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laundry_queen

(8,646 posts)
18. I just made a huge batch
Mon Dec 9, 2013, 02:28 AM
Dec 2013

I kept it to dry ingredients instead of cooking it to make a liquid detergent (I don't know how you'd cook such a large batch unless you have a giant stock pot).

I put in (got this recipe on pinterest)
4lbs of Borax
4lbs of baking soda
4lbs of washing soda
2 bars of grated Fels Naptha (you could use zote or another laundry bar)
1 container of OxyClean (this is optional in the recipe, but I have small children and we have a lot of stains and I find a little bit of oxyclean means using a lot less detergent in the long run - and I got it on sale)
1 container of purex crystals (clearly optional, I have issues with needing my laundry to smell nice and last time I tried essential oils, it did not work out well).

I mixed everything in a small Rubbermaid container then put it in empty Purex Crystal containers - the lids have measurements on them so I can measure my detergent without a separate scoop.

According to the pinterest link, this should make enough for approx. 300+ loads and needs 1-2 tbsp. per load. I spent more than I wanted to putting it together. I've always wanted to try Fels Naptha to see if it's better than the only laundry bars I can get locally (which suck) but had to order it online which boosted the cost, and I couldn't find washing soda anywhere, which was shocking to me - I used to see it everywhere. I just ordered it online w/free shipping from a place I was putting an order in for other stuff anyway. The whole batch works out to slightly cheaper per load than the absolute bottom of the line dirt-cheap detergent (which I never buy because it doesn't work well anyway). Compared to the stuff I normally buy, it's about half price. More if you count that I usually use oxyclean on top of the detergent anyway.

We'll see how it cleans. I'm super picky so this is the big test! I have a dirty load in right now!
BTW - I did such a big batch because I have 4 kids and do about 10 loads per week and didn't want to be constantly mixing the stuff. Besides, it was convenient to just dump the boxes of stuff in.
Oh, and I have a front loader so we'll see if this is HE friendly - it's supposed to be.

ETA photo:

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Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Homemade Laundry Soap [View all] Squinch Sep 2013 OP
Let us sing of Grandma's lye soap pscot Sep 2013 #1
"had an aversion to scrubbing their ears, Grandma scrubbed them with her lye soap Squinch Sep 2013 #2
I have seen this, sort of. Curmudgeoness Sep 2013 #3
I've seen those with the Fels Naptha too, but they do seem to complicated. Squinch Sep 2013 #4
How is it with HE washers? Melissa G Sep 2013 #5
That, I don't know. Maybe mix up a small batch and test it? Squinch Sep 2013 #7
Okay. Thanks. Anyone else here Melissa G Sep 2013 #9
Melissa, since this thread has gotten a little stale, you might miss this: downthread Cally just Squinch Sep 2013 #14
Thanks for letting me know! Melissa G Sep 2013 #15
I think that's where the Fels Naptha vs Dawn comes in laundry_queen Sep 2013 #10
Thanks! I'll try it! Melissa G Sep 2013 #11
I don't know about the liquid version, LeftyMom Dec 2013 #23
My wife.. sendero Dec 2013 #20
I do the fels-naptha one noamnety Sep 2013 #6
Right? Tide is priced like some kind of rare metal! Squinch Sep 2013 #8
It made me much more aware noamnety Sep 2013 #12
I make a simple powder detergent for HE cally Sep 2013 #13
Excellent! Melissa G Sep 2013 #16
So is washing soda different from washing powder? Kennah Oct 2013 #17
I just made a huge batch laundry_queen Dec 2013 #18
I'm interested to know how the dry works. Keep us posted! Squinch Dec 2013 #19
We use a similar concoction... sendero Dec 2013 #21
laundry queen..... sendero Dec 2013 #22
BTW Washing Soda is just soda ash. It's cheaper if you buy it at the pool supply shop. LeftyMom Dec 2013 #24
I didn't point it out because I didn't know it. Good to know. Squinch Dec 2013 #25
Thanks for the info! Kaleva Dec 2013 #26
Fantastic! IrishAyes Dec 2013 #27
Latest Discussions»Support Forums»Frugal and Energy Efficient Living»Homemade Laundry Soap»Reply #18