Self-sufficient households; help!

[ninjapoodles]

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Try it sometime--it's great fun, and a nice way to supplement your income, if you do it just right. Heck, people will happily buy simple melt & pour soap, if it's pretty and smells good. I'm happy to share anything I know (except maybe certain specific recipes that I developed on my own). There is enough room in soapmaking for everyone.

Also, now that you found washing soda (which is actually used in place of lye in many soap recipes), be sure to Google "washing soda uses" or "washing soda applications," because the stuff can do everything from cleaning coffee pots to inducing vomiting!

Washing soda = sodium carbonate.

 

[ninjapoodles]

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No, I knew exactly how you meant it! My original post came across weird.

Liquid soaps and shampoos are really tricky. I may yet, but I've never even tried them. You can buy "bases" from suppliers, to which you can add things. Personally, I get almost all my shampoos (and toothpaste) for free by combining coupons with store sales. Not MY shampoo, because I have to have special prescription shampoo for my crazy scalp issues, but my family's. I just got 10 bottles of L'Oreal Kids shampoo for Bella for about $2 (hi, I'm a coupon geek).

I also make shampoo bars, both for people and pets. It's called "ShamPoodle."

Shampoo bars work great, but it does take some getting used to, working up a lather with the bar to wash your hair.

Melt & pour is fun, and a good way to get started, and kids LOVE it, both making it and using it (it's so simple, you can use your microwave, even), but I wouldn't recommend it for daily use on dry skin. You might consider trying "rebatching" (sometimes called "hand-milling" or "French-milling"), in which you buy some plain, cold-process soap to use as base, then shred it, "cook" it, put in your additives, and press it into a mold. Trickier than M&P, but no step for a stepper!

Belinda

 

[ninjapoodles]

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$3 is a really fair price for homemade soap, if the bar's the standard size of 3 ounces or so, and depending what it's made from! My bars sell for $4-5, but they're much larger than most handmade bars (5-6oz.), and made from expensive ingredients. The way I make a little profit is to make large batches, like 40-50 bars at a time, usually. I'm going to experiment this summer with some smaller batches, though, and just see how that works.

 

[tygab]

Well, I've had some time to digest this thread. After seeing the Charlie's, I did some number crunching of my own on some different bulk powder options online, assuming I would buy and not make (though I still have interest in making). I did this mostly for fun but it was very interesting to see the differences.

First, Ultra Tide @ Costco. 2 boxes, 95 loads each. So, that is a total 190 loads. Cost $70.61. This works out to be $.37 a load. And that is without shipping costs;

Second, Seventh Generation @ Amazon.
4 Boxes, 42 loads each, for total of 168 loads. Cost $40.99. I would not pay shipping since I am on a Prime trial membership (and I may keep it). That works out to be $.24 per load.

Last, the Charlie's. They give a discount for higher volumes, so I figured at 3 bags, which is 80 loads each for total of 240 loads. Cost with discount and free shipping (over $20) is $37.77. This puts the per load cost at $.16.

I have an HE washer so I do not use as much detergent as recommended with the regular brands, so those per load prices could actually be less for me (at least for the first two) but for a regular washer, seems like when you're talking a .20 difference per load to use something like Tide that could add up fast.

I will be trying out the Charlie's. Hope I like it!

[Edit, also as Ninjapoodles mentioned the big tub of Charlies is like .10/load - but I can't fathom doing 1280 loads of laundry right now so I wanted to start smaller!]

 

[ninjapoodles]

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The reason I started using it had nothing to do with cost--I didn't even NOTICE how much less I was spending at first! I got it because it has no additives that irritate sensitive skin, and my daughter had/has a pretty high sensitivity to fragrances and dyes on her skin. It was recommended by a blogger-friend.

My husband protested at first, because he LOVES fragrance in everything. I have a WAY more sensitive nose. He also didn't like the idea of not using fabric softener (with Charlie's, you don't have to--you CAN, but you don't have to), but I was determined to get all the fragrance chemicals off her skin. It worked like a charm. If I ever run out and have to buy detergent at the store, her skin gets irritated after wearing clothes washed in it.

For tough stains, you do have to soak them, or pre-treat with the All-Purpose Cleaner first. But I love how it gets all the residue off of everything. Towel have a lot more drying power!

I'm with you on the giant tub--I'm not sure where I'd store the bucket! Although I may try getting one and keeping it in the basement, with a small supply in a flip-top Ziploc container, or something.

 

[Alaska animal lover]

So, I've done the laundry soap. LOVE it! I will be trying the liquid recipe next.

I'm making baby wipes! I don'y even have a baby in diapers, but my sister does. Plus they are just handy to have around!

 

[suenrob]

Ok, Just made my first batch of laundry soap!! Found all the ingredients (sp) at Publix. Went to walmart first, they didn't have ANY.

I am all excited and ready to give it a try, then realize I did all the laundry this morning!!!!!!!!!!!! Has anyone else ever been bummed out cause all the laundry was done???? LOL

 

[2manyhats]

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Okay, here's my worry-- the Naptha Laundry Soap. That stuff contains Napthalene and that stuff is lethal!

I know it's a small amount, but still... So I'm wondering if Ivory Soap might work as a substitue? -- I have all of the ingredients on hand if the Ivory Soap works as a substitute. Anybody else tried this?

Can you find Sunlight bar soap where you are? You know you CAN try Ivory...after all it IS 99% pure soap...I'd definitely try it if that's what you have on hand. I've actually been thinking about trying Baby's own because I LOVE that smell.

I'm using Ivory and it's working great.

 

[suenrob]

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Well I managed to round up enuf laundry to try the soap, LOVE IT!!!!!!! Clothes are clean and smell nice!!!!

DH thought I was nuts when he saw me grating soap, LOL, until I told him about the savings! Can't wait to find more great recipies!!! Thanks

 

[okiemommy]

How do you make baby wipes? Did I miss that one listed here? I have bought the borax, but havent been able to find the other things. I havent been actively looking the past few days though. I think I am going to try to make the soap, so I can have that experience, and then buy a little bit of the Charlies soap. My husband has really sensitive skin, so I am hoping that the borax doesnt break him out again.