I started making my own cleaning products for both financial and health reasons before I started going zero waste. For the first few months, things seemed to be going fine, but towards the end around month 6 I noticed that my white clothing was yellow and dingy. Then around month 7 I started noticing my clothing felt oily, but worst of all the towels and sheets were oily too.
I racked my brain trying to figure out what was going on… when it hit me. I ruined several pieces of clothing and a set of sheets. Now, both detergent and soap contain surfactants. According to the American Cleaning Institute surfactants change how water behaves.
When a surfactant is added, the surface tension is reduced which makes it easier to get rid of dirt and grime. Soap is made from natural fats and oils as well as a neutralizing alkali most commonly sodium hydroxide NaOH or lye. These typically include more than one surfactant making them more water soluble better than soap. You can read more about this an article I found in the Kids Britannica. The goal of the water softener is to… you guessed it! Soften the water. You might have heard the terms hard water and soft water which has to do with the level of minerals like calcium and magnesium in the water.
If you have really hard water, like I do in California, using a homemade laundry soap is even worse because the high levels of calcium and magnesium make it almost impossible for the soap to wash free from the textiles. I know this from personal experience, but lets take a little bit deeper look into why. Every time you wash your clothing soap build up buries itself inside of the textiles. When soap accumulates in your clothing it will actually attract and trap dirt in your textiles.
It quite literally makes your clothing DIRTY the exact opposite thing you want from a laundry detergent…. The same soap that builds up in your textiles is also building up in your washing machine.
Looking forward to how it works! How much do you use? I love this recipe. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. Works great. Thank you! Your email address will not be published. Not sure what to cook tonight? Surprise Me! Recipes Videos About. Cookbook Shop Connect. Become VIP! For bleaching, I use Ecover. Simple ingredients and easy to make! After playing around, this is the formula that works best for my family and I.
Test out where to put it. For some reason putting this detergent right into the drum works best for me, instead of in the detergent compartment. Use only Tablespoons. You really only need tablespoons. Using too much could create a film.
I do run vinegar through my machine every 3 months though no matter what kind of detergent I use. I feel like I need more stain fighting power, what can I use? Mix in a container of Oxiclean. For scents, you can use essentials oils but it does take quite a bit to get the scent to stick. I have sensitive skin, will this irritate me? My boys and I have seasonal eczema as well as sensitive skin.
Auntie Eunice — January 8, pm Reply. Crystal — January 9, am Reply. Melissa Rector Dalessandro — March 25, am Reply. Henks — February 1, pm Reply.
Crystal — February 1, pm Reply. Lisa — September 10, am Reply. Countryblueeyes — February 3, am Reply. Crystal — February 8, am Reply.
DClarke1 — February 28, am Reply. Kati — March 13, pm Reply. When do you add the fabric softener and how much softener do you use per load? Carol Fleming — February 4, am Reply. Tracy — February 7, pm Reply. Jessica Brown — February 11, pm Reply. Tara R. Crystal — February 18, am Reply. Bonnie — February 21, pm Reply. Crystal — February 22, am Reply. Crystal — March 3, pm Reply. Janet Olson — March 23, pm Reply. Christina — March 30, pm Reply. Andria Schwortz — April 11, pm Reply.
Hailey — November 25, pm Reply. It can go bad in about a year. It wont spoil but can leave spots and loose its effectiveness. TumaraMarie Steinbach — March 20, pm Reply. Just add water to keep it moist……That is what I do as it starts to dry……. Chelseaf — May 8, pm Reply. I was wondering if this was a good detergent for cloth diapers? In Flight — May 14, pm Reply.
Angela — May 15, pm Reply. Can you use the liquid form of castile soap since that is what i have on hand? Terra — May 15, pm Reply. Angela — May 16, pm Reply. Cindy — June 11, pm Reply. ChaosBean — July 20, pm Reply. Rachel Chapman — August 4, pm Reply. Crystal — August 20, pm Reply. Ginger — August 5, am Reply. LOL 4. Jeannette Ellis — July 16, pm Reply. Brandi — September 25, pm Reply.
Ginger — May 31, pm Reply. VIJewcea — March 10, am Reply. Morgan from Oregon — October 28, am Reply. D — August 30, pm Reply. Cheapskate's Guide to the Gala — August 31, pm Reply. I just made a batch and I hope it works. I do like the smell though. Crystal — September 13, pm Reply. Trishia — September 21, pm Reply. Crystal — September 25, pm Reply. Susa — March 30, pm Reply. Martica4u — October 27, pm Reply.
Jane — November 5, pm Reply. Crystal — November 6, pm Reply. Ashley — November 9, am Reply. Crystal — November 11, pm Reply. Rachel Hartman — December 29, pm Reply. I accidentally used baking not washing soda…..
Crystal — January 6, pm Reply. PuddyTat — January 16, pm Reply. Crystal — January 17, pm Reply. PuddyTat — January 17, pm Reply. Crystal — January 22, am Reply. Squeezebagger — February 9, pm Reply. Jenna — February 21, pm Reply. Crystal — March 10, pm Reply. Ginijean — March 1, pm Reply. Do I have to use one of the two soaps suggested or may I use any? Do I have to use one of the suggested soap fels-naptha or may I use my own?
Michelle — March 25, am Reply. Kylie — March 31, pm Reply. Crystal — April 9, pm Reply. Leisa Eldridge — May 4, pm Reply. Sandy Parker — May 10, am Reply. Crystal — May 19, am Reply. Lindsay — May 13, am Reply. Jennifer Nelson — February 22, pm Reply. Paige — May 13, am Reply. Thea Woods — May 21, pm Reply.
Logan — May 24, pm Reply. Wendy DuhMe — March 4, pm Reply. Rachel — June 3, am Reply. Kristen — June 29, am Reply. Brianne Lindauer — June 29, pm Reply. Brianne Lindauer — June 30, am Reply. Crystal — July 29, pm Reply. Jackie — July 2, pm Reply. Stephanie Vieira — July 7, pm Reply.
Has anyone had trouble with their pipes clogging because of this detergent? Kristy — July 19, pm Reply. Can you melt in the purex crystals for scent instead of using the oils? KB — April 6, am Reply. RS — July 27, pm Reply. Wendy DuhMe — August 7, pm Reply. Wendy DuhMe — November 22, pm Reply. Jenn — August 21, am Reply.
Elizabeth Irving — August 21, pm Reply. Renee Henson — September 20, pm Reply. Chasity Haynes — September 29, pm Reply. Question when soap is in washer is it suppose to Sud up like normal detergent. Dianne Clanton — October 22, am Reply. Bobbie — November 10, am Reply. Mara — November 13, pm Reply. Kathie — November 16, pm Reply. Krystin — January 4, pm Reply. Crystal — January 13, am Reply.
You need to use washing soda, not baking soda. You find it in the laundry isle. Grace — January 8, am Reply. Mrs Happy Homemaker — January 12, pm Reply. Joy — January 20, pm Reply. Eddie Shuck Jr. Steve Medeiros — February 14, am Reply. Crystal — February 24, pm Reply. Melanie Nichols — February 23, am Reply.
Melanie Nichols — February 25, am Reply. Lydia Widener — March 5, am Reply. Autumn — March 15, pm Reply. Mrs Happy Homemaker — April 12, am Reply. Tyrel B. Harness — March 16, am Reply. Dominika — March 28, pm Reply. Jill Bristow — April 9, am Reply. Sarah Apsey Barres — July 13, pm Reply. Michelle Hicks — May 5, pm Reply. Jenny Dvorak — May 18, pm Reply. Can you reuse the pot after for food or will everything taste like soap? Brittney N. Felisha — May 26, pm Reply.
Mrs Happy Homemaker — June 12, am Reply. Susan Brousseau Hensley — June 15, am Reply. Katelyn Scafidi — July 21, pm Reply. Labradorsrule — June 26, am Reply. Joe B — July 4, pm Reply.
Theresa — July 21, pm Reply. Andriana Eichenberger — July 23, am Reply. Ashley — July 25, pm Reply. Mom 'O 8 — July 30, pm Reply.
Susan Dovi — August 30, am Reply. Stephanie Vaupel — August 11, am Reply. Thersa Cowart — October 5, am Reply. Norma Lowell — October 29, am Reply. Deb — November 9, pm Reply. Mark A. Carlisle Sr. Cathy Ballenger — December 6, pm Reply.
Nicole Millwater — March 12, pm Reply. Arienne — October 2, pm Reply. Brooke — April 12, am Reply. Aimee Leaumont Kovis — May 14, pm Reply. I have a High E washer.
Brooke E — June 9, am Reply. Vic — June 18, pm Reply. If I have a HE washer do I put the detergent in the dispenser or directly in the washer? Corrine — June 26, pm Reply. Ben Rubenzer — July 11, pm Reply. NellieJ — July 16, am Reply. I and my pocketbook love your home made laundry detergent! Nancy Wilson — July 27, pm Reply. Linda Petrekovich — August 7, pm Reply. Beth — September 3, pm Reply. Hillary — October 5, pm Reply. Karin OBryan — November 12, pm Reply. H2o — December 10, pm Reply.
I think you can, but it probably wont gel like it would with bar soap. Ayana D — January 11, am Reply. Kayla Sawyer — January 12, pm Reply.
Siebert — March 7, pm Reply. Rose — January 14, am Reply. Maja Ruble — February 14, am Reply. Ruth Anne Majors — January 27, am Reply. Dawn Strohl — February 26, pm Reply. Is this really the amount used? Milly — March 5, pm Reply. CherylA — March 8, pm Reply. Annabel — March 16, pm Reply. Lena Rosselli Marinaro — March 22, pm Reply. Kathy — March 24, pm Reply. Margie Fourie — March 27, am Reply. Thank you for a wonderful recipe. I misplaced my old recipe, but now have yours saved.
Julie Higginson — April 2, pm Reply. Cheryl — April 9, pm Reply. ChemFreeMe — April 15, pm Reply. ChemFreeMe — April 22, pm Reply. Tom Flores — April 20, pm Reply. Alison — May 4, pm Reply. Do you have to cover it with a lid?
Crystal — August 17, am Reply. You really need to to keep it clean. Barbara J. Sterling — May 9, pm Reply. Lopez — May 12, pm Reply.
The effective ratio of 5 gallons to 4. Thanks for the recipe. Susan Wilkerson — June 20, pm Reply. James Fiddler — June 26, pm Reply. Azucena Ramirez — July 8, am Reply. You can let it sit for 48 hours instead before stirring the first time to thicken longer.
Diane Clarke — August 9, pm Reply. Before I attempt to make your laundry detergent, is it safe for severe eczema? Andy — August 14, pm Reply. Yup, you can still use it! Just give it a really good stir first. Carrie Myers Woody — August 24, pm Reply. Crystal — August 24, pm Reply. Bookworm — September 5, pm Reply. Kristen — August 25, am Reply. Sarah — September 6, pm Reply. Would it be ok to add oxiclean to this mixture when the water in the bucket is still hot?
Crystal — September 6, pm Reply. Julie Higginson — September 7, pm Reply. Lena Rosselli Marinaro — September 8, am Reply. Another recipe I saw used twice as much borax and washing soda? Wendy DuhMe — October 11, pm Reply. Just a question…if using the homemade vinegar fabric softener in the washing machine…are the clothes full of static when removed from the dryer?
Static is why I have always used the dryer sheets. I love this detergent recipe. My husband has lost his job after 26 years and with 3 kids at home and 1 in college we are trying to save everywhere possible. Thank you!!! Not at all. You can probably find recipes on the net for homemade detergents without Borax, Sonija.
A google search should turn something up. I used 2 cups each of Borax and washing soda and 1 bar of Fels finely grated and use it as a powdered soap. I walk around the house in my white soxes and they come clean and white. I have a small apt and no room for 5 gallon bucket.. Gallon jar works great. I add the soap first and then add some hot water to dissolve water in wash machine. I have used this soap for 2 years and love it.
I use the dry powder as well. I never have trouble with it dissolving so I wonder what the advantage would be to making the liquid form. The solubility of washing soda and borax is quite high so the small amount used would easily dissolve in the wash and of course the soap will dissolve.
I use one cup each of soda and borax and a personal size bar of Ivory. I grate it with my microplane and run the mixture through the food processor to get a nice, uniform powder. Hi Diane! Is your washer a top-loading machine? Been using this ingredients for a while now I absolutely love it only substitution is I use the fels neptha only cause my skin is sensitive to the ivory soap otherwise 99 cents every so often for the bar soap to refill my detergent is amazing my clothes come out clean and fresh never tried powder form but im gonna try some tonight saves me money.
It would be nice to do all my clothes and not smell do strong. I would definitely mind if my clothes smelled like vinegar. There should not be any trace of vinegar odour when you take them out of the washing machine, Dawnelle.
Is your machine old? My whites smell like vinegar for almost a week after they are washed and dried in an electric dryer. That is so bizarre. Try the extra rinse for sure. And how much are you using?
That did it! I was probably using about a cup before so i cut that way back. Thanks for trouble shooting with me! Love your blog btw! I used Borax about a cup with a few drops of Dawn dish soap to wash my car. My car looked great but my hands swelled, broke out in a rash and really ached. It was a stupid thing to do. I believe this recipe would work great on my laundry, however, after witmessing what it did to my hands!
Hi there. I tried the recipe but my soap is too liquid, it does not look concentrared at all. I used a bar of gr of soap. Can you please tell me the size of the soap bar you used in the recipe? I see the Amazon link points to packs of 4 oz bars, which are way smaller than the one i used… Thanks! I mention in the article that the consistency of my detergent is different every time I make it, Patricia. As long as you have all of the essential ingredients in there, the actual mixture is the same regardless of the consistency.
It will be fine. I always add a few drops to tea tree oil because of the antifungal and antibacterial properties and i add some sweet orange oil too! Thanks, Jackie: So just one more question: even when you get watery soap you still dilute it in the jug or you use it just like that? Thank you for this recipe! Do you use the same pot for cooking and melting the bar soap?
Just wondering if the soap renders the pot unusable for anything else. You can do it with Ivory because of the high air content, but other brands could burn and potentially ruin your microwave, or worse yet, catch on fire. Seems to last. But I never diluted mine, just used the jelled detergent straight from the bucket at a quarter cup per load.
I have done the recipe with Zest soap, and it works great. Zest is one of those soaps that rinse clean, so no residue. I grate mine up as a powder. I just put some of the powder in a small container, add boiling water, and shake it up before putting it in the machine. You may be thinking of boric acid, Kris, which is indeed toxic. Borax is a mild irritant, so keep out of eyes and airways, but some people actually ingest a small amount daily as a dietary supplement. Is it not the size of a regular bar of soap?
The 90 gram is smaller than the usual bath soaps. I found another size grams online. This really helped answer some questions! I LOVE using this detergent! I give bottles to my mom and she is always so grateful. I get giddy doing my laundry knowing how much I am saving. Thank you so much for the recipe. I got a paint stirrer attachment for my drill and it worked great to mix the gel blobs. I make mine dry. I use 1 bar of fels naptha, finely grated, 1 cup borax, and 1 cup washing soda.
Takes about 10 minutes to make. The longest part is grating the soap. Can I still use this? I mean, would it be safe for my hands? I think so. The soda and soap would be fine. We all have hard water.
Has anyone else had problems like this? Is using vinegar as a rinsing agent enough to keep things from clogging up? Thanks for making these steps so easy to understand. I like the idea of being able to make my own scent for my detergent. My little ones have sensitive skin, if this works it is going to save me a lot of money and time.
Thanks for sharing. Hi Jillee,first of all thanks u so much for sharing ur landry detergent recipe! My question is why used particularly Ivory soap Brand? If I cld nt get Ivory soap since I live in Asia,what is the best u cld recommend or what is d criteria that I need to look for a bar of soap?
Ur reply wld much appreciated,Thanks! In the US, they often use Fels Naphtha. We have no ivory brand here, but we do have the sunlight laundry soap, the yellow one, will that work also? Great article! Homemade detergent cleans as well as commercial laundry detergents. My husband insists to use only homemade things.
I am so proud that I have found your post. I am going to show it to him. Best regards! This is great! Laundry detergent goes so quick it seems and I swear everything time I go to the store, the prices are higher. I am going to try this for sure. Thanks for sharing! I made the detergent in powder form. The soap is still visible after the wash.
I had to put it in rinse mode again to get rid of that. When you use vinegar in laundry does the cloth smells like vinegar when dried? Did you use dryer to dry the clothes? Our clothes never smell like vinegar. Does powdered Ivory Laundry Soap work? I used that on my baby clothes way back when and know you can still buy it. Using store-bought laundry detergent in this recipe would defeat the purpose of making it to save money.
I only use the bar soap. Would you even want to use the powdered Ivory? Hi, thanks for your laundry soap recipe!
Is it necessary to fill a separate container and then dilute it? I think diluting it, and then giving it a shake first, helps to break up the lumps that form in the bottle, and it will make for a better distribution of the detergent in the washing machine. Lovely site.. I used to make gallons of l-soap.. Ivory is fine.. I use a stick blender to finish the process. Just wanted to say thanks for posting this. Really exited to make it. Hi, I just made this today and was so happy to smell the laundry coming out of the machine!
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