Does anyone or has anyone used homemade laundry soap? I read once that it is made like regular bar soap, then you grate it into the laundry. I was thinking that with all the laundry I do, it would take a lot of grating time. Maybe not though. Also, can you use scents? Or is that harmful to the clothes. If you have a good recipe, and advice, I would love to hear it.

Thank you :)

-- Aimee Gosse (aimeegosse@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002

Answers

Aimee, I know there is some stuff in the archives about laundry soap, but I think it's all liquid. I tried it and haven't cared for it, but several of the people here use it and love it.

You might check the archives, and I'll be sure to check back and see if there's any different recipes posted here that I might try - I'm not giving up on finding one I like just yet!

-- Christine in OK (cljford@mmcable.com), May 07, 2002.

I'll ask my husband, he does the laundry around here. I'll get back to you!

-- Broomhilda (Broomhilda@valhalla.net), May 07, 2002.

*smile* you're cute BroomHilda!~

-- A.Gosse (aimeegosse@hotmail.com), May 07, 2002.

Hi Aimee, I make my own laundry soap. Heres my recipe.

1 bar of laundry soap (octagon or fels naptha) grate into a saucepan and add just enough water to cover. Boil until soap is dissolved. Place in bucket or large container. Add 1 1/2 gal very warm water (hot is ok). Add 1 cup borax and 1 cup arm and hammer washing soda. Mix with wisk. You'll have to keep "whipping" it with the wisk periodically untilvery cool because it gels. I've added liquid fabric softener for scent also. Gloria

-- Gloria in Maryland (mullinaxclan@webtv.net), May 07, 2002.

Too funny... I was going to post this same question just a little different! I made some yesterday because I ran out and had no choice. I have been wanting too for some time and have read all of the archives and even lots of other sites. Most recipies are liquid which I buy but don't want to make. I want a powder and I CAN'T get washing soda!!! It does not exist here! I was wondering if anyone knew if mine was OK or not. Anyway, I found this recipe either here or at countryside....

16c. BAKING SODA (not washing soda - it is safer on the environment)?? or so they say

12c. BORAX

8c. GRATED CASTILE OR GLYCERIN SOAP (I used Ivory because it's what I had. You can buy glycerin REAL cheap online at "Missy's" I think. Do a search for- +"bath & body" +glycerin +missy and see what you can find)

3T. LAVENDER, GRAPEFRUIT OR LEMON ESSENTIAL OIL (this is not just for fragrance but for "germ" figting. Make sure you use ESSENTIAL OIL not fragrance oil. You can get it at a health food store but it is expensive or online at "snowdrift farm" or others that sell bath & body supplies.) I didn't have any so I didn't use any and mine worked great. My husband is real picky about such stuff and he doesn't even know anything changed!

One more thing, grating Ivory was difficult! Glycerin is much easier to grate, it's soft.

One more thing. One thing that occured to me and someone correct me if I'm wrong... didn't people "way back when" use soap? Do I really need washing soda or borax? I will use the baking soda and borax because I can find them and they are relatively cheap but isn't the soap what is really important?

-- Rebecca (rebeccagallant@earthlink.net), May 07, 2002.

I switched to the powdered recipe from the liquid and like it much better! I used Ivory bar soap too, because that's what I like, and substituted Tea Tree oil because it's cheaper but works just as well. This powdered mix lasts a long time, so you don't have to make it as often. I am very pleased with it.

-- Jean in IL (schiszik@tbcnet.com), May 07, 2002.

Rebecca, I think the baking soda would soften the water and the borax adds cleaning power from what I can tell. I don't think that only soap was used long ago - I remember reading about them mixing up starch and bluing too.

-- Jean (schiszik@tbcnet.com), May 08, 2002.

I made the gel type recently and I like it OK, it's just a little messy to use. Also, mine doesn't suds, is it supposed to? I would like to try the powdered kind, does anyone know where I can get the baking soda in large amounts? Thanks!

-- cowgirlone in ok (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), May 08, 2002.

Do a search for Fels Naptha soap, the site gives very good directions. Also in the July archives of the Christian Homestead forum, manyc has given very good directions. They both use the Fels, washing soda and Borax.

-- Cindy (S.E.IN) (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), May 08, 2002.

Aimee, I make and sell soap. The soap that is inferior to sell I use in the laudry. My soap all has the essential oils in so I guess it hasn't hurt the clothes. Honestly, it does not whiten the clothes. I will mix a little borax with mine or bleach on the whites. I will also mix it half and half with regular store bought laudry soap. I you want to make laudry soap I noted a good receipe already posted but if you have too much hand soap made then you still can use it , it will clean but not whiten. Debbie

-- debbie (bwolcott@cwis.net), May 08, 2002.

Aimee you won't believe the amount of money you save and how well this laundry detergent works! Here's the recipe from the Cooking and Crafts Forum.

-- Karen (mountains_mama2@hotmail.com), May 08, 2002.

Baking Soda, NOT WASHING SODA, can be bought at a feed store in 50# bags. Most any should have it or be able to get it. Mine cost about $7 for 50#.

Since, I am convinced that washing soda is a figmant of someones imagination, can baking soda be used with borax and soap for clean laundry. Mine SEEM clean, but I guess I don't really know.

-- Rebecca (rebeccagallant@earthlink.net), May 08, 2002.

Hey Reba, are you from Missouri? Washing soda is sodium carbonate and baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. Here is proof that there is such a product as washing soda: (wait for theimage to download)



-- Cabin Fever (cabinfever_MN@yahoo.com), May 08, 2002.

I'm from Alabama :-) That should explain it all!!!

I have been to Arm & Hammer's web site and got the UPC number and asked some stores around here to order it, but they won't. I have searched EVERYWHERE. Next time we are out of town, I may look for some. I even looked around Atlanta and didn't find any. I think that it is all a conspiracy and a hoax!!!!!!!!! I need something to entertain myself and keep my day amusing!

I do understand the difference, but will my recipe (posted above) that I got from the archives here or on Countryside by OK? They specified using Baking Soda NOT washing soda. Supposedly, it is a more environmentally(?) safe recipe.

-- Rebecca (rebeccagallant@earthlink.net), May 08, 2002.