I also use this. And have been for the last 5 years or so. I love it!
yep same here on the soap BUT I found another bar I like better but using the two half and half right now since I already had the Fels.
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I also use this. And have been for the last 5 years or so. I love it!
For a really dirty load, I add double, so about a cup (I make the liquid, not powder) if there is a lot grease, I will pre-spot the grease marks and let it set in the machine overnight, but it does take it out. I will scrub it sometimes with a brush too. My hubby welds, so I even do a long wash and extra rinse.
The recipe I use is same as above, but I boil 4 cups of water and add shavings of soap slowly until dissolved, on a simmer. Then I add the washing soda and borax and mix until dissolved. Put in a 5 gal bucket, add hot water to fill bucket and mix. You can use it right away. When it cools, it will gel up some. How much really depends, mine never really gel the same each time lol. But cleans very well all the time. Once it's cool I put it in old detergent bottles I saved for just this reason. You might even be able to get some from family that recycles so you don't have to buy more det just to have the containers. I shake the container before each use, just to make sure it's all mixed up.
1 bar fels naptha soap grated by hand smallest size
1 cup borax
1cup armon hammer washing soda
5 gal bucket
I love it. In fact I haven't bought real detergent from the store in 5 years. It has saved a lot,for our budget.
Enjoy!
Deb
ETA: this is easy to cut in half if 5 gal is too much. I do fill 2-3 of the 246 load containers and keep them capped. And when I say a cup, it's the clear cap that comes with those bottles for dispensing. So actual measurement is probably closer to 3/4 cup.
I can't remember where I got the recipe but they are floating around all over the internet. I shave or grind the bar of Fels Naptha soap then add 1 cup of A&H washing soda and 1 cup of Borax - mix it all up and there it is. The recipe said to use about a tablespoon/load but I probably use 2-3 tablespoons. Some recipes call for 2 cups of borax and washing soda and one bar of some kind of soap. I guess you just have to try the different recipes and see what works for you. This I made smells reall good- fresh and clean smelling. I am needing to bleach some white clothes but I think that is with any detergent. It doesn't leave spots. I read something about it possible leaving a soap build-up in your washer. You can add a little vinegar to stop that. This is my first batch so I am still learning and will probably try other recipes. There are also recipes for liquid detergent and fabric softener. I remember in one of their shows a few years ago seeing the Dugger's make a huge 5 gallon bucket of the liquid detergent. It is all a whole lot cheaper than most store bought brands.
yep same here on the soap BUT I found another bar I like better but using the two half and half right now since I already had the Fels.
Yeah I've been doing this for many years to........That's the one I started out using but we were still having smells in our clothes because my water is sooooo hard. I started buying the Purex crystals to add to the wash and man we love it now. I did change to another recipe to.
OHHHH Zote was the other soap name brand. I like it because it's a softer soap and I just like the fresh smell of it. Walmart also carries it here BUT not on the same side where the Fels is for some reason. ???
the one I use .....Use 1 TLB. per load it says but I always use about 1/2 cup. I am probably wasting it.
1- 4 12 oz. pound box borax
1- 4 pound box arm and hammer baking soda
1- 3 pound 7 oz. box arm & hammer washing soda
3 bars fels naptha soap
2 small containers of oxyclean try to use about 3.5 pounds.
Again I like Zote the best because it smells best to me and is soft and not hard to have to shred up.
I shred my soap up as small as I can get it because I was having trouble with it not melting in my wash. So now I do it small. I just mix all this up in a 5 gallon bucket and use a lid on it. Then when I wash I use the Purex Crystals about a tea. of those and this way I have nice clean fresh smelling clothes to.
Triple Willow, hogster, and RoseMarie: THANK YOU!! I guess I will make the plunge soon. I have to finish up my detergent before I make the change!
Lisa![]()
Is this a BIP tip???
Recipe please and comments on using it.![]()
Lisa![]()
Thanks Triple Willow! I have heard good things about it but have not ventured into the making of it yet. How is it when it comes to grease, oil, grass stains, etc.?
Lisa![]()
Sure is, but I don't own it..just read about it, used it and found it good...much like everything else that I've tried.
It's excellent on all that and I have found no downside to it except dingy whites..some state they take care of that with putting vinegar in the rinse water. I took care of it by buying colored bras, undies and socks. I like final solutions, as you may have noticed.Don't like fussy little routines for things and if it can't be done quickly and efficiently, I usually don't do it unless maybe making my own breads. I like that process so much that I will take the time to do it. It soothes me!![]()
I use the original recipe of Fels Naptha, Borax and A&H washing soda(not baking soda)~the liquid version. I live in a humid climate, so the powder version would cake up for me and be like a brick by the time I hit bottom of the bucket. I also like how the liquid dissolves in the wash, as I don't often use hot water and the soap may not dissolve all the way in cold.
Been doing this for nigh on 7 years I think...I would never go back to regular detergents. This is so cheap and leaves my clothes so clean smelling...like cloth instead of perfume..and the clothes are not stiff with detergents so if you hang them out to dry they don't stiffen up as badly. And I can wash a load of laundry for about $.02 a load and that can't be beat. I love the smell in the house when I'm cooking this soap down and I like the feeling of having several jugs on the larder shelves, not having to remember to buy detergent at the store, and not having to throw away my detergent jugs. I've got some I've been using for the entire 7 years...those things just don't deteriorate much.
Not much of a downside to it and it got my boy's clothes clean and that's saying a lot! It's good for the septic system as well, so it's all a win/win/win/win/win...well, you get the picture.![]()