Ha! I was so intrigued by your post, I had to go find the recipe - thanks:-)

Naughty Sparky, though! Glad you were able to get the mess out.

I found the Fels Naptha at our local Ace Hardware and the Zote at our WalMart.

Great to know!

I just made a batch of laundry soap tonight. All the kids are coming this weekend and I will send some back with each of them.

hope the choclate doesn't make him sick...

Sparky won't get sick from the chocolate. He once ate an entire bag of chocolate chips and never missed a beat. Maybe it helps that he's 82 lbs!

I had given up on the fels naptha. Clerks would look at me with such a questioning look. I would repeat it, spell it, describe it. Still a "never heard of it."

Then all of a sudden, when I was not even thinking about it anymore, there it was on the shelf in Drug Emporium. It was like finding treasure.

I couldn't find the fels either when I made my first batch of soap but did find the Zote. I had been wanting to make a batch of soap ever since I first saw the recipe here. I figured with two babies,and especially one that always makes a big mess when he poops (sorry LOL),I had a good reason to try it out. I absolutely love the stuff and will never be without it! A 5 gallon bucket cost pennies to make.We have lots of laundry and we have been using it for almost 5 months. It takes care of all the stains babies make and leaves their clothes (and ours) clean and fresh smelling. I even use it as a pre-wash full strength and it works great. We all have problems with laundry products that have fragrance and other additives but this has caused no problems at all,even for the babies. The only problem I'm having now is finding the washing soda. I got it the first time at Wal-Mart. That was the only place I could find it,but now all they have is big boxes of baking soda where it was on the shelves. I know baking soda isn't the same as washing soda but will it work just as well? I'm afraid to try it.LOL

Good story about Sparkey and I am glad it cleaned up so well for you. I just made my 6th five gallon bucket of laundry soap yesterday. When spring comes I want to scrub it on my small concrete porch floor and see how well it cleans it. I think it will do a good job. I am still finding bars of Fels Naptha at our Meijer grocery as well as the other ingredients. If you can't find it, you might speak to the manager and I am sure they can order it for you. My bars were $1.39 each, not the best price I don't imagine.

Sue

I use it all the time on my carpets when my cats leave a "gift" on the carpet.

A friend offered to make me a bib apron if I buy the material. I offered to give her 2 jugs of detergent as payment and she's thrilled. She used it before, but hasn't gotten around to making it for herself.

I also gave a jug to all the women in my family at Christmas. I have to make a new batch this weekend.

We don't have Fels or Zote here in Canada, but we do have Sunlight bars. I love using that. The whole kitchen smells like a lemon candy when I grate it!

There's also another bar sold here. It's a beigey coloured large bar called "Linda". Apparently it's an Italian soap and is supposed to work very well, too.

I haven't seen Fels Naptha soap in years. I had a bar in my laundry room for a long time, used it to pre-treat stains. It's been gone for at least 10 years! I vaguely remember seeing Octagon bar soap. Can't remember where, though.

Well, now I am interested! I don't remember seeing the recipe for the detergent so would someone please post it?
Actually, I think I have a old bar of Fels Naptha in the basement.I can't believe that I used to use that and a old fashioned scrub board to treat stains before washing. Ah, the good old days !!!
Lois

Liquid Laundry Soap

1 five gallon bucket with lid
1 bar Fels Naptha soap (grated)
4 cups hot water
1 cup washing soda
1/2 cup Borax

I grate my bar of soap in my food processor with one of the grating bars, but you can grate it by hand.

Add the grated soap, to the four cups of hot water, put on medium heat and stir until very dissolved.

To this soap mix when all dissolved add the measured washing soda and the borax, stirring well. Pour into a five gallon bucket. I fill my five gallon bucket in my bathtub with very hot water, stir and cover and let set overnight. The next day it will be jelled, stir and bottle when ready. Some only fill their containers half full and then fill the rest with water. I do not do that, but fill completely with the soap mixture. They use 1/4 cup for laundry and I use only 1/8 cup for my laundry. It takes less room to store my way. Which ever way you decide to do it the out come is the same. Fill your fabric softener dispenser with white vinegar each time and you will never have to use a fabric softener again and you will have soft laundry.

I have been using it for some months now and make and give to my 3 daughters and a granddaughter.

Sue

Question: And maybe this was answered in original postings - but.....can this concoction be used in front-loader washing machines? Who has done that and what portion does one use?

sc-irish...yes, it can be used in a front loader. It is Very low sudsing detergent. I make it for DS and DIL and they have a front loader.

Yes,it can be used for front load machines.1/4 cup for front loaders.It doesn't make suds so don't be tempted to add more.
I do the same as Sue.I see no need to mix it with water and have to shake it up before each use.I keep the 5 gal. bucket next to the washer with a lid to an old detergent bottle that holds the amount I need for each load.I just pour it into the front load machine when I put the clothes in instead of using the dispenser.Works geat and no mess in the dispenser.Just remember to use only half the amount you would use if it was mixed with water.

Lucky is Sparky! Good for you that it did a great job on the mess, Lisa!

Lillipad: No, do NOT use "baking" soda in place of washing soda.

Sc-irish: I have a front loader & use it & it works fine. The original recipe, which calls for diluting with 1/2 water and 1/2 gel on the second day, says to use 1/2 cup for top load wash and 1/4 cup for front loader. I, myself, wash big loads, so I use a 1/2 cup in my front loader. Adjust accordingly if you decide not to dilute with water.

Important to know also.... This detergent DOES NOT PRODUCE SUDS, but cleans your clothes great.

The white vinegar(acid) rinse is important to know, as the detergent is alkaline & is thus neutralized.

good to know about it working on carpeting...don't you just love the trouble our doggies get in?? LOL

My kids don't like the homemade laundry soap cause it doesn't smell...I even added to oil of essence bottles to the last batch...so I've been adding just a touch of gain...just enough to put the smell in...works for me...

It's time to make more detergent...This time I'm gonna add about 4 bottles of essence to it...I love the lavender smell the best and it seems to make the smell apparent in the clothes!

I think someone needs to educate the ones that order and stock shelves in Wal Mart that washing soda and baking soda are not the same thing, even though both are in the highly recognizable Arm and Hammer box.

I noticed the same thing at our Wal Mart, no washing soda, just the baking soda and then placed with the detergents, of all places. The next time I go in I'm going to check again if it's the will find the manager and explain to him the difference.

I have lucked out and get the Fels Naptha, soda and borax at our little local grocery store, this in a town of pop. of 500. The owner says she had people come from all over to buy the Fels Naptha because they can't find it anywhere else.

Has anybody used the home made laundry detergent in a front loader (HE machine)? How much did you use?

The detergent doesn't make suds so it's perfect for FL's.
Beeohio answered this in her post a few messages up:
Sc-irish: I have a front loader & use it & it works fine. The original recipe, which calls for diluting with 1/2 water and 1/2 gel on the second day, says to use 1/2 cup for top load wash and 1/4 cup for front loader. I, myself, wash big loads, so I use a 1/2 cup in my front loader. Adjust accordingly if you decide not to dilute with water.

I gave a sample to my hairdresser and she made a batch using ivory bar soap. It works great, too.

I saw Fels Naptha the other day at Kroger. Wasn't looking for it at the time. I've been using Zote. It smells so nice.

Linda

I make the dry version. It is easier to store and use IMHO. I don't own a 5 gallon covered bucket, but I do have a very large, covered plastic pitcher which would hold double or triple the dry recipe if I ever wanted to make so much of it. Not necessary with just DH and me, though son brings his laundry when he visits and gets it done as we visit. If his girlfriend comes with him, I tell her to bring her laundry too.

I use mine in my front loader, however, I fill the cap from an old detergent bottle and just toss it in with the clothes. I put it in the detergent dispenser once and the jell clogged up something and I had water all over the laundry room.