Liquid Detergent

[kcsunshine]

I heard it is from using fabric softener.

I get them because I never wear an apron ( or a bib )

Me too. And I wipe my hands on my pants legs. When I wear light gray
sweatpants, my right hip and leg (of the pants) are pretty filthy. I've always attracted dirt. My mom said she could tell what we ate at school every day.

 

[Boogity]

I get them because I never wear an apron ( or a bib )

Wow! You just described me.

 

[Marianne]

I do the same as Boogity, but I use Zote. I have tried regular bar soap, using the entire bar for 2 gallons and this time even using one bar to make just one gallon. Still just doesn't clean as well as Zote.
I use the homemade detergent to treat stains and it works well. When whites get to looking really dingy, I dissolve some Cascade auto dish detergent in some hot water, add that to the washing machine and set it on the soak cycle.

Last week I tried just 1/4 cup of Simple Green concentrate to wash clothes and I was surprised! Whites looked better, too.

I haven't had any problems with oily spots on clothes using homemade liquid detergent. Fabric softener is most likely the problem, IMO. I use vinegar now instead, love that stuff. I do miss the perfume smell..... but I love the homemade stuff!

 

[glenolam]

Ok - got the washing soda (it's arm & hammer brand but I have no idea if it's the one you're talking about SD), borax but would you believe the store did not have any Fels Naptha! So now I'm on the hunt.

Also - I saw the store also carried that blueing stuff but I didn't get it. I guess I'll see how it does and go from there.

Dang hubby also just brought all the old detergent bottles to the dump...

 

[savingdogs]

glenolam with your soap you might have something already there that works.

Do you have any non-fatty soaps, more of a detergent type bar?

Zote works too. I had trouble with it clumping, but if I need to use it again I think I'll cook it like Marianne. I think the trick is getting that bar of soap to melt down totally.

You can use any detergent type bar.

 

[glenolam]

Most of my soaps are superfatted. The only "harder" bars I could think of are the castille or the salt bars I made with 100% coconut oil. But I wouldn't think that putting salt in the laundry would help.

 

[savingdogs]

You might try a couple different grocery and hardware stores in your area. We did not find the Fels Naptha in the first place we tried, it was in the big discount place and then we found it at the little camping store/bait shop by our HOUSE. Go figger. It is a very old product. Zote is a producto de Mexico and you might find it if you have a local Hispanic population with mexican food stores. Some folks in Mexico use Zote as their laundry soap I've heard.

On that soapmakers Help thread at BYC, someone was saying they used Ivory soap. I cannot imagine that one, but the person was pleased. I have only used either Zote or Fels Naptha myself.

 

[glenolam]

I'm wondering if the castille would work. I was reading somewhere and they listed some Kirk's Hard Castille soap....

 

[savingdogs]

If Ivory worked, I would think so. But you might remember to look for Fels Naptha or Zote for down the road, in case you don't find the detergent you make works for you.

Do you know the thread Soapmakers Help? I would ask that lady Morgaine this question.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Thanks JRmom for replying about the oily stains. I forgot I posted in this thread and never came back to check it! It's definitely not from fabric softener (don't use it) or food. It's from the detergent. Maybe we'll just have to switch to the powdered detergent after we get through this (new) batch of liquid.

Glen, I've found Fels at Whole Foods. I actually found both Fels and Washing Soda there when I was visiting my sister. We don't have any fancy schmancy stores like that around here. Trader Joes might have it too.