We opt for powder over liquid with respect to opportunity cost, storage, and simplicity. My clothes have been much cleaner since Ive been using this detergent. I use a 3/8 drill and a paint mixer / drywall mud mixer paddle, can buy HD or Lowes,,, works great for me. I add a bit of vinegar to the wash and no problems. I just finished washing my first load of clothes with this stuff and wow! It makes the recipe a little more expensive but it is still super cheap and is more natural. So gross! Click here to see the Mrss other make-your-own recipes! My consistency is more like fabric softener vs detergent, but Im loving it. I have been using this exact recipe for a while. Hi! This is 2017 though. I dont really think theres a way to may it more foamy but foam doesnt clean the clothes any better so there really isnt a reason to need to make it that way. The product will lose potency after three months. My detergents have been solidly thick, clumpity clumpy, layered thick on top of wateryplain ole watery, and everywhere in between. Love it. Or soak the kids toys in it soap? With this recipe you might want to eliminate the use of laundry softener even. It took a couple washes before I really noticed the difference-I held a couple shirts back, to compare. Could I use liquid castile soap instead of the bar? Thanks. I made two batches and the one wont gel. Is this normal? Natural Ant Repellent Spray: A Simple and Safe Spray That WorksThis natural ant repellent uses essential oils for ants and it works well. It made the detergent smell amazing! Thanks for the great instructions! When I need to refill my soap bottle I just shake up on of the 2L bottles and then pour it up. Some will stain your clothes while others dont. Going to try that this weekend. Pingback: Garlic Chicken Stir Fry - Mrs Happy Homemaker, Pingback: That time I made laundry detergent. How does this smell if you do not use any essential oils added to it? If, in the morning, there is any oily residue left on the paper, the essential oil was either a) cut with a base oil, or b) is not an essential oil (fragrance oil). You used 1 bar of soap, right? At the end of the day, decide for yourself to use it or not, andafford others the same courtesy. Do I just measure it as usual, about a cup per load? Can I still use it? It was no big deal. I followed your recipe to a t and did not have any scent smell when I dried my clothes. Sodium Carbonate or Soda Ash), International Chemical Safety Card for Sodium Carbonate, Fels Naptha Material Safety Data Sheet MSDS L-101, Natural Ant Repellent Spray: A Simple and Safe Spray That Works, Adhesive Remover: Simple, Natural Homemade Goo Gone Recipe, How To Clean Washing Machine: A Top Loading Washer Naturally, Homemade Dog Shampoo Bar: A Simple and Natural Recipe, Learn How to Make Natural Pectin For Jelly and Jam, If you prefer liquid, we have 2 recipes for. I would say adding the baking soda was what did it. Jillian is a freelance journalist with 10 years of editorial experience in the lifestyle genre. Hi I made this for the first time and tried it tonight. Thank you for this very simple and easy to follow instructions! Play around with it and see what amount works for you. Yes, you can get them near the candles in some stores. My son use to complain his skin was always itchy with store bought detergent.It didnt seem to matter what type,he complained.Since Ive been making this,no complaining. Hi Colleen, Hope this helps, if you try again! I will be making more this week to have some spare so I dont have to worry about running out when the baby gets here!! Would I still be able to utilize both if using powdered detergent in the front along with only liquid fabric softener in the rear tray ? is that an 8 oz cup or are you talking about a laundry cup like on the regular detergent bottle? Even if it means doubling the recipe, it would still be WAY cheaper yhan the store bought.. i have been using the washing soda for about 4 yrs now, but this recipe would last me sooooo much longer. Realized at once what I did, so I turned the heat off and just stirred until everything was dissolved. It doesnt gel right. When youre done making this check out these other related articles: Note: No time or desire to make homemade laundry detergent? money. Please help!! I thought I saw that somewhere but now cant find that particular recipe. Could you make a detergent concentrate and not worry about adding the extra water? Do not pour quickly, or the baking soda and vinegar can react and fizz out of the bottle. This was told to us by a repair man when questioned, he said, who writes the directions for the amount of detergent needed for a load?. This is the ORIGINAL homemade laundry detergent recipe,all others only imitate what youll find here.This is a fun project that will save you money and help you rid your home of toxic chemical cleaners. softener If you put the Fels Naptha in the microwave for about a minute it will be much easier to grate, It will bubble, let it cool, it will grate into a powder. Another bleach type additive would be great that I wouldnt have to add seperately. It works AMAZINGLY! Is there supposed to be suds? Castile soap is castile soap. Do I just drop the goo directly in the washer as I fill it up? You dont want that extra oil in your laundry: its good for your skin but not for your clothes. detergent afewshortcuts Have some fun with it. . Put the heat on medium-high, and stir until completely melted about 10 minutes. Essential oil(s) in scents of your choice. Fill up a 5 gallon bucket halfway with hot water (I like to use the shower for this, its easier in my opinion). I dont use the essential oil in mine at all because the fels naptha soap has such a nice scent to it citrusy and very clean smelling. Plus, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing exactly which ingredients are being used to wash your laundry. Dryer balls are added to wet laundry as it's loaded into the dryer to fluff clothes and speed drying time. I am hoping to find something that will help keep the liquid in suspension. Just for fun Ive been sitting here reading EVERY SINGLE COMMENT on this post (Im a little bit warped that way, lol) and the vast majority of them fall into 2 categories: a) this stuff is amazing or, b) can I use ________ soap or OxyClean? Can you use liquid castile soap instead of grating a bar of laundry soap? You really need those ingredients for it to clean properly and Im honestly not sure how it would work if you did it after. One thing I have noticed, however, is that my whites are dingy. It is so easy to make. I do use the Zote soap, just like the scent. Go get the ingredients and make your homemade laundry detergent today! You can also add it manually to the final rinse cycle. I made the homemade detergent yesterday and Im now washing a small load. Matt, I just grated it, and then put some of the washing soda/borax mix in my food processor along with the grated soap. I use my stick blender (the kind to mix protein powder drinks with) and mix it up by dunking it into the glop, then lift, move then dunk etc. OxyClean will bubble up (gives off oxygen)and be a mess if added while making home made detergent,,, I add the Sun brand (cheaper) of OxyClean to my HE front load separate from the home made when I wash,,. I used mine for the first time tonight. More Posts You'll Love2692 I love it!! Weve been using liquid detergent as well as liquid fabric softener since we purchased the new machine. I use this same recipe, but I also add a cup of generic OxyClean that I find at Dollar Tree. The top solidifies into a gel and the bottom is liquid. Then, remove the pan from the heat source, but allow the balls to soak until the water is cool. Hope this helps! Heres what you need: (printable version of this recipe at the very bottom of the post). Hope this was helpful. I have been using this recipe for several months. No, the soap will not suds up but it cleans great! Set aside for 24 hours until mixture thickens. Beware of this laundry detergent! Shake the bottle before each use. A great tip shared with me with a reader to get that store-bought consistency is to use an immersion blender on it. I grate the Fels Naptha with my Zyliss grater (like they have at the Olive Garden) and it goes very quickly. do I start all over? Place the soap flakes and boiling water in a large mixing bowl, and mix well with the stick blender or whisk. I think I might need to use a blender for a smoother consistency.. Do yall think this will still work right? The basic test to check the purity of an essential oil is to put one drop on a piece of white paper, and let it sit over night. The salt solution didnt work, it just made foam on the surface. When I put rubber gloves on and squished it around it did get to the consistency you mentioned. Then let it sit in the 5 gallon bucket with a tight fitting lid for about 36 hours. Regardless of your washer type, just make your own in confidence. . In contrast, if youre looking for a pure, natural solution youll need to go with a handcrafted soap so you can be sure of its ingredients. I think next time Ill use more of the bar soap or try Zote, which has a less dubious ingredients list than Fels Naptha. I have made and used this soap recipe. Everything is cool when your part of the team. When youre done making this check out our article onhomemade fabric softener/dryer sheets! Since its just two of us in the house, Ill make a half batch. 6. -I use bar Castile soap but Ill probably switch to liquid next time to save the annoying shredding lol. Its REALLY easy! We go through a ton of I did this and our clothes started smelling very bad any time any did any sweating. What can i add to make it a little thicker? You can choose to do this if you like. All though it would work fine if Id constantly remember to hoist it up and SHAKE first. Anyone else have this happen? Do you use fabric softner with it or is it not needed? Doesnt cost a lot to make it and actually its fun making it. Pingback: Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipes and Tutorials - IdeaStand. They still work well, but your laundry detergent will be thin and will not gel. Each batch yields approximately 32 ounces(between 32-64 loads based on how many Tbsp used per load). Im looking forward to trying this. By the end it had dried a bit so sometimes it left detergent spots in my clothes, I really shouldve added water to solve that. For a little extra cleaning power, you can add OxiClean to the wash with it and for Tide fans, please check out this version! Or dissolve 1 tablespoon of wool wash in lukewarm water. Our machine has the tray on the outside of the machine at the top left. Use a measuring spoon to shape the mixture into individual pods. 5 Allergies- Most of my family is allergic to name brand detergents.they break out in horrible bubble rashes, especially around the collar area that resemble small clusters of grapes not the case with this recipe! Can anyone tell me whether or not this detergent is safe for newborns? Cool recipe!! HE front-load washers require special soap for one reason alone low suds. After you have added the wet ingredients, your mixture should look like wet sand. Your email address will not be published. You can use stain removers or oxi-clean with this too if you would like just the same as you would use them with the detergent you buy in the store. I put them in towards the end of melting the Fels Naptha. Pingback: Homemade Laundry Soap | A Happy Homestead. You have helped me so much. Just love this laundry soap! I have started using a 1/4 of the amount of liquid laundry detergent that I used to use and 2 tablespoons of this recipe to boost. Note: This homemade laundry soap/detergent works in all HE front-load washers; read more below. The only change I made, is I use my own home made bar soap. As you can see, whether I compare it against traditional store-bought liquid or powder, I am saving $0.16 per load! Thanks so much Ginger. Plus it will be a great project for me and the kids. Do you think maybe your washing machine needs to be cleaned? Im loving this idea! but I thought I should since I am not the one who created this, I do not know the person who did, and I have had a LOT of experience with this recipe. But now it is a VERY thick concoction, think oatmeal. I placed it in the liquid compartment, but it didnt dissolve, I placed it in the powder compartment, and still no desolving. The soap works well. It works great on getting dirty gunk off clothes, but it doesnt do a very good job on odors. I have a family of 4 and a 5 gal bucket will last us quiet a long time. Im pretty sure its just that my detergent had dried out a bit, as I only got the spots when I poured the detergent onto the dry clothes, and didnt get the spots when I added the detergent at the bottom of the bin or with the water streaming in. I saw it for the powder recipe but not liquid. powdered tablespoons