Do you use homemade laundry detergent?

[kara_leigh]

I want to try making my own laundry detergent. I've convinced my husband of the savings, and how easy it is to make, but he's still paranoid. We have a brand new expensive HE washing machine, and he's REALLY worried that it will destroy our machine.

If you have used homemade laundry detergent in a front load HE machine, can you tell me how long you have used it? Has it destroyed your machine?

Does it get your clothes clean?

I would greatly appreciate as many replies as I can get. Thanks!!!

 

[EweSheep]

I had no issues with it on my old washer but with the new HE washer, the store clerk told me not to use it because it would rust or disable the components in the washer. So I went back to using Tide HE detergents.

I often wondered about that too...waiting for answers on that too!

 

[CluckyJay]

A low sudsing one should work I think.

http://www.diynatural.com/simple-easy-fast-effective-jabs-homemade-laundry-detergent/


I use borax, vinegar, soap, and washing soda. Works like a charm. Mine isn't an HE though. Its a Fisher and Paykel expensive piece of garbage.

I mix about 1 cup of vinegar, 1 cup of borax, 1 cup of washing soda and 1 bar of Ivory soap together with water. It helps to let the soap soak in water for several hours ...or shred it and melt it on the stove.

This makes a very low-to no sudsing soap.

I use a small single-serve applesauce container per load. Two for my husbands hunting clothes.


It does clean wonderfully and the vinegar keeps a soap film from forming on the clothes. It doesn't smell like vinegar either.

 

[Moabite]

Dropped in out of curiosity. The old timers say that the old homemade lye soap worked the best. They'd just run some through a cheese grater, but they were using the old enameled tubs with the hand crank wringers. I've been wanting to try this, but haven't found the time to make my own soap yet.

 

[CluckyJay]

One of the most popular soap is I think Fels-Naptha. I didn't have any on hand but that is what were using next time. It works VERY well in these homemade recipes.

 

[Momagain1]

thats what I read; Fels-naptha...

not sure where to get it..maybe a smaller hardware store???

 

[kara_leigh]

They sells Fels Naptha at our grocery store and also at our Walmart. I plan to use unscented Dr Bronners instead, though, and add an essential oil for scent.

EweSheep - I think the clerk was just blowing smoke. I've been doing a ton of research on it, and there are tons of people that use it in an HE machine with no problems. My husband just wants to hear positive reports from people on the boards I go to.

CluckyJay - That's exactly the recipe that I plan to use.

I love using vinegar. I use it in the laundry all the time. I also use it as an all purpose cleaner mixed with dish soap and water. It took my husband 2 years to use it instead of the other store bought cleaner. lol

 

[the4heathernsmom]

I used the homemade soap in my he machine for 2 years....no problems no issues machine still runs like a charm. I couldn't ever get the essential oils right to have a scent and I really liked having a scent on the clothes so I still use it occasionally but also use regular storebought soap too.

 

[kara_leigh]

Quote:
I read the suggestion to use a rag or washcloth and put some of the essential oil on it, then throw it in the dryer with the clothes. Hopefully that works b/c I like my clothes to smell good also (though after a couple days sitting in the dresser or closet they don't smell anymore). Glad to hear that your machine still works great!

Thanks!!

 

[chawk]

Quote:
I read the suggestion to use a rag or washcloth and put some of the essential oil on it, then throw it in the dryer with the clothes. Hopefully that works b/c I like my clothes to smell good also (though after a couple days sitting in the dresser or closet they don't smell anymore). Glad to hear that your machine still works great!

Thanks!!

You can buy dryer balls!!! I hang most of my wash so I don't use them but have heard really really good things about them! Heres a link: http://hipmountainmama.com/ecofrdrba.html

I've bought other things from this lady and she is great. I got my reusable organic cotton coffee filter from her and my snack taxis and other things for school lunches for my kids.
I use a powder homemade detergent, but I don't have an HE machine, so I can only tell you my clothes do get really clean. No different than store bought..