For those wanting to be more self sufficient...

[MissPrissy]

If you are in a crunch and have to buy the bar soap to make the laundry soap (whew!) and you can't get homemade good soap you can use Fels Naptha to grate.

When I make laundry solution it usually is a 5 gallon buckets worth at a time.

Great thread Southern!

 

[Southern28Chick]

Quote:
I was hoping you'd post. I never heard of Fels Naptha before, it's a good price and I love this part:

PURE soap - no detergents​

 

[Southern28Chick]

Here's more from Fels Naptha site:

Homemade Laundry Detergent:





First Recipe: 3 Pints Water 1/3 bar Fels Naptha Soap, grated 1/2 cup Washing Soda (Arm and Hammer, NOT baking soda though!!) 1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax 2 Gallon bucket to mix it in 1 Quart hot water Hot Water Mix Fels Naptha soap in a saucepan with 3 pints hot water and heat on low until dissolved. Stir in Washing Soda and Borax. Stir until thickened, and remove from heat. Add 1 Quart Hot Water to 2 gallon Bucket. Add soap mixture, and mix well. Fill bucket with hot water, and mix well. Set aside for 24 hours, or until mixture thickens. Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load.





Second Recipe: 1 cup grated Fels Naptha Soap 1/2 cup Washing Soda (Arm and Hammer again) 1/2 cup Borax (20 mule team Borax) 2 Tablespoons Glycerin 2 cups water Mix first three ingredients together, than add glycerin and water. Use 1/2 to 3/4 cup per load. This one works best in cold or warm water.





Third Recipe: Water 1 bar grated Fels Naptha soap 5 gallon bucket 1 cup washing soda (Again, Arm and Hammer) 4 1/2 gallons water Put grated Fels Naptha in saucepan and cover with water. Heat on low until dissolved. Fill bucket with hot water and add soap. Stir to combine. Add 1 cup washing soda and mix well. As it cools, it will thicken. May be used immediately. Use 1- 2 cups per load.





Powdered Laundry Detergent 1 cup grated Fels Naptha Soap 1/2 cup washing soda 1/2 cup 20 mule team borax Mix and store in airtight container or bag. For light loads, use 2 tablespoon. For heavy loads, use 3 tablespoons.​

 

[Wildsky]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=30826

 

[Southern28Chick]

Quote:
I'm not selling laundry detergent nor am I saying to buy MY soap, you're assuming. I've only ever heard of laundry detergent made with cold process soap.

Why would I try to get people to buy my soap for $4.25 a bar to be grated up and used in laundry detergent??? That makes ZERO sense!!! Make your own or find some really cheap! Don't buy my soap for $4.25 each and grate it up to wash your undies!

And I honestly didn't see that other thread before now or I would have posted in that one. Edited: I read that thread and it has nothing to do with making products to save money, it's about composting and gardening.

Why turn a good discussion bad???

 

[BrahmaMama]

Okay, dumb question, but what is "washing soda" and where do you find it at?

And...is this laundry soap pretty sudsy? My frontload washer requires the HE detergent (supposedly you can use less of a normal soap, but I've heard not to do that either) My last washer that required the HE...I did use normal soap, just less of, and I did run into problems with that one. I'm not saying the soap was for sure the reason, but I don't know...

And is there something dangerous about Borax...? I vaguely remember hearing something bad about it.

 

[hensdeliverthegoods]

SouthernChick, I didn't get the impression at all that you were trying to sell your products. You're right, it is good information to share - thank you!

 

[Southern28Chick]

Quote:
Borax is a natural mineral.

You can find washing soda at your local Walmart.

It's not very sudsy but it does the trick.

 

[hsm5grls]

BrahmaMama wrote:
Okay, dumb question, but what is "washing soda" and where do you find it at?

The brand i buy is by Arm and hammer. Just make sure it says washing soda and not baking soda​

 

[lizardz]

Here's another tip for saving some money (not laundry related).

You know that stuff you buy to sprinkle on the carpet to absorb oders? Make your own using baking soda and your favorite essential oil. I buy the large quantities of baking soda at Costco, then put some in a large jar and add about 20 drops of essestial oils (I like a mix of tangerine and cinnamon). Sprinkle on your carpet, then vacuum up (I often will sprinkle it at night before I go to bed, then vacuum in the morning). You can also use this on couches and chairs (not leather). With three dogs, four cats and a teenage son & his multitude of friends, I use this a lot!