BirdBrain said:Here is what I use:
1 bar Fels Naptha grated fine
3 cups Washing Soda
3 cups Borax
1 cup Baking Soda
I whirl the soap and baking soda together in my food processor to make it even finer. Then I add to the rest, mix well and put in a tub by the washer. I use a rounded tablespoon full and a glug of vinegar with each load. This does not foam up so it is great for HE machines. If the load is rely dirty I put twice as much detergent in.
If you are looking for liquid, get a 5 gallon bucket. Fill it half way with warm water. Dissolve the powder in about 2 quarts of hot water. Add to the bucket and add enough additional water to get within an inch or do of the top of the bucket. It will gel as it cools and must be mixed up.
Several of us have moved from using tge liquid to just using the powder as storage for all that liquid can get cumbersome. Powder is easy and takes up very little space. I used to swear by liquid, but I lived in a bigger house then.
snapshot said:I believe you can find Fels Naptha soap, Borax and Washing Soda all in the laundrey soap aisle at Walmart. I would think other places also. I have seen them in Walmart in the recent past. Someone else will have to address the scenting of dry detergent.
Good luck with your endeavor! And
Bettacreek said:The scent is... Different. You have to get used to it. First few times I made it with Fels I HATED it, while others claimed that they liked it (figured they were just plum crazy). Now, I've started to come to terms with it and I kind of like it now. It certainly doesn't make your clothes stink of scent when you're done, but whatever. You get used to that to. I've been debating on trying some of my clean cotton scent, but haven't gotten that far yet. Not sure how it'll incorporate or "stick" in the fabrics.
Very hard, no "scent" as such (just a rather utilitarian "clean" smell). Not going to win any beauty contests but does the job. <g> I read somewhere one time that it was the invention of Fels Naptha that made it possible for farmers to be around other folk without being noted as such by the smell of their clothing!myzanya said:I have seen it mentioned before here for Fels-Naptha soap bar
and I havent.seen it in our area...
am wondering How different is it from an average soap bar...????