Self-sufficient households; help!

[amyquilt]

Here the link to a thread I posted with info for ingredients to make homemade cleaning products.

Best thing is it can be ordered in bulk.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=66556

 

[ninjapoodles]

I'm with Amy. I wouldn't use Ivory (that "99.4% pure" business drives me nuts--pure WHAT, exactly? Ivory contains animal fat, salt, palm oil, epsom salt, silica [think superfine ground glass], and coconut oil, saponified with some form of alkali, and fragrance oil. Ivory soap has had all its natural glycerin removed.) or any other commercial bar to make laundry soap. I'd use a very plain homemade bar, with no fragrance, that is NOT superfatted, if I wanted to make laundry soap. I do make soap from scratch, but I don't make laundry soap because in my experience it's a lot of trouble for something that doesn't work that great. (This is just my experience and opinion--I know tons of people who swear by the stuff.)

So, while I certainly am capable of making homemade laundry soap, I don't. I buy Charlie's Laundry Powder , which contains both soap and washing soda. It's hypoallergenic, biodegradable, fragrance-free, non-toxic, front-loader and HE compatible, and cleans great. Since you only use a Tablespoon per large load of wash, a 3-lb. bag costs about 18 cents per load to use. If you buy it in the bulk 5-gallon bucket, the cost-per-load comes down to about TEN CENTS per wash. They ship quickly, and shipping is FREE if you spend over $20.

I have ZERO financial interest in this company, they don't know me from Adam. I just have not been able to beat this product with anything homemade, either in cost (figuring in what my time's worth to me--I can handle spending a dime on a load of laundry when it means so much less work) or efficiency. I also LOVE their All-Purpose-Cleaner (which is also highly concentrated--you dilute it with water), which is what I use to pre-treat tricky stains prior to washing. I've also used it to wash everything from floors to dog crates to my hands to the dogs themselves. It's that gentle.

Geez, maybe Charlie's SHOULD pay me a kickback.

 

[kellim]

Quote:
Just wanted to say that I tried this and IT IS WONDERFUL!!! I did make one change and that was the Fels Naptha Soap. I couldn't find it so I went into K-Mart and bought the Zote Soap instead. I did find that with my son's incontience I have to use 1/4 cup per load, but still it is SOOOOOO much cheaper than the norm. Also, it is great if you have sensitive skin. My son is allergic to everything soap wise but to this he is not. Wonderful stuff and thanks so much for sharing!!!

 

[purr]

well tomorrow I am going to buy the stuff to make the laundry soap ,but I'll try the grocery store since I do not shop at Wal-mart. And never will.
If you want to help the environment , then buying the ingredieants at one of the worst environmental offenders is not something I don't want to do.

 

[FrontPorchIndiana]

Quote:
The Fels Naptha says right on the package "Contains no Napthalene".

 

[ninjapoodles]

If enough people really want plain, straightforward, non-superfatted homemade soap, I would be glad to make a batch, and send you a hunk for free. I'm getting ready to get the soaping room going again, and that would make a good way to warm up!

It does take a while to cure, but I could do a water-discount recipe so it wouldn't take as long.

 

[FrontPorchIndiana]

Quote:
Made it yesterday. Have done two loads. The first I used two teaspoons. The clothes seem clean but don't have any of the soap scent. The second load were whites and I used two tablespoons. They came out clean but only have a very slight scent. I loved the smell of the Fels Naptha while making the mix. But I'm wondering why I'm not smelling more in the clothes? I've seen other recipes that have less borax and washing soda per bar of Naptha. Anyone use a different recipe?

 

[Zookeeper9000]

The reason you are not smelling anything in your clothes with this detergent is clean has no smell.

I am using it and I love it. I use to have to wash dog bedding 3 or 4 times with bleach to get it to not smell dog. Now one wash I use a 1/4 cup for dog stuff but don't add any bleach. Great stuff thanks again for sharing.

 

[Acre of Blessings]

Quote:
I don't blame you. I don't like Wal-Mart either. I buy all my ingredients at the grocery store. And if a store didn't carry it, I would ask the manager if he would order some without any problems.

 

[chickiebaby]

Ninjapoodles, I'd give a lot to try some of your soap, esp because two people in my family are allergic to so many of the additives in commercial soap.