Washing Laundry - using?

[carolg]

I ran out of Seventh Generation laundry liquid so decided to go with vinegar and then pour in baking powder. No measuring but guessing only on quantity. I'm thinking of replacing the Seventh with this since I am not noticing any difference in cleaning.

What are you all using for doing your laundry? Also Seventh seems high. Think I do like liquid better than powder unless you can convince me otherwise.

Please share your best laundry tips here. Even stain removal would be nice to know about as I have a tendency to get some juicy fruits onto my tops.

Thanks.

carolg

[rawnhealthy]

I use soapnuts-not Maggie's, which are expensive- I get mine at an Indian Market. It costs me under $2 for about 60-90+ loads:D

[Ilse W.]

I also use soap nuts, but I got them in Germany. I turn them into a liquid soap by boiling 25 whole or 50 half shells in a quart of water, then letting them cool off. I pour the liquid into a bottle and put the shells on my compost. I use the same amount of this liquid per load as I would of my Eco liquid detergent.

[Ilse W.]

In addition, I put a half cup of baking soda into every load. BTW, I have a front loading washer.

[Bookish Lass]

I use Cal Ben Pure Soap
http://www.calbenpuresoap.com/

[carolg]

Thanks you all.
carolg

[oai]

carolg -- if you decide to use soap nuts, can you tell us where you get yours? this is the first time i'm hearing about soap nuts. sounds good. i tried using borax for a while, but my clothes would still have odor to them. so i'm back to tide. :o

[TaupeRawMan]

I use Maggie's or salt and vinegar.

Rawnhealthy - what are the soapnuts called in the indian store?

[herb_gardner]

i use the soapnuts
and sometimes seventh generation

[HolyGuacamole]

I use soap nuts from http://www.lullwatersoapnuts.com/

[Raw Yogini]

What are soap nuts, I've never heard of them before. Also, how well do they work? How are they w/ stains ( I have kids)?

[Sugar Snap Pea]

You know I've been thinking of trying Dr Bronners in the laundry, but I have no idea how much to use. Not looking forward to trying to find out that info on all the microscopic writing on the bottle, and this could turn out to be expensive. I've heard you can use it on clothes, though.

[rawstrength]

I also use seventh generation unscented. At some point, I'd like to switch to soap nuts.
By the way, since switching from using Tide to Seventh Generation, I've been able to smell everything much more clearly. I think it's because before I was always smelling my laundry scent!

[rawstrength]

You know I've been thinking of trying Dr Bronners in the laundry, but I have no idea how much to use. Not looking forward to trying to find out that info on all the microscopic writing on the bottle, and this could turn out to be expensive. I've heard you can use it on clothes, though.

Oooh! I'd like to learn to use Dr. Bronner's, too. I can get it for really cheap at my co-op. I <3 my co-op! Tell us if you figure out the right dose.

[HolyGuacamole]

What are soap nuts, I've never heard of them before. Also, how well do they work? How are they w/ stains ( I have kids)?


They are actually the shells of fruit - they're just little hollow balls that turn soapy in water.
I have to tell you, I think my clothes are actually cleaner since I started using them.
I use Bac-Out, Biokleen Oxygen "Bleach," Ecover Stain Remover, and vinegar for my laundry, too, sometimes, depending on what it is and what's going on with it, and I really and truly think I have fewer stains coming out of the laundry now than I did before using liquid laundry soap.
I am so happy with my laundry routine.
I am all satisfied every time I do laundry now. :D

[rawnhealthy]

I use Maggie's or salt and vinegar.

Rawnhealthy - what are the soapnuts called in the indian store?

They are called 'Aritha'. If your local Indian store doesn't carry them, ask if they can order them for you.:)

[rawnhealthy]

They are actually the shells of fruit - they're just little hollow balls that turn soapy in water.
I have to tell you, I think my clothes are actually cleaner since I started using them.
I use Bac-Out, Biokleen Oxygen "Bleach," Ecover Stain Remover, and vinegar for my laundry, too, sometimes, depending on what it is and what's going on with it, and I really and truly think I have fewer stains coming out of the laundry now than I did before using liquid laundry soap.
I am so happy with my laundry routine.
I am all satisfied every time I do laundry now. :D

Yes, I love soap nuts too. My clothes are super clean, no matter what kind of mess I've gotten into! Also they come from a tree and can go straight into your compost with virtually no packaging- very Earth friendly:O)

[carolg]

Holy,
You use all that stuff with each laundry: I use Bac-Out, Biokleen Oxygen "Bleach," Ecover Stain Remover, and vinegar for my laundry? Where is Bac Out sold?

I'm thinking of finding Indian store for soapnuts.

I have tried Dr. Bronner's short time in past, but no luck in seeing great results. Maybe it's me.

My husband has a sprinkler business and his clothing stink. Seventh Generation has been good for getting "stink" out. Sometimes I even add to Seventh but seldom, baking soda.

Oops ...changed my message to correctly say I have used baking "SODA" and vinegar in message #1.

Sounds like soapnuts has raving reviews here. Thanks all.

carolg

[Sugar Snap Pea]

Okay, I tried reading the label on Dr Bronner's, soon gave up on that! The official website says 1/4 to 1/3 cup soap per load, and it says to add a little baking soda if you have hard water. I'll try it on my next load and report back! :cool:

[LeoBrayner]

This of using vinegar and baking soda for laundry has roused my attention.

Could I use lemon juice instead of vinegar?

If not, has anyone a recipe for making vinegar out of lemon juice all by itself?

Thank you!

[carolg]

I assume you could try lemon juice but may be super expensive that way. I know locally vinegar sold at Costco and so is the baking soda. I'm game to try the soapnuts once I find an Indian store locally.

carolg

[HolyGuacamole]

Holy,
You use all that stuff with each laundry: I use Bac-Out, Biokleen Oxygen "Bleach," Ecover Stain Remover, and vinegar for my laundry? Where is Bac Out sold?

Hi, Carol! :)
I usually use just soap nuts.
I have those other things because I have kids and pets and they get into all kinds of crazy messes. We had a finger painting incident here just today, for example...
If I have stains I can't get to right away I use the stain remover stuff. Bac-Out is made by Biokleen also, and I get it at Whole Foods. It is all enzyme-y, is deliciously lime-scented, and is good for stains & smelly laundry. The Oxygen "bleach" (it's not really bleachy at all, it's totally ecofriendly) I just use for whites and extremely troublesome things. I don't use much of it, but when I do want it, I am glad it is there.
Vinegar keeps things nice and soft - I throw a few glugs in with every load, just generic ol' white vinegar.

But that's just me! :D
I use way less "stuff" (additives, stain removers, etc.) since I have started using soap nuts.
I really think they just work better.
Plus, I have been working on the same big bag of them for months and months now; they're very cost effective.
And as rawnhealthy said - you can just compost them when you're done!

[rawnhealthy]

I assume you could try lemon juice but may be super expensive that way. I know locally vinegar sold at Costco and so is the baking soda. I'm game to try the soapnuts once I find an Indian store locally.

carolg

CarolG
Forgive me, but are you local to San Diego/So. CA? You can email me directly if you want more info on getting soap nuts.

[LeoBrayner]

Sorry, no Costco in Brazil! Do you realize how lucky you are to have all these options? Don't take it for granted!
Where I live there's almost zero options for green living.
So I'm thinking of washing my own clothes by hand with non-organic, preserver-filled vinegar (is that ok for the laundry?) and baking soda, since the washing machine here is full of traces of toxic chemicals. Maybe I''l do some research find out an easy way to neutralize them.

[carolg]

Holy,
Thanks bunches for Soap Nut endorsement. Called one Indian Store and then don't sell it. Need to hit up some more but until then it's white vinegar from Costco and also Baking Soda from Costco too. Oops...talking Costco...I forgot to check on the price for the Food Saver--see thread. Gosh. Coming to CO...let me know...a bed may be waiting..one hubby...one dog both raw diet, but dog on BARF however.

Rawnhealthy,
I'm here in Colorado near Denver and also Boulder. Smack in between. If you plan a trip here contact me. May have room with hubby and one dog.

Thanks everyone for sharing. I think soap nuts is the way for me to go. Not think, know it's the way!

Now how much do you use?

Thanks.

carolg

[LotsaRaw]

I have been using the home-made soap for a year or so (the standard recipe using washing soda, borax, and Fels-Naptha) - with mostly rave reviews (regarding colors at least - especially for towels - fresh smelling & fluffy!) My white uniform shirts are looking grungy (recently bought a new one and was appalled at how dingy my "clean" ones were. Any suggestions? (yes, have tried bleach, oxy-cleaner bleach free stuff, etc.)

I am borderline tempted to try the RIT packaged stuff...

[xPIXIEx]

I just started using Charlie's soap. The powder version. I paid around $9, and it's supposed to do 80 loads. So far, so good. It gives my clothes a nice, clean smell.

[Colorawdo girl]

I use Shaklee (zero carbon footprint)highly concentrated clothes soap.Its reasonable price and lasts a long time. I am a distrib for it too,thats how good it is!!!!

[RaeVynn]

I'm also a soap nut user :)

I used to use all kinds of things to boost my laundry... since I've gone to soap nuts, I've been able to scale back on nearly all of them. Occasionally, I'll pre-treat a greasy/oily spot, but that's about it.

I got my first batch through betterlifegoods.com, and I've also gotten some from mountainroseherbs.com. Our local food co-op carries Maggies Soap Nuts (which I think are the best ones, so far). When I run out again, I may just buy a box from there.

[contessa20]

Soap nut user here, too. I've been using (and loving) Maggie's for about 6 months now and managed to turn several of my friends onto them too. Our co-op sells them but I've found that they are SO much cheaper online. I'm not even 1/3 of the way through my bag yet though, so I have a while before I'll need to buy more.