Do you make your own laundry detergent?

[martini]

Lately it seems like I hear a lot about people making their own laundry detergent. Have you tried it? If so, did you like it/keep making it?
We have a HE machine, so I'm a little nervous, but thought I'd ask to see if anyone has input. Thanks!

[zarapipe]

I do. Super easy, cleans good and is cheap!
pinterest.com/offsite/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.onegoodthingbyjillee.com%2F2012%2F08%2Fmake-a-years-worth-of-laundry-soap.html&shatoken=6ff5349379a79b6305655d8dd1adab6d055e2420&pin=195765915023585525

[lauralala]

I did it a couple of years ago for a few months. I tried several different recipes, but I was just never impressed. The clothes were clean enough, I guess - they didn't smell bad or anything - but I had a harder time getting stains out, and the whites started to seem dingy.

In the end, I decided it wasn't worth the time and effort for very little savings. Now I just buy a big jug of Ecos at Sam's. It's less than $15, lasts me 3 months, and is environmentally friendly. Easy enough!

[morningmania]

I have made both the powder and the liquid. I prefer the liquid. I think that it cleans really well. We have a top loading HE and I just use a significantly less amount.

It is definitely a lot less money. I bought the ingredients over a year ago, and am just using the last of them now. Although we probably only do about 5 loads of laundry a week including sheets and blankets.

[tigress]

I do. Its pretty easy and super cheap and seems to clean well. Love it!

[rubytue]

It was fine on my clothes. It did not do well with H's construction worker clothes.

[bubbles]

Morning, what recipe do you use for the liquid? I also have an HE top loader and was wondering if these Pinterest recipes were safe for that kind of machine.

[sarahlindsay]

I do - I just use a combination of washing soda and grated fels naptha soap (combined in the food processor) and it works really well for me. I don't have an HE washer, though....

[sillygoosegirl]

I haven't in quite a while, but DH has continued the practice. We use 1 bar of soap, 1 cup of washing soda, and 1/2 cup of borax, all mixed and grated together in the food processor. The recipe is in sharpie on the lid to our laundry soap bucket because I got tired of looking it up. We use about 1-2 tablespoons per load.

[nonsenseabound]

nope, I just buy charlie's soap and call it a day.

[ohgillian]

I made a huge batch when I was home on maternity leave with DS. He's now almost 2.5 and we still have perhaps four months' worth. I made this recipe (the one that says, "the full recipe"): theecofriendlyfamily.com/2009/08/laundry-detergent/

I will make it again, but I might use a different soap than Fels Naptha. Maybe.

[arch01]

yep, we use the eco friendly family recipe.

[ohgillian]

Nov 13, 2012 14:26:04 GMT -5 sillygoosegirl said:

I haven't in quite a while, but DH has continued the practice. We use 1 bar of soap, 1 cup of washing soda, and 1/2 cup of borax, all mixed and grated together in the food processor. The recipe is in sharpie on the lid to our laundry soap bucket because I got tired of looking it up. We use about 1-2 tablespoons per load.

What bar soap are you using? Thanks.

[DarcyLongfellow]

I did for a while, maybe 2 years. I made the powder -- a mix of grated fels naptha (a great tip is to microwave it, then it just crumbles in your hand), washing powder, and borax.

I have stopped because it just didn't get our clothes clean. I couldn't get stains out to save my life. I'm back to Tide Free and Clear

[smiley]

I used this recipe. www.howdoesshe.com/cheaper-and-better-diy-laundry-detergent/

I substituted the Zote for Fels Naptha (my local stores don't have Zote). I like the recipe because it uses a full container of everything so I had no left over ingredients sitting around. It made a huge bucket of soap. I put the powder into the Purex Crystals Container and have barely made a dent in it in the past month. You only need to use about 2 tablespoons of the powder per average load. Sometimes I use more if I am doing a prewash with DH's work clothes. The best part was all of the ingredients were <$30 and it will last me a long time!

[cahabalily]

Nov 13, 2012 13:32:11 GMT -5 @majorwife said:

im lazy so i only make the powder but i never have any problems.

This. I bought $15 worth of supplies two years ago and still haven't run out.

[morningmania]

Nov 13, 2012 13:57:19 GMT -5 bubbles said:

Morning, what recipe do you use for the liquid? I also have an HE top loader and was wondering if these Pinterest recipes were safe for that kind of machine.

I use this recipe. www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/02/no-grate-homemade-laundry-soap.html

I thought that it was easier, and I didn't like the smell or pain of grating or putting soap in my food processor.

I use less water though, I think I cut it in half. I didn't see the sense in watering down my laundry detergent. I use only about 2-3 tablespons per load. It is great for a pre-treater. I will say that I do add Oxiclean to my whites or my husbands outdoor work clothes.