I'm curious. What recipe did you use for the detergent? Any comments on types of ingredients, where you got them and cost for a batch/load? (so cost divided by #loads) How much did you use per load?

My guess is it'd eliminate problems by dissolving first but you're kind of defeating some of the convenience. I'd try a number of loads first and see if it was a fluke. Or could it be the soap wasn't grated fine enough? Dissolving it first would certainly eliminate the problem. Could have a few jars and measure out, fill with water, quick shake and let them sit until you're ready to use them, then a quick shake should do it and dump it in. Instant liquid detergent.

Thanks!

Excuse my ignorance... but... this whole topic of making your own laundry powder is beyond my personal comprehension... why would you want/prefer to do this over just buying a 'organic/natural' soap that is already on the market? I'm thinking charlies, mrs meyers, method, next generation, etc.... I know there are several out there...

cynic,
The recipe I used was grainladys powdered formula, using Fel's Naptha soap. I did however add some sodium tripolyphosphate just because I have a boatload I purchased online from the Chemistry Store.
I was able to readily find the washing soda, borax and bars of Fels Naptha at my local WINCO store. I'm not sure if these stores are nationwide, as they have just in the past few years been cropping up in my area of SoCal. Their prices are wonderful on these items, I might add.
Now math was not my strength unfortunately, although I do love to see people calculate things out, such as yourself!!
The Fels Naptha bars were $1.19, Borax approx. $3.39 and the Washing Soda $2.79. I don't recall the cost of the add in, but I believe it was about $2.00 lb after shipping costs.
I tripled the recipe using 3 bars of soap etc...
I use a heaping tablespoon of mix due to having hard well water. No, I haven't done testing on it to find out the details, but I will eventually. I will add that we do have a water filter on our water heater, so I'm sure that helps some! The mixture looks to be similar in size than that of a regular powdered box of store bought detergent.
Oh, and if I was not clear on things, I have lots of leftover washing soda and borax for another batch. I'd say it's really cost effective in my opinion. Now as far as convenience goes.. cost vs. convenience is different for all.
I haven't had any other issues with spots. I used a regular cheese grater and not a food processor so my flakes aren't powdery in form. That could be a factor for sure.

plumby22,
No offense taken!
I actually have used and still use natural detergents and soaps for my laundry, but have always wanted to make my own after reading about the recipes some others have used here on the Laundry Forum! It's not for everyone that's for sure and I certainly am not trying to ruffle any feathers, so to speak. I'm a laundry geek IMO, so that's my excuse! =)

Gas prices have gone crazy here in SoCal, so I'm also trying to cut back a bit here and there.
Teenagers = LAUNDRY!! =)

Hope this helps!
Have a blessed day!

I too have made the homemade detergent and really do like it. I prefer Zote soap over Fels Naptha, I do not like the smell of Fels Naptha at all. . but the Zote smells really nice and clean. Walmart now carries Zote if that helps anybody. It is very economical to make, works great and is kinda fun to make so why not? I grate, with a cheese grater a bar of Zote, place it in my food processor, add 1 cup of Borax and 1 cup of Washing Soda. I process it for about 30 seconds I guess and it makes a very fine powder which dissolves great in the washer. My husband says he loves the way his underwear smells. He noticed the new smell before I even told him it was homemade detergent. It really doesn't cost that much to make a few batches and it you don't like it on your clothes it can always be used up on throw rugs, etc. .Debbie

Debbie ~

Thanks for telling us how you make your detergent. How much of it you use for a load? I have a F&P top loader and have been using Sears powder detergent and they have a small scoop that comes with each box.

Your recipe sounds simple and I am intrigued that your hubby likes the fragrance. I know I have seen Zote and Borax but isn't washing soda kind of hard to find? I do recall looking a few years ago and most of the workers in stores think I am talking about baking soda. Where do you find washing soda? I wasn't able to locate it in Kansas City, Missouri or Murrieta, California.

Thanks for you help!

Robyn

I found it at a couple of non-chain stores in the New Orleans area a few weeks ago. One store sold it for $2.09 and the other, $1.99. I bought 5 boxes because I can also use it in my pool. I cannot find the Fels Naptha.

Robyn. .I probably use about half as much of the homemade detergent as regular store bought detergent. .some people have said they use a Tablespoon or two..no way. .my whites were dingy etc..It kinda depends on the load I am washing also. I have a Maytag Neptune Fl. The Washing Soda was a challenge to find. Walmart does not carry it, they have a big box of Baking Soda on the detergent aisle but not Washing soda. I found the washing soda at a smaller, local grocery store. My walmart now carries Zote but I found mine at a local Mexican grocery store. There are two different kinds of Zote, a pink bar and a white bar, I use the white. The smell of Zote reminds me of Ivory baby detegent. I have also, just for fun made some using Dial bath soap and it smelled great also. I have read you can use any bar soap you want. The bar of zote costs about .80 and it is a big bar. When I make it I usually make up about 5 bars at a time and store it in gallon zip loc bags. I went to the Dollar store and bought a gallon pitcher, it's not round it's kinda of a oblong shape, that is what I store it in for use, then refill when empty. The handle makes it easy to get in and out of the cabinet above the washer. I would not say this is miracle detegent by any means. .if I am washing a white load, I use bleach like I normally would, if I have a load with stains I throw in a scoop of Biz, like I normally would. Be sure to let us know if you make some and how you like it. Debbie

You may want to be careful using "soap" as opposed to "detergent" in any HE washer. One of the reasons the body cleansers in the bottles have become popular with many is they don't coat everything with a waxy buildup like bar soap does. They are detergent-based, like shampoo, and will actually clean the shower while they clean you. The old-fashioned "soaps" may also cover your machine with a gunky buildup, especially if you don't get them disolved and rinsed out. These new machines are using so little water they may have trouble with these soaps.

I have allergies and chemical sensitivities and have used several of the natural and "free and clear" products with good success.

I used Dove body wash at one time and it made my washcloths dingy and they had a 'rancid' smell I couldn't remove after many washings.

I used my food processor grater to grate Fels Naptha. It worked in seconds and made a very fine powder. I strongly recommend leaving the lid on it, undisturbed, until the dust settles, unless you wear a mask.

I just want to caution people about Fels Naptha for those of you thinking it's a "green" alternative to laundry detergent. Since Dial Corp. took it over, the have changed it from the Fels Naptha of your grandmother's day. It has something in it called Stoddard solvent which is a petroleum distillate and has some reported health issues resulting from exposure.

It's probably no worse for you than Tide (which has fans and enemies alike) but with the homemade detergent, you're grating the Fels Naptha and possibly breathing in a lot of particulates. Be careful!

Here is a link that might be useful: More info on Fels Naptha

trinityklm,

So that's why I had to stop using it! I couldn't tolerate the fumes and dust it created, although it did a good job of cleaning.
I kept a few bars for spot cleaning stains.

I've made the homemade detergent using Felz Naptha/Washing Soda/Borax. I like it, but not as well as Charlie's. Felz Naptha makes me sneeze...LOL I found Washing Soda at Meijer's, but not every Meijer's carries it. I may make it again, if I can find Zote instead.

I'm using the extra Washing Soda and Borax at my cabin. I add approx. 1/8 of a teaspoon, each, to a sink full of dishes with dishwashing liquid. The Washing Soda really assists the cleaning in my really hard water and the Borax controls the spots. I'll continue to use those at the cabin for handwashing dishes. I LOVE IT!

oregpsnow,

Actually, according to a friend of mine who designs washing machines, the homemade soap based powders create much less buildup than conventional laundry detergents. Liquid laundry detergents create more buildup, and contribute to the dreaded smelly washer syndrome.

I have been using a front loader since 1980. First with Ivory Flakes, then Ivory Snow (when it was soap) and now a homemade powder. 1 large bar Zote, and 1 1/2 cups each of washing soda and borax. Never have had spotting problems. Bookert, perhaps it its your addition of phosphates (TSP) to the recipe?

For those of you not able to find washing soda in your supermarket, look in your pool supply store. Ask for sodium carbonate (the chemical name of washing soda). It is used as a pH balancer in pools and spas.

phillygrl,
I actually was coughy (not a word I know!) after taking the bar of Fels out of the wrapper. I used TSP prior and although it's powdery I don't get a reaction to it.
I may try using a grated DR.Bronners bar of soap to a new batch to see how it performs. There are several scents that I like as well.
Anyone use them before?
Thanks for the tip about finding the washing soda @ a pool supply store. It may end up being more cost effective since it probably comes in a larger size than offered at the grocery store. I go through quite a bit.
What do you use to spot treat?
Thanks!

I have recently been using Fels Naptha as a pretreater for stains. Wet the stained area and rub the stain with a bar of Fels. Rub the resulting soapy stuff in well. Somtimes I use an old toothbrush to get it into the fabric well. Let it sit for 10 minutes before laundering. I find the "new" Fels Naptha has quite a strong perfume, so I keep the bar in a plastic container.

As to it not being the same as grandmom's Fels, Stoddard Solvent is also called white spirit in other parts of the world. It is a type of naptha, which is a petroleum distillate. It's the naptha in Fels Naptha that makes it the most effective soap for removing greasy oily soils. Perhaps Dial is being more specific in naming the particular type of naptha being used in the formula. They have also highly scented the product. It no longer is "the soap with the clean naptha odor" touted in the old ads.

I have used Zout for years, and loved the results. I recently ran out of my original formula Zout. It was very lightly scented. The Zout I replaced it with is still effective, but I object to the way it perfumes my clothes, hence the switch to Fels.

phillygrl,

Thanks for the info.
It's a wonder why companies are adding so much perfume to their products. I mean I love good smelling stuff, we all do, but come on people!! =)
Rinsing out the perfume smell is a challenge so I've stopped using many products.
I used to use mexican detergent (the hard to find HE type), but gave a ton away due to the strong perfume scent it had.

Hopefully I've not offended anyone, not intended. JMO above.

Fels Naptha DOES NOT CONTAIN Stoddard Solvents. It doesn't even contain Napthene anymore. It has not since 1998. Read the current safety materials data sheet on Fels Naptha. It is perfectly safe to use and not a hazard.

jrdown

I just wanted to let you know I live in El Monte, California. I too hard time finding washing soda in my area but I bought 2 boxs of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda at Winco Food in Pomona, CA

The address is 90 Rio Rancho RD, Pomona, CA
It next to Walmart Store

Marie,

Fels Naptha DOES contain a solvent. It always has. Originally it was naptha. Dial changed it to Stoddard Solvent. According to the current Material Safety Data Sheet, Henkel Corp, who bought Dial has changed the formula again. Now it contains "Hydrocarbons, Terpene Processing By-Products". Seems they keep changing the solvent in the formula to the least expensive base that they can find. The solvent is what makes Fels so effective on greasy soils

Here is a link that might be useful: MSDS at NIH

I would really like to find some Fels Naptha to make soap for the husbands work clothes.

I'm using the ivory/borax/washing soda (found at Publix here in FL by the way) mix and like it - but it didn't cut it on DHs yucky stuff. Back to Tide HE for him.

We did a load of jeans yesterday and on teh 2nd rinse it was totally full of suds still - i had to ask DD what she used. I'm guessing she's been using WAYYYYY too much soap and i hadn't been there at the right time to check.

Anyway, the soap was easy to make - i'll make more. I did ugly things to my cookie sheets trying the dishwasher version - i'm skipping it in there for now.

I followed this BLOG for the directions - she had pictures! LOL!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Picture essay on creating laundry detergent

Hey all!
I was going to see if you think the homemade version is as good as say Cheer or Tide but on the way to find the thread I saw the tread "warning about homemade laundry detergent". Seems it works way too well for baby clothes so I guess that answers my question. lol

I love the smell!!! I have been using Wash soda, Borax and Fels Naptha and I love it. the next batch waiting is Wash soda, Borax and Boraxo so I can't wait to dig into that and see what the family thinks.

Do you all think it cleans as well as a regular detergen?

I haven't tried it, because I would be concerned about the soap not dissolving well in warm or cold water. I only wash whites in hot water.

mara, I put mine in the food processor so it is all very fine and I haven't had any of it not dissolve. I typically use warm water/cold rinse. I do like the stuff.

I was skeptical because I used to make my own liquid detergent and did not like it, but I tried this powdered version and wow, it cleans and cleans well, my husband was cleaning out wine vats that had red wine in them his orange shirt was stained so badly, but I soaked it in the machine overnight with nothing but l scoop of detergent and wow, almost all gone, better than regular detergent, I make my laundry soap with borax washing soda l bar of goats milk soap and l bar of tea tree oil soap, fantastic.