never molds, etc.
3. Don't get mad, but I'm very disheartened at the number of people posting here that cant follow simple directions and refuse to read questions and answers other people posted. It's like they want you to come to their house and make the soap for them so they don't have to take any responsibility or action for themselves.
You have a great post here and I look forward to trying your dry detergent next paycheck! Thanx for posting.
Thanks for the comments!! As for #3 you would not believe the amount of time I spend answering questions. I try to answer every question I get but often get overwhelmed by it. I never really knew how popular this recipe would be when I first published it over a year ago. I am however glad to have helped people save money. I used to hate buying laundry detergent all the time and I think that is a pretty common dislike.
DeleteThanks again!
Don't know if it's been mentioned, but if you shred the Fels AND chop it up in the food processor for about 5 minutes, it gets fine enough to use in the dispenser for HE machines. I make smaller batches and just throw everything in the food processor to get a good mix. :)
ReplyDeleteSo after all this time, are you still using this soap?
ReplyDeleteAnd when you get your clothes out of the dryer do they smell clean (not smell like detergent but just clean). If you put your nose up to your husbands armpit of his shirt would it smell clean?
Just curious :)
Yep I am. As a matter of fact I just started a load a few minutes ago. The clothes always come out nice and fresh, I have never had any smelly problems.
DeleteHi! I made the dishwashing detergent a couple months ago and stored in a plastic cereal container and within a couple of days the entire container of detergent was rock hard! One big ol' brick of detergent and we basically had to scrape enough off the top each time we do a load.. so last night I chiseled away at it for about an hour until it finally regained it's original powder form, transferred it to a plastic container with a screw on lid (air-tight) and, so far, it has held up much better. So, I really want to try this recipe for laundry detergent, but the container I had in mind is not air-tight (just a glass canister with lid) and I'm wondering if this will pose the same problem I had with the other..?
ReplyDeleteThe laundry detergent does not have the same hardening problem at all :)
DeleteI would also try adding a few drops of an essential oil of your choice to the baking soda before adding it to the rest of the mix. I use baking soda in bath salts and it holds scent beautifully. Use a whisk or your hands--it may take a while to mix well.
ReplyDeleteDo you use more than one tablespoon on larger loads? Such as comforters?
ReplyDeleteSome times I use 2 Tablespoons on large loads.
DeleteI am afraid I may have ruined my batch... I dumped a whole 6 lb container of Oxiclean in with the proper amounts of everything else. I have never really used Oxiclean before and now I am afraid that there is too much of it and it will ruin my clothes or something. Do I need to buy enough of the other stuff to make a triple batch so it all evens out? Or will it be okay? Help!
ReplyDeleteThat is almost twice as much Oxy Clean as needed. You might be okay. I think when adding Oxy Clean to your regular detergent you are supposed to add an entire scoop to each load. I would think you are not even going to get that much in each load even though you doubled the Oxy Clean. I have heard that Oxy Clean and Bleach can react funny together so you may want to hold off on the bleach for awhile.
DeleteMade this last week and have LOVED the results! Even stains in the boys white shirts have come out. I think adding the Oxyclean was great. Other recipes I've looked at haven't had the oxy cleaner in them. Thanks SO much for the great recipe. I'd like to try the dishwashing soap next. This may be a weird idea, but if the dishwashing detergent hardens like brown sugar, can you toss a piece of bread in there to soften it like you would sugar? LOL who knows? Might work. :)
ReplyDeleteThe Homemade Laundry detergent sounds wonderful and I'm anxious get started making it but at the end of your blog, why does the disclaimer say, 'USE AT YOUR OWN RISK?'
ReplyDeleteMy husband has a degree in chemistry and is concerned that some one may alter or add something that will create bad results. So I added a little disclaimer to the post for safety reasons. I have never had any problems myself but you never know what people will do.
DeleteThank you for your reply about the disclaimer. I am really loving the detergent and use it daily. A great find. Thank you, again.
DeleteI love this recipe and blogged about it on Cornerstone Confessions. I also included a link for my readers to this page as a thank you. I did mention in the blog post that I think I may have found an easy solution for the shredded Fels-naptha concerns so flip on over to check it out. Thanks again for the wonderful recipe. I'm a convert.
ReplyDeleteFor those that cant find all the ingredients for this or don't want to make it... For the same price I buy a large bucket of powdered house brand laundry detergent from Sears (the department store). $19.99 on sale - sometimes cheaper BOGO free. It's slightly smaller than a 5 gallon bucket. I think regular price is $24.99. One bucket lasts me about 9 months and I'm washing for a family of 6 (4 kids ages 7 to 17 - three boys). It's HE formula and I've been using it for about 12 years in my Asko (Swedish brand) front loading washer. I've also noticed that I do NOT get that weird black mildew growth or the musty smell with the powder that I get when I use liquid detergent. It comes in a few varieties and is sold in the appliance department by the washers!
ReplyDeleteIf you have sensitive skin beware! I made this soap and have been using it for about 3 weeks. I broke out in hives. I am sensitive to some detergents like Tide, Cheer etc. BUT I love this soap, one brand that I can use is Arm & Hammer, so I am trying 1/2 & 1/2 in my washer. I have an HE so still not using very much. The added ingredient also drives the price up a bit but stretches the amount used to even less, so still a good deal. But if you or your babies are sensitive to detergents in clothing/diapers..... be careful! It is NOT comparable to Dreft. I can use that........go figure. I am in no way "bashing" here. This is my own personal experience.
ReplyDeleteJust made up my first batch and cannot wait to do laundry to try it out! So excited, and I'm never excited about laundry :) thank you so much!!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering how big of a load you are washing when you use the 1 tbsp. for example, if I have a large load (to the top of my washer) would I use 2 tbsp? If I am just doing socks would I I only use 1/2? Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteI just made mine!! Oh yes and while your mixing (cover your nose) the smell is sooo good but very overpowering. I'm excited to use it! (found you on pinterest) Thanks!! This is going to save us lots of $$$
ReplyDeleteI am loving this recipe! The water has absolutely no suds, though.
ReplyDeleteI understand that low sudsing is better on the washer but I'm used to seeing some suds and this detergent has absolutely none. I read that clothes don't necessarily clean better if there are suds but I'm not used to seeing clear water agitating my clothes. Also, I have well water (very hard water) and really would like to add something to make it softer and sudsy. Any suggestions besides going back to regular detergent. Thank you
I was so excited to use this.... I used it twice and both times the Fels Naptha did not dissolve. It was stuck to the clothes. I had to run another rinse cycle on both loads. Its not gonna save me much money if I have to use more water :( I was using hot water also.... I expected it to dissolve :(
ReplyDeleteFood process it all and it will be finer and dissolve better. That is what I did and I love it now.
DeleteJust wanted to let you know I tried this laundry soap and LOVE it. I have two daughters and three grand daughters that live with me and I can tell you...laundry soap IS NOT cheap for that many people. My oldest grand daughter had an accident at school and her teacher put the clothes in a sealed bag then forgot to give them to us. They stayed in there for four days! Imagine the smell when it was opened. One wash in this soap and they were fresh smelling and clean! We have had this soap for about a month and haven't even used half of it and my washing machine runs constantly, lol. Thanks so much!!!!
ReplyDeleteOh thanks for sharing the dry mix for the detergent. I've used the liquid version for several years and with a family of 6 it is very on the pocketbook and easy to make. The only problem with the liquid version is the space that it takes up in storage. Thanks for sharing this version.
ReplyDeleteI added lavender fabric softener beads to mine.
ReplyDeleteDo you know if this recipe is safe for use with military uniforms? Don't want to do this if it's going to wreck my husband's uniform.
ReplyDeleteI would assume so but am not positive. Sorry.
DeleteI really wanted to love this and have used it for a month. For me, I couldn't find the washing soda locally and ended up buying it from Amazon. It cost me about 40$ to find all the ingredients. If it lasts 9 months then it will still be a value savings. As far as cleanliness. I'm not sure. I have a very dirty 6 year old. Store bought detergent gets her clothes clean (knees etc.) but this does not. White's look a little dingy but bleach would help here. If washing on cold I have to use two rinse cycles to get all the soap off the clothing. Hot and warm works fine. I'm on teh fence with this. Since I have it I'll use it but I'm not sold that I'll make it again.
ReplyDeleteI washed a load while I was cleaning up my mess and found the same thing with the soap, had to wash again. Since my food processor was still out and dirty I just added it all back in the food processor (and the other attachment, not the shredding one) and it is much finer. I have not had a problem since.
DeleteScentsy is coming out with a line called layers for your washer and dryer. You can start purchasing them March 1st. If you have any questions you can email me mnmzz at msn dot com
ReplyDeleteI made this a few weeks ago and I love it. Smells great, cleans great.. The only thing I did differently was to chop it up in the food processor after I shredded it.. It made the soap about the same size as all the powders so I felt it mixed up a bit better than just shredding it would.
ReplyDeleteI also use a coffee scoop, which is about two tablespoons.. No problems at all with it not dissolving.. I add about a quarter cup of vinegar to the wash.. I put it in the bleach dispenser instead of using bleach.
I'll probably never buy Tide again. Thanks so much for the "recipe"
I made this soap about 3 weeks ago and have shared it with all my friends! It's great...i have a front loader and it works just fine. I've been a Tide girl for 40 years, but no more! What's the best is that my Walmart had all the ingredients ... even the baking soda! ... all together on the same shelf in the detergent aisle! The only other department I had to go to was the housewares to get the jar, which was only about 8 bucks!! WOW! I just cut a round piece of rubber shelf paper, and put it under the jar right on top of my dryer
ReplyDeleteA TIP:
ReplyDeleteI just made this detergent the other day and I have some thoughts. Well, one main one. I washed a load while I was figuring out what to do with the oodles of laundry detergent I had made. I had to wash it twice (cold water freak, here) and some of the "cheese" still did not dissolve. I went through and food processed it again, with powder and all (cause I had mixed it all together). My house smelled for days (I added purex crystals, which I love btw) but I am so happy with it now.
I urge you to shred the soap, then add to food processor with powder and other attachment to get it finer. Much better. And I feel like it is better mixed too.
LOVE it!! I am so happy with it. AND I am not worried about it clogging my tube into washer.
I love this recipe but the only concern I have is that the powder gets ROCK HARD. I read through all the posts to see if anyone else had this issue, but didn't come across anything. I just dont get it. It is in an air tight canister I bought at Walmart. I feel like I am always chiseling away to get it back to normal. I followed the original directions to a T...hm. Anyone have a suggestion? Something I can add so it won't continue to do this? I would hate to give up this great saving recipe.
ReplyDeleteI use a similar recipe, and have never had a problem with it getting hard. Do you live in a more humid climate? I could see that making it hard. I had a problem with my box of Borax getting really hard when I was living in an apartment with no ac last summer, and Iowa summers are super humid, so I figured that was my problem. One solution you might have is to try a liquid version. You use the same ingredients, so the cost is the same. There are several tutorials on how to make it on-line. You could even add essential oils to the liquid to make it smell extra good!
DeleteI keep a couple of big marshmallows stored with my brown sugar to keep it from hardening. Maybe that would work or the brown sugar bears, etc.
DeleteYou know the silica packets that come in, well, everything? Try sticking one or two of those in there. :)
DeleteUsing this recipe how much to you add to each load of laundry?
ReplyDeleteI'd like to know where the vinyl on the jar came from? Did you do it? What font did you use?
ReplyDeleteI am wondering this also. I love the jar too and wonder where that is from.
DeleteThanks for sharing the recipe for a powdered washing soap...can not wait to make a batch and start using it!Got my jar picked out and ready to be filled - YOU ROCK!
ReplyDeleteI agree how much do you use for one load?
ReplyDeleteBeen using this for a few weeks now. My clothes never smelled so fresh!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm always nervous that the powder might leave white spots (I've always used liquid detergent), so I fill the washer with water and pour in my scoop of detergent while it's filling. Then I let it agitate for a a minute. I think it helps dissolve everything. And THEN I load my clothes. Works great. I made some for my mom too and I think my sister is going to try a batch.
Although my recipe is slightly different (mine is a liquid/gel), I usually use Ivory soap (it is easier for me to find than Fels Naptha and I prefer the scent.). I may just have to try this one, too. Seems much easier than dissolving the soap & other ingredients. How much do you use per load?
ReplyDeleteThis recipe is fabluous - my clothes are cleaner, no more smells, no stains left behind and so much more affordable! (I added the crystals softener beads - one container.)
ReplyDeleteDoes it fade clothes?
ReplyDeleteThis is great!!! Thank you for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteSomeone asked but didn't get an answer... because of the baking soda, is it ok to use white vinegar as a fabric softener with it? If so, how much vinegar do you use?
ReplyDeleteThis works great! After shredding the soap I whirled it around my food processor to make the soap finer for mixing with other ingredients. Thanks for sharing; so much easier to mix than the liquid recipe.
ReplyDelete