Do you make your own laundry soap?

[PlymouthRocker]

I found this and I have two of the three ingredients, the Borax and the Washing Soda. But I cannot find Zote or Fels Naptha anywhere. I live in eastern MA and I've checked stores while visiting friends in northwest CT. My mom in Michigan has checked for me. NO LUCK!

Do you use this recipe or have a similar one? I so want to make this!

 

[wombat]

I'll have to check that out. We supposedly have to use special low-foam soap for our new front-loading washer, though. Not sure how it would treat home-made soap. Might make for a funny home video if I get it wrong and fill half the house with suds.

Mrs. Wombat was a chemistry major in college, though, I'll have to put her on it.

 

[pips&peeps]

I do. I get the Fels Naptha at Fred Meyer. I don't know if you have one in your area, but that is where I get mine.

I think they are called Kroger back east.....

ETA: I use it in my front loading washer.

 

[thewarriorchild]

I make my own. You can use whatever soap you want with a little work. I used Trader Joes Tea tree oil soap. It is so cheap and easy to make. I think the cloths come out "lighter" than when I use commercial soap and seem to be be cleaner. We certainly could use a good machine but till then....I will have to dream of a front loader.

They sell Fels Naptha on Amazon but look good in the laundry area of where you are looking. I almost overlooked it. It could be on the way bottom or the very top of the shelf by the stain removers.

The recipie I use seems thick and so I use a old container and put some of the cleaner in with hot water and mix it good then I can dispense it easier than from the 5 gallon bucket I use to make it in.

 

[saddina]

Zote soap can be found at walmart (it's litterally a pink bar of soap) and at the 99 cent stores (3/$). However any bar of soap will work, you just need soap and not a cleaning bar (like dove).

If you really want to I can mail out a flat rate box of zote to you, but since bars are usually under a buck, that would double the costs.

 

[kris41]

I am in Maine and the only place I can find it is in grocery stores. Shaws or Shop n Save.

Kristie

 

[PlymouthRocker]

We don't have Fred Meyer or Kroger's here - but there are Kroger's near my parents so I'll ask her to check.

I haven't found Zote at any Wal-Mart or Target or Dollar Store of Big Lots or Shaw's or Stop & Shop. I will check out Trader Joe's on the tree oil soap. I've been trying to avoid shipping costs, but I also want to do this project! Thanks for the offer to ship me some!

 

[Wifezilla]

I do

I use the powdered version...not the liquid. I also add salt because of the hard water. Works great

 

[havi]

I make my own as well. I love it and will never go back to that store bought stuff again! I found my Fels Naptha at Ace Hardware. Any place that sells Dial, can also order you Fels Naptha.



Here is the link you were trying to post:
http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap2.htm



Thats the recipe I use as well. I recently tried a different one, and dont like that one at all. I am going back to the one posted above.

 

[Whispering Winds]

Quote:
I found the soap at Kroger's and also try your local health food store. It is more $$ there, but I LOVE the detergent. I have $1 off coupons for Oxyclean, and put a cup of that in there too, along with a cup of Biz. I spend probably $10 on the stuff and this makes two batches easily. I have my whole family starting to use it, and slowly becoming believers like me.