DIY Dishwasher Detergent

[humblehillsfarm]

Definitely let me know if you like the DIY dishwashing powder mix. I love the idea of making my own laundry detergent too. I ordered some Fels Naptha. It's taking a long time to get. I live on an island. We have septic system and our water is on a well. We have a sole-source aquifer (rain), pretty shallow too. Just wanting to do my part. <grin>

I can go into extensive detail if you wish, but here's my advice on DIY laundry soap: Don't. Felse naptha and other Castile soaps (like Dr. Bronners) only rinse away with hot water and if your water is even slightly hard, even the hottest of water will cause them to leave a build up on the fabric of your clothes so that after several months of use, they will feel feel sort of course and thick to the touch, and will start to harbor odor. This build up wears away the fabrics of your clothes which dramatically shortens their life span, as does using hot water. Even the cheapest laundry detergent brand you can buy is significantly more effective than homemade soap. Even homemade soaps have their environmental impact and when you compound that with needing to use hot water, and the wear and tear on your clothes, it's just not worth it. I promise. I have been down this road. Once I started making my own lye soap and learning more about the chemical make up of soap vs detergent, I realize why I struggled to use homemade laundry soap.

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

Really appreciate your input. It's about the same results I got when I tried homemade dishwasher detergent -- need for hot water, residue on dishes and in dishwasher. We switched back to store brand, albeit one of the "natural" brands. I realized the other day that I would rather hand-wash my dishes than continue using the homemade concoctions.

Thank you!

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Really appreciate your input. It's about the same results I got when I tried homemade dishwasher detergent -- need for hot water, residue on dishes and in dishwasher. We switched back to store brand, albeit one of the "natural" brands. I realized the other day that I would rather hand-wash my dishes than continue using the homemade concoctions.

Thank you!

I didn't want to offer advice on dishwashing soap since I've never tried it but my instict was it wouldn't work well either.

 

[HippieAtHeart]

I can go into extensive detail if you wish, but here's my advice on DIY laundry soap: Don't. Felse naptha and other Castile soaps (like Dr. Bronners) only rinse away with hot water and if your water is even slightly hard, even the hottest of water will cause them to leave a build up on the fabric of your clothes so that after several months of use, they will feel feel sort of course and thick to the touch, and will start to harbor odor. This build up wears away the fabrics of your clothes which dramatically shortens their life span, as does using hot water. Even the cheapest laundry detergent brand you can buy is significantly more effective than homemade soap. Even homemade soaps have their environmental impact and when you compound that with needing to use hot water, and the wear and tear on your clothes, it's just not worth it. I promise. I have been down this road. Once I started making my own lye soap and learning more about the chemical make up of soap vs detergent, I realize why I struggled to use homemade laundry soap.

I have not had any issues with my laundry detergent, and I wash cloth diapers with it, but that’s probably because mine is a mix of things I buy. I wanted things that were effective but rated less/non toxic than off the shelf detergents, such as tide, that were recommended for cloth diapers. Here it is in case anyone could benefit from it. I can’t speak to others water and heat though so it may not work for everyone but I will never switch back.

Laundry detergent

• 4 - 4 oz bars kirks original coco Castile soap fragrance free
• 4 lbs baking soda
• 3.7 lbs arm and hammer super washing soda
• 3 lbs oxiclean baby (1 container)
• 28 oz epsom salt (optional)

All you have to do is grate the soap into very small pieces ( I use a handheld cheese grater but you could use a food processor) and then mix it all together. I use the little scoop from the oxiclean container and have it all in a 5 gallon bucket ( I always double it). I use up to line 2 on the scoop and haven’t had any issues

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I have not had any issues with my laundry detergent, and I wash cloth diapers with it, but that’s probably because mine is a mix of things I buy. I wanted things that were effective but rated less/non toxic than off the shelf detergents, such as tide, that were recommended for cloth diapers. Here it is in case anyone could benefit from it. I can’t speak to others water and heat though so it may not work for everyone but I will never switch back.

Laundry detergent

• 4 - 4 oz bars kirks original coco Castile soap fragrance free
• 4 lbs baking soda
• 3.7 lbs arm and hammer super washing soda
• 3 lbs oxiclean baby (1 container)
• 28 oz epsom salt (optional)

All you have to do is grate the soap into very small pieces ( I use a handheld cheese grater but you could use a food processor) and then mix it all together. I use the little scoop from the oxiclean container and have it all in a 5 gallon bucket ( I always double it). I use up to line 2 on the scoop and haven’t had any issues

How long have you been using this soap?
Everyone had their own experience I supposed. I do recommend reading this article though: https://www.nycoproducts.com/resour...ce-the-difference-between-soap-and-detergent/

 

[HippieAtHeart]

How long have you been using this soap?
Everyone had their own experience I supposed. I do recommend reading this article though: https://www.nycoproducts.com/resour...ce-the-difference-between-soap-and-detergent/

I’ve been using it for about 3 years and my son isn’t quite a year old so almost a year with cloth diapers. I read the article, which I did find interesting learning about surfactants and how they work. Thanks for sharing the information. I think that the oxiclean in the laundry detergent I make is what’s makes it work well.
The article also discusses soap and how it requires rinsing, which with my cloth diapers I do a pre rinse with some detergent to get all the lingering organic baby stuff off, a power wash on hot with a normal bit of detergent, then another power wash with cold water and no deteregent and I hang them to dry (preferably in the sun if I can). So maybe it’s just my awesome washing machine that makes it work for me.
I also Know that oxiclean baby has some not great things to it like some aquatic toxicity, BUT it is dye free and perfume free and not shown to be cancer causing. I love this laundry detergent I make because although I could buy something at the store (maybe) that is zero toxicity I would pay an arm and a leg for it whereas my detergent cleans well, is minimally toxic, and is far more inexpensive. I think there needs to be a balance.

 

[HippieAtHeart]

I’ve been using it for about 3 years and my son isn’t quite a year old so almost a year with cloth diapers. I read the article, which I did find interesting learning about surfactants and how they work. Thanks for sharing the information. I think that the oxiclean in the laundry detergent I make is what’s makes it work well.
The article also discusses soap and how it requires rinsing, which with my cloth diapers I do a pre rinse with some detergent to get all the lingering organic baby stuff off, a power wash on hot with a normal bit of detergent, then another power wash with cold water and no deteregent and I hang them to dry (preferably in the sun if I can). So maybe it’s just my awesome washing machine that makes it work for me.
I also Know that oxiclean baby has some not great things to it like some aquatic toxicity, BUT it is dye free and perfume free and not shown to be cancer causing. I love this laundry detergent I make because although I could buy something at the store (maybe) that is zero toxicity I would pay an arm and a leg for it whereas my detergent cleans well, is minimally toxic, and is far more inexpensive. I think there needs to be a balance.

I should also add I do not rinse my husband and I’d clothing though that is a rapid wash on warm with detergent and over to the dryer

 

[ThreeOfSeven]

I have not had any issues with my laundry detergent, and I wash cloth diapers with it, but that’s probably because mine is a mix of things I buy. I wanted things that were effective but rated less/non toxic than off the shelf detergents, such as tide, that were recommended for cloth diapers. Here it is in case anyone could benefit from it. I can’t speak to others water and heat though so it may not work for everyone but I will never switch back.

Laundry detergent

• 4 - 4 oz bars kirks original coco Castile soap fragrance free
• 4 lbs baking soda
• 3.7 lbs arm and hammer super washing soda
• 3 lbs oxiclean baby (1 container)
• 28 oz epsom salt (optional)

All you have to do is grate the soap into very small pieces ( I use a handheld cheese grater but you could use a food processor) and then mix it all together. I use the little scoop from the oxiclean container and have it all in a 5 gallon bucket ( I always double it). I use up to line 2 on the scoop and haven’t had any issues

Just curious. Are you using a low-water washing machine vs. those nice top loading machines. (Can we still buy those anymore?)

 

[HippieAtHeart]

Just curious. Are you using a low-water washing machine vs. those nice top loading machines. (Can we still buy those anymore?)

I have a top loading HE washer, it’s a Maytag Bravos XL, I included a photo of the choices it has just for reference. Ignore the dust on it, it seems the things that clean never get cleaned in my house lol

 

[HippieAtHeart]

Just curious. Are you using a low-water washing machine vs. those nice top loading machines. (Can we still buy those anymore?)

Oh also, with it being an HE washer there are things I do to make it not save water. If I select extra rinse instead of save rinse it will fill it more.