homemade laundry detergent/shampoo

[hoosier]

I have a question about the dry homemade laudry detergent.

I have finally found all of the ingredients listed in the recipe. In one place, the poster said use 2 tsp/load and in another place, the directions were 2 tbs/load. Which is correct?

 

[OkieJonesClan]

This (if it worked) is the image of the washing soda

sorry , ,the image was too big and hadn't finished loading. I will try again next post

 

[OkieJonesClan]

I haven't been able to figure this out, sorry. I didn't resize the image and it won't let me reload it as a resized image. I will work on this some more in a bit. I have lots of work I need to get done before I go to work. I will try again between a couple of chorese

 

[OkieJonesClan]

I have uploaded the image to the site, but can't get the image into the post. Can any of you provide this poor Okie with some instructions . .

 

[Acre of Blessings]

This is the recipe I use and love

Homemade laundry detergent. This fills a 200 ounce detergent bottle. Please read all instructions before making.

What you Need:
1/3 Bar ZOTE soap (you can get this on the spanish isle at Dollar General for $1 a bar and you get 3 helpings from it)
1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax (you can get this at you local grocer for about $3 in the cleaners isle)
1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (this should be near the Borax for about $3)
3 Quarts of boiling water (you will also need 5 more quarts of boiling water)
Big "old" pot

Directions:
Put 3 quarts of water in the pot and bring to a boil. Grate soap into the water and stir until melted. Add Borax and stir until dissolved and then add the washing soda and stir until dissolved. Cook for about 1 hour until it begins to resemble honey (it will stay pink). Put 1 quart of boiling water in a 5 gallon bucket and then add the mixture and mix well. Add 4 more quarts of boiling water and mix well. Let stand for 12 hours before using. Let cool for a couple of hours and then you can use the top of a milk jug for a funnel and fill your detergent bottle. Pour slowly. When it is set it will resemble chicken fat, but don;t be concerned, you can put some in a small pot and heat it up slowly on the stove top and bring it back to a liquid. This is what I do because I have a front load washer and it works well for me. Use 1/2 to 3/4 cup per load.

If you would like to have a scent, just add about 10 drops of any essential oil that you may have.

This is a low sudsing detergent which is great because it helps lengthen the life of your washer.


Also here is a recipe I use for fabric softner....(follow instructions carefully)

What you need:
1 cup baking soda
6 cup white distilled vinegar
8 cup warm water
10-15 drops of essential oil (optional) for scent
1 gallon empty container ( I use an old fabric softner jug)

Directions: FOLLOW CAREFULLY
1.) Put soda in container
2.) Add 1 cup warm water and swish
3.) Add all 6 cups of vinegar A LITTLE AT A TIME because it will foam up quick (all I do is swish it around in the jug).
4.) Add 7 cups of warm water and swish some more. MAKE SURE TO VENT IT.
5.) Add essential oils (optional) for scent

Store and use as you would use store bought. Hope this helps you save some money. I just go ahead and stock up on the ingredients for both the detergent and softner. Let me know how you like it.

 

[lorihadams]

I have been using 2-3 tablespoons per load and I added 1/2 cup of baking soda to Farmerchick's recipe. I have been using shout and baking soda to pretreat stains. If anyone has read my journal you know that the stomach flu has just left my household and I have been using my homemade detergent to wash everything and I am pretty happy with it. I also use white vinegar in the rinse cycle for my fabric softener. Totally baffled my hubby the first time he saw me do it!

 

[OkieJonesClan]

I use vinigar in the rince, too. We started doing it because my son's allergist said it would work to take all the irritants out of the laundry. That was 10 years ago. I started cutting my dryer sheets in half last year, then in quarters this spring. Then in November I quit using dryer sheets and even with the dry air have not noticed a difference. I only use the dryer for towels all year and during the days that it is too cold or not enough sun during the winter. Which has been every day since a week before Christmas. No static cling. amazing.

edited bacuse I can't spell . .

 

[hoosier]

Thanks!

 

[freemotion]

Quick question: I want to make my laundry stuff, but can't find the ingredients. Just found, on drugstore.com, Borax for $10 a box and washing soda for $6.50 a box, and Colgate laundry bar soap for $2/bar. They have free shipping on orders over $25. Is this reasonable or outrageous pricing? I have no idea.....

 

[hoosier]

Unless they were very large boxes, it is high. The washing soda was $3 or $4. It has been a while since I bought Borax, but I think it is in the same price range.

Our Walmart carries Borax. I found washing soda at Meijer, but don't know if you have them in your area.