recipe for homemade liquid laundry soap, = pennies/load!!

[coco]

hey, i'm putting this up here because it's relevant to parents especially (we have more laundry as well as small people in the house who put stuff in their mouths!) so please don't move it somewhere obscure!

it cost $.73 to make one batch using the recipe here http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm which is roughly 50 -60 loads per batch which means the price is only like $.01 or $.02 per load. wow, now that's amazing!

i saw a recipe for powder soap too but apparently it wears your clothes out faster because it's like washing them in sand, dissolved soap is more gentle.

got any good recipes for natural cleaners and the like? i'm always interested in learning about more natural cleaning stuff. i read about vinegar and i think borax in the dishwasher too but you have to put the vinegar in for the rinse cycle and you just know i'd forget that every time! once that machine is on i put it right out of my mind, heh.
we're using mostly dr bronner's, baking soda, a little salt, lemon and vinegar for nearly all the cleaning. i read about using chick crumb for cat litter too, it's made of grain and apparently works well, clumps up too. gotta try it and i'll give you a review. now that it's getting colder i think i'm going to go back to using the Oil Cleansing Method for my skin as well. just call me ms au naturelle! i'm not going to start using flannels to wipe our bums though, we're sticking with paper so i guess i'm not as au naturelle as i could be, ha ha:p

[Stina]

You know what would be so much better than toliet paper? a bedet, if I spelled that correctly. Much healthier. Our soft-tissue bungola doesn't appreicate getting the fibers embedded into there. Then it would just be a matter of drying.

[carolg]

Oh, I have millions of VEGAN homemade soap I MADE so may be interested in cleaning out my stash too. At that site, see if vegan or animal products.

Thanks for link. I have to get to Costco for the ingredients.

carolg

[kaybee]

yeah--bidet, i think its spelled.... common in europe... we had one in our apartment in rome and could never figure out how the thing would really do a proper job of getting you clean though unless (sorry to be graphic here, but unless) you spread your bum cheeks.... the bide seems like a good idea but maybe we just had a reject one... we ended up using it to wash our shoes, mostly.... ;)

[jules88]

I make this all the time. I double it and it lasts a long time. I haven't figured out the cost, but it has to be pretty close to the figures given on the website. I find the Phels Naptha at a small town grocery store. I can't get it at the WalMart, however everything else I do find at WalMart. I have 4 kids and they get very dirty. I feel it cleans just as well as the other powders and detergents out there. We go through our fair share of stain removers, but who doesn't if you have kids? Just my two cents worth. It doesn't take long to make and to me is definitely worth it.

[jacsam]

I just went to the site and I'm excited to try this out. I have been making two different cleaners for years and that's all I need to clean basically everything in my house. Oh, I do have furniture polish and occasionally will use comet on white sinks. I used to open the windows when using the store cleaners (especially for the bathroom). Now I can keep them closed and even enjoy breathing in deeply because I put lemon grass essential oil into the cleaner and it smells soooo good. How does this laundry soap do with underarm yellowing, on your white shirts? THANKS again for the information.

[dreamspinner]

I am going to try this as I have been wanting a more natural clothes detergent! Thanks,:)

[coco]

here's a quick google for underarm stains (there was lots of info on other stains here too, chocolate, tomato, cranberry, etc) http://laundry.about.com/od/stainremoval/a/underarmstains.htm

Underarm stains are caused by the reaction between anti-perspirant ingredients and the salts in your sweat. Most anti-perspirants contain aluminum compounds to reduce wetness. It is the aluminum that causes the build-up and yellowing on fabrics. The stains don’t appear overnight, but without proper handling of garments may happen after continuous wear.

If you have perspired while wearing a garment, wash or dry clean it as quickly as possible. Stains are much harder to remove once they become set in. If you notice the beginnings of yellow stains, stop using the dryer. The heat can set in residual stains making them almost impossible to remove. Dry shirts in the sun to increase whitening of fabrics and if that’s not possible, air dry indoors.

How do I get the rid of the yellow?
First, be certain that your shirt is washable. If it says dry clean only, believe the tag. Dry clean after each wearing to prevent yellowing. If your shirt is white and washable, here are two methods to try. Success will depend upon how old the stains are and the fabric content of your shirt – cotton whitens best. 1:1:1 – One part baking soda, one part peroxide, one part water. Make a solution of the three ingredients. You will need about 1/4 cup each of baking soda, peroxide and water to treat one shirt. Protect the countertop with a thick white towel, rub 1:1:1 solution into stains and allow to work for at least 30 minutes. Use an old soft toothbrush or bristle brush to loosen any residue and then wash as usual in warm or cold water.
1:1 – One part oxygen-based detergent (OxyClean), one part ammonia. In a well-ventilated room, wearing rubber gloves, mix solution well – about 2 tablespoons of each ingredient per shirt. Again, protecting countertop with thick white towel, rub solution into stains for at least 30 seconds. Wash as usual in warm or cold water.
1:1:1 – One part baking soda, one part peroxide, one part water. Make a solution of the three ingredients. You will need about 1/4 cup each of baking soda, peroxide and water to treat one shirt. Protect the countertop with a thick white towel, rub 1:1:1 solution into stains and allow to work for at least 30 minutes. Use an old soft toothbrush or bristle brush to loosen any residue and then wash as usual in warm or cold water.
1:1 – One part oxygen-based detergent (OxyClean), one part ammonia. In a well-ventilated room, wearing rubber gloves, mix solution well – about 2 tablespoons of each ingredient per shirt. Again, protecting countertop with thick white towel, rub solution into stains for at least 30 seconds. Wash as usual in warm or cold water.

For light colored shirts (blue, yellow, pink) test the solutions in an inconspicuous spot – perhaps along a hem – before trying the treatments under the arms. If there is no fading, proceed as for white shirts.

Darker colors may have stiffness or residue on the fabric under the arms. To remove the build-up and freshen the garments, fill the washing machine with cool water and add one cup of white vinegar. Allow shirts to soak for at least 30 minutes. Drain vinegar water and wash as usual in cool water.

Follow these directions and you’ll wonder where the yellow went when you’re dressing for your next event!

[spicyfull]

Thanks for Sharing.

[natieya]

This is such a great thread! Thanks to you guys for such great ideas. :)

[Tan_Family]

Here's something you can make to clean your clothes, floor and dishes. Hardly costs anything, and good for the environment. You just need all the unwanted peels from your kitchen or whatever that comes out from the juicer which you want to trash, sugar, water and a container to store the entire mix. Dead simple.

Check out http://eatrawfoodtoday.blogspot.com/2008/09/using-garbage-to-clean-your-plates-yes.html to find out what it is, how to make it and how to use it.

[Revvell]

Thank you CoCo and all who've contributed. Getting really low on what I've been using. Gonna check out all that's here.

Revvell (http://letstalkraw.com)

[florafauna]

Now that our family is spending a bit more at the market buying all the fresh produce and raw nuts - it's nice to have some ideas on other ways to save money at the store! I hadn't even considered making my own laundry detergent. thanks!!

[Everchanging]

Thanks so much! Will definitely try it. I hope it's safe on colors, I know it says the borax helps with whitening.

[Everchanging]

I'm so sad- I looked for the ingredients on amazon.com and drugstore.com and all the ingredients are 2-3x more expensive than listed. Why did these natural cleaning agents get so expensive? $8 for borax?

[wendypape]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fels-Naptha

Health Considerations
While sometimes also sold next to personal-care body soaps it should not be used as an overall body soap or regular laundry additive since it contains Stoddard solvent, a skin and eye irritant.

According to the "Chronic Health Effects" section of the National Institutes of Health's MSDS for Fels Naptha:

Chronic toxicity testing has not been conducted on this product. However, the following effects have been reported on one of the product's components. Stoddard solvent: Repeated or prolonged exposure to high concentrations has resulted in upper respiratory tract irritation, central and peripheral nervous system effects, and possibly hematopoetic, liver and kidney effects.

Stoddard solvent is another name for mineral spirits, which are, like petroleum distillates, a mixture of multiple chemicals made from petroleum. Exposure to Stoddard solvent in the air can affect your nervous system and cause dizziness, headaches, or a prolonged reaction time. It can also cause eye, skin, or throat irritation[2].

It should be noted that using Fels-Naptha as a punishment for foul language is considered highly dangerous.