Self-sufficient households; help!

[Zookeeper9000]

Hey Ninja maybe someone else got him for ya. If not good luck on that. I had the coon experiance of a life time and I will be learning to shoot, just waiting on the gun range to call.


The laundry soap works great and I know I do 3 loads a day LOL. And now I am doing my daughters until she recovers from surgery. She ran out of soap so I brought some of mine. Even her hubby noticed.

 

[LoneCowboy]

I made the laundry detergent and then the cat got sick on the bed so I had to wash the sheets, and they did not come clean. I washed them again in Tide, and they did come clean. Am I doing something wrong? Too big a load maybe? I used 2 tsp, should it have been 2 TBLS? I really want this to work, it's lots cheaper. Any ideas?

 

[okiemommy]

I think that I read somewhere that you have to use more for really gross dirt, much dirtier clothes, or bigger messes. Someone else with more experience may be able to verify that though.

 

[Cassandra]

Quote:
I usually will pre-soak something really gross like that. (hose or rinse off any solid debris left on--I'm mostly talking about kid vomit, here, btw.) Then, put it in the washer i the hottest water, let it fill up and begin to agitate a few minutes, then sit in the hot water for a little while before continuing to wash. I don't know if that makes a difference, that's just what I've gotten into the habit of doing.

Now, as for needing to wash something twice... it could be that a second wash using any detergent would have done the trick, but really, it's impossible to know. That just reminds me of something a co-worker told me once. Her brother sold those rainbow vacuum cleaners (I think was the brand) that you put water in.

During their sales presentation, they vacuum a floor with a regular vacuum cleaner, then use the Rainbow and show the crowd how much more dirt the Rainbow picks up. Making it look like the Rainbow works so much better than the other one. It may work better, but if you vacuumed the floor again, with the regular cleaner, you'd still get more dirt out. You are never going to get ALL of the dirt out of the carpet, no matter what you use, but each time you vacuum, you'll get a little more of it out.

I think this may be the same principle with laundry. Each time you wash it, it's going to get a little bit cleaner, no matter what you use.

Having said that, I think Tide is a great detergent and I have seen it get out stuff that other detergents didn't. But it's so expensive now, it's just not worth the cost. IMO

Cassandra

 

[2dream]

I made the powdered laundry detergent and in my haste apparently got confused as to the mixture. I only used 1/3 bar of the Fals. Plus I did not have the color safe bleach. Lacking all of that when I washed my DH's dirty, filthy oil stained (from changing oil in car), blood stained (processing 2 roosters), concrete all over them from setting poles for the pole barn and some tar/resin from same poles guess what? The blood came out completely, the grey stain from the concrete is almost gone, and I discovered that the tar/resin came off when I scratched it with my fingernail still hot from the dryer and the oil spot is almost completely gone. These are khaki shorts and they looked better after washed in my homemade detergent than they looked when he put them on clean that morning.
I did use 4 tsps of the detergent and warm water.
Even his white tee shirt came out looking ok. But you have to understand - that tee shirt (his favorite) looks a lot like a dust rag to me. I am still trying to figure out how to make it disappear without him missing it.

 

[Wildsky]

According to the recipe on this site:

http://www.soapsgonebuy.com/category_s/8.htm

You need to use two TABLESPOONS of the mixture for laundry detergent! they didn't include the color safe bleach!


Edit to add their recipe:
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.

 

[LoneCowboy]

Ok, that's what I was wondering. That sounds more correct. I'll try that and see how it works. It smells good though

 

[lovemychicks9]

Okay , so here is my question, I made the liquid laundry soap and I really liked it so I wanted to try the powdered soap and I followed the recipe for the 2 cups borax, 2 cups washing soda and 1 bar of Fels Naptha. It smells good but it seems it is all powder and not much soap, so has anyone tried this powder and do you really get much of the soap at the top of the jar or does it all fall to the bottom? I feel like all I am really going to scoop at the top is the powder and not much soap, so please assure me that it really works good with such a little amount of Fels in that amount of powder. I did leave out the color safe bleach as we seem to be allergic to it and with the soda and borax I would think that you really do not need it to get things clean and white. I am sorry this is such a ramble, I just need reassurance that this will work with such a small amount of soap , and do you use the same amount for a front loader machine? Thanks for the help. Trudy

 

[Wildsky]

Has anyone tried chopping up that bar of soap in a blender?

My mother used to use a blender to shred cheese.......?

 

[lovemychicks9]

I just use an old .99 cent metal grater from the dollar store to grate the FN soap and it grates really easy, almost like butter. I figure for a buck if it dulls it I will go get a couple more for that price.