Can You Really Make Homemade Laundry Detergent?
97
Don’t Laugh! :) How Well Homemade Laundry Detergent Works Will Surprise You!
Accidentally coming across information about making homemade laundry detergent caused me to take some time for research and do some thinking before deciding to give it a go.
One of the most interesting lessons that came from experimenting with making my own laundry soap is that it actually is cost-effective. The small effort it takes to learn to make one's own detergent is surprisingly worth it.
Although the conclusions of my experiments are satisfactory, I'm still planning to refine the recipe. I hope to post new results with optional recipes in a future hub.
On this end of my experimentation as I'm getting ready to post this hub, it’s very funny to me that the article I read was overly critical of making laundry detergent at home!
Main Ingredients for the Recipe
Making Homemade Laundry Detergent: There Are Projects, Then There Are Projects!
In the beginning, though, I remembered that projects sometimes claim to be easy when in fact they turn out to be beyond me, particularly if chemistry is involved. This could be dangerous in my hands.
Besides that, I did not want to ruin my clothes by making a dreadful mistake, nor waste any time rewashing clothes that did not come clean the first time. Laundry is not a fun chore, even in my lilly pad green laundry room.
Mind you, I am thankful for the conveniences of my laundry room for I surely am not wanting to plop a basket of dirty clothes on my head and trot down to one of the creeks on either end of our street. Nor would I ever be in the mood to wash them by hand on my knees, inviting moccasins to bite my nose. I am thoroughly thankful, yes’siree ma’am.
Recipes For Homemade Laundry Soap!
But, homemade laundry detergent? I could waste a lot more than my time if what I read was not true so there was only one thing to do--research the topic. Unlike laundry, research is something I relish. Tracking down the truth, testing the waters, getting others’ opinions. Now that’s fun stuff.
I read several different detergent recipes, and several blogs about making and using it. The recipe I decided to try had options on some of the ingredients, one being the bar soap that was to be melted down.
A strange-to-me product called Zote was mentioned, pink Zote to be exact. I had never heard of Zote before, not pink, green, or any other color. I didn’t even do any research on it because I thought it must be from Mars and I would never see it in real life. I simply decided to go with one of the other bars.
You Can Make Laundry Detergent!
Although I knew I could find one of the other bar soaps in a blink, the two other main ingredients, Washing Soda and Borax, proved not so easy to find. An online search showed that I could pick these up at an Ace Hardware, but when would I ever get to one of those stores?
Then one day my husband called to announce that he had found them at a Publix located across town. Go figure, we were using cell phones to talk about making homemade laundry detergent.
Then, there I am shopping in a local Big Lot’s store and I come across Zote. Pink Zote, no less! There were no other colors, only pink. I just stood there looking at it for a few minutes as if it were an alien, only recovering when I realized I was talking out loud to myself. “Well, how about that...here it is...it’s a real product...etc.” I grabbed one bar and fled the scene.
The recipe was not hard to make. It was a little time consuming, but interesting, and now that I’ve done it once I’m looking forward to doing it again. In the end, I wound up with a 5 gallon bucket of laundry soap that was to be dispensed into other containers to their half-way mark, each then to be finished off with water. The total would produce 10 gallons of laundry soap.
In the process of my first experiment I learned something important about storing the detergent. After saving a few large store-bought laundry detergent containers and then filling one with the recipe according to directions, I found that the home made product needs to be well shaken before each use. It did not take long for me to realize that I only wanted to store my detergent in 1 gallon containers that have a tight lid.
So That's What Laundry Detergent Does!
How Would Making Homemade Laundry Detergent Add Up?
Cheap laundry detergent starts at about 60 cents per load and prices quickly go upward from there. This homemade soap is supposed to run about 7 cents per load. No, I have not figured mine up exactly, but I can tell you that it is a huge savings. This detergent is also easier on the environment because containers are being reused and it works as well if not better than the store brands.
Just to make certain it worked like the reports promised I tried it out before giving 4 friends bottles of the stuff to use. They were incredulous, but willing to take my word and give it a try. I told them I would be writing about their experience with this recipe and that I would be trying other recipes for them to experiment with. Thanks bunches, A., K., J., and M.!
My friends were all about the questions I’ve tried to answer here and they additionally wanted to know if the homemade detergent was safe for HE machines. Good thing it is safe for those machines because I had not considered that issue! (The concern re HE machines is whether the detergent suds, but manufacturers want us to believe that the issues with HE machines’ need for the special detergents are profound and costly.)
So, the friend that I thought would be the toughest sell called to say she loved using it, loved the smell, and said that she wanted to make her own big batch. I asked her to just help me use this up and let me experiment with my other recipe ideas before we decide on which one we like best.
Then I heard from the first friend I gave it to and she was more than willing to let me refill her bottle. The third friend liked it fine--she has a lot on her mind and did not elaborate, but she was happy to get a refill. The last friend I heard from mentioned that their clothes were softer for having used this home made laundry detergent. They all laughed at first, but are now hooked on this new “product.”
My homemade laundry detergent does not contain the harmful-for-the-environment "stuff and such" and, as mentioned, it is safe for HE machines. It really is easy to make and inexpensive. I am looking forward to trying out adaptations of this recipe and I plan to write hubs about them, but I’m going ahead and offering you this introductory recipe today:
Laundry Is Fun?!
Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe
You'll need:
• 5 gallon bucket with lid
• 1 bar of Pink Zote
• 1 cup of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (not baking soda)
• 1/2 cup of Borax
• Several drops of lavender essential oil
• Several smaller containers with tight lids to divide the mixture for ease in storing and using your product
• A medium-large funnel (the top opening on mine is about 8 inches)
What To Do:
First, grate or chop the bar of Zote and melt it down in 4 cups of hot water using a medium-large pot of water set on low heat. The smaller the particles the quicker it will melt down.
Fill the 5 gallon bucket halfway with hot water (not boiling). Stir in the melted Zote, several drops of lavender essential oil (start with 7 to test how much scent you want to use--I will be adding 14 next time), the Borax, and the Washing Soda.
Fill the bucket with more hot tap water and stir well. Let sit overnight to thicken.
The next day, stir the thickened detergent again, combining the thickest top layer with the thinner bottom layer. The top layer will be viscous and will likely need to be broken up a bit as you begin to mix it with the bottom layer.
Then fill your smaller containers half full with the detergent using the funnel. Fill the remainder with warm water, cap tightly and shake to mix thoroughly. There will be some sudsing in this process, but I have not seen suds in my washer when using this detergent.
Shake storage containers before each use. Use 1/2 cup of your homemade laundry detergent per average load. This recipe will provide you with 10 gallons of laundry detergent.
Who's Doing Laundry Today?
More About Using Homemade Laundry Detergent:
• If you try this recipe, let me know how you like it.
• If you write about your experience with it, let me know so I can link it to this hub.• If you use homemade laundry detergent, share the news with your friends.
• Look for a new homemade laundry detergent recipe coming soon--I have some ideas to develop.
• Enjoy your savings on laundry detergent and check out my hub on making homemade fabric softener for HE machines!
- No Nonsense Socks With Bamboo
Easy wear, easy wash! - Stirring the Pot~An Epic Adventure of Handcrafted Soapmaking
Once the bars were cut, they were supposed to dry for several weeks, but I could not help but try one the next day in the shower. It was amazing! Silky lather, wonderful smell...I was completely hooked. - How to Select the Perfect Pillow for Your Sleep Style
According to experts, even the most glamorous down, feather, wool and silk pillows aren't necessarily any healthier or functional than a much cheaper latex, polyester or buckwheat pillow. Your first consideration should be the pillow's shape, firm... - Slow Death By Rubber Duck from Rick Smith and Bruce Lourie
Toxins in the products we buy.
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- How Much Cheaper is it to Make Your Own Homemade Laundry Detergent ?
Can you really save money by making your own homemade laundry detergent? If so, how much cheaper is it over the course of a year? Find out here! - Homemade Laundry Detergent - Laundry Soap
This laundry soap is unscented and you could use essential oils to add your desired scent if you like, and also we often will add some Oxy clean to those very tough stains.
Home Laundry Help from Amazon:
 | Amazon Price: $60.80 List Price: $99.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $8.98 |
 | Amazon Price: $1.29 |
 | Amazon Price: $3.84 List Price: $5.99 |
 | Amazon Price: $6.89 List Price: $10.29 |
 | Amazon Price: $18.00 List Price: $34.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $17.65 List Price: $21.99 |
A Different Laundry Product:
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What Do You Think Now That You Know About Homemade Laundry Detergent? Loading...
So glad you found this helpful. Would love to hear how you like this recipe.
Thanks bunches for stopping in! :)
I’ve never thought of making my own laundry detergent but I’m impressed by your results! I’ve never heard of Zote before. I’ll have to see if I can find it locally. Thanks for the laundry detergent recipe.
Thanks bunches for letting us know what you think. :)
Hope to hear how you like using the recipe!
I have never thought about making my own laundry detergent so this is a very interesting article. Although it takes a little time it sounds like a big savings. Thanks for the instructions.
I know many people who make their own laundry detergent. In fact, the local TV news had a segment and a demonstration about how to make it, then soon after I noticed our local hardware store had a display with the recipe and all the ingredients for sale. Smart!
I was going to try this last month and never finished assembling the ingredients. (All I managed to find was the Borax.) You've reminded me to try again! Thanks.
I thought the recipe would be more complicated, but it sounds doable. Good hub, very useful.
"Lily pad green?" Now we're cooking with gas for sure.
Nice advice and the flow was on the go.
The Frog
I made it for a long time. I couldn't believe how cheap you could make it. Then I purchase a HE machine and I'm not sure if I can use it in there or not.
You can make all of your other cleaning projects too and they are just pennies compared to store bought. I think half the money we spend is for the containers and the printing on the labels plus advertising.
I do this too. I love the money savings.
The washing soda "sodium carbonate" is also sold in the pool chemical section and is called PH plus if one is unable to find the washing soda.
Also I think I am going to try the bar soap zote that you listed. The ingredients sound more natural. I have been using fels naptha.
I also did not consider adding natural oils for fragrance. definitely want to try that.
I also have an HE washer and have had no problems with sudsing. I do however find it not quite as effective for heavily soiled clothing. I do my every day laundering with it but use regular detergent for my whites and heavily soiled loads. The savings is worth all the effort to make it.
Pamela99:
It surely was a new idea to me too!
You know, I've been thinking more about it, and it's important to do what we can to conserve and not harm the environment--we are the God-given stewards of this earth, and it's important to make smart financial choices--this is one that requires some time but the huge savings make it worth the effort, however, there's another issue. We pay a lot of money to big companies for laundry detergent, yet I do not support the causes that they support with the money they make from my purchases. On no level can I consider not taking the option of making my own laundry detergent after thinking it all through!
Thanks so much for stopping by. I've been thinking about tweeking this recipe and when I do I'll publish the new one, but first I have another project...stay tuned. :)
Wonderful and a great option - I cannot bring myself to use the laundry detergents in the supermarket. I've been using liquid Dr. Bronners with sea salt and baking soda.
I will try your recipe for sure. Thanks a million!
Rated up!
Thanks for this recipe. It sounds relatively easy compared to some I have read. When you mention HE machines does that mean the front loader washing machines that need low suds detergent? I will make this. Sounds great.
Susan52:
Wow. It's new to me, and to some of those who've written in already. That's great that your community is on to this. The more I think about it, the smarter it seems to be! :)
Thanks much for stopping in and sharing your experience with the TV show's promotion of this concept.
The Dirt Farmer:
I hope you'll let us know how these suds work with your farm clothes. :)
Thanks for coming by and joining the dialogue.
Shelly McRae:
It is simple to make (actually sounds more complicated than it is) and well worth the time. Reading about toxic fragrances makes this option look better and better.
Appreciate that you stopped by with your input.
This seems quite simple compared to other recipes I have read. It makes a large volume too which is good. I have bookmarked to give it a try. Great.
OK- I am going to try this, it actually sounds like a possibility :-0 Laundry soap is so expensive & has so many weird ingredients! BTW Is Pink Zote hard to find? Thank you so much for sharing this - brilliant idea!
Chatkath:
It's definitely a possibility!
Weird ingredients might be today's understatement! ;)
The Pink Zote is on Amazon, I listed it in that section on the hub, and it is the same price I paid for it.
Thank you for your input. Would love to hear how you like using your homemade laundry detergent.
Tebo:
I've read some complicated ones too--not for me!
If you get a chance to try it let me know, especially if you write a hub about it. I would like the chance to link other's hubs about using it to this one.
Tebo:
Yes, that's correct about the HE machines. It has worked fine for us in the front loading washers.
Would love to have your feedback after you give it a try!
Frog Prince:
You would love my laundry room...it's a happy place!
Thanks tremulously, uh, er, that is, tremendously for hopping by with your input. :)
Barbara Kay:
From all I've read, and from the experimenting I've done with friends, this laundry detergent is fine for HE machines even though there was a little sudsing when I first mixed it up, it worked fine in the front loaders.
You are right, and the more I think about the advertising issues with the products we buy the more inclined I am to settle into a routine of making and using my own cleaning products!
Wow! What a great way to save money! Thanks for sharing.. voted up and useful and bookmarked too!
Tamarajo:
So glad you stopped by to share your experience with us.
Thanks much for that tip on PH Plus!
One particular friend loves the ZOTE smell, but it's a little strong for me. I'm still experimenting with recipes and am planning to post a second one next week that uses some different ingredients. How well it works will be the deciding factor! :)
Even with brand-name detergents I had to use a prewash product on heavily soiled items. I think I'll be experimenting with my own prewash before too long!
Appreciate hearing from you!
Jamie Brock:
Thanks much for sharing your input, and for the votes of confidence! Would love to hear how you like it if you try it, and if you write a hub about it let me know so I can link it here.
Sounds like something I just have to try!
I think you'll like "your" new product! :)
This is a great article that is worthy of a vote up and a useful.The tightwad in me will also give it an awesome.
Thanks bunches, anidae! :) I'm glad you liked it and that it was helpful.
The reading I'm doing is putting me on a bandwagon against laundry product companies. I'm not against business, big or small, but harmful chemicals hidden in products that are for us to use in our homes is an issue to be addressed whenever we can do so!
Good info! I get Zote soap or some other big bar laundry soap at the 99 Cent store. They have plain and white as well as pink. :)
You can find Pink Zote at the nationwide store 99cent Only Store for guess...99cents!! Happy detergent making!
Hi justmesuzanne:
Thanks much for stopping by with your input. I'm looking forward to smelling the white Zote to see if it's as strong as the pink.
I've always loved the name suzanne!
Hi Carole with an e:
Funny that two special to me names pop up together on the same hub!
Thanks bunches for your tip. Appreciate that you came by.
Very Cool! I wonder what is in Pink Zote? I would love to make my own laundry soap that which is free of harsh chemicals. Great hub - Voted up :)
Thanks kindly! :)
It's been an interesting study and I'm continuing to read up on the topic and explore other options. Hope to post more info soon. Am actually kind of excited about my next experiment with laundry soap. I haven't seen one exactly like it, although it may be out there.
RTalloni, thanks for the laundry detergent recipe. I am impressed by the fact that it cleans well. It's something that is worth trying.
It's been interesting to learn about the concept and process. My friends and I still use it.
Thanks much for stopping in with your comment!
Never thought that home detergent can be made at home..next time i am going to try it out.
It was news to me too! I'm just about ready to try my next recipe. If I like it I will be posting it in a hub.
Thanks so much for stopping by with your comment!
“I'm not wanting to plop a basket of dirty clothes on my head and trot down to one of the creeks” LOL! Your hub is really interesting and the detergent recipe is definitely something worth trying. Thanks!
:-) So glad you enjoyed the hub, iZeko. I'm hoping to post my newest recipe in a couple of weeks. It takes time to experiment because the recipes make large batches.
Appreciate your visit and comments very much.
Bookmarking to try out your recipe. Here's another tip: add a little TSP (available at hardware stores) to the wash. About 1/4 cup per full load will help rinse every bit of detergent out, leaving your clothes even cleaner. This used to be an ingredient in all laundry detergents. Now, instead, manufacturers market "spot removers" and other additives they sell to thoroughly clean clothes. Nice hub! Thanks for the follow.
Miss Mellie:
Thanks for stopping in as well as for the TSP tip. I was planning to do more research on this topic and you have given me a springboard. So appreciate your visit.
I've made my own laundry detergent in the past, but I hesitate now because I have a high-efficency front-loader.
kschimmel:
Sure hope this info has relieved your concerns. Thanks much for your visit to this hub!
Yes, it is safe for HE machines!
Does the Zote itself have any fragrance? And am I correct in assuming I could use a different essential oil instead of lavender to create the smell of the home-made laundry detergent?
Giselle Maine:
Ya, it does have its own fragrance. Of course it is greatly reduced once you make the recipe. One of my friends who tried my recipe loved the fragrance, but I am planning to work on a new recipe with a different soap. I haven't gotten to it just yet because 1) it takes a long time to use up a batch of the home made laundry detergent, 2) life gets in the way of time! :)
Yes, oh yes, you can use any essential oil you like, although I'm not sure I will use any in the next recipe. It's not necessary and I think I like to use my essential oils elsewhere.
Thanks much for stopping by with your questions!
wow, a laundry detergent recipe ! You are amazing. I am impressed with the research, trial and errors you are willing to go through to come out with your own detergent recipe. Very impressive. Definitely a vote up!
Ingenira:
Thanks kindly. So appreciate your input!
Your experiment sounds like fun, but I doubt I will be able to replicate it. Most of the basic ingredients are not available in our local shops here :)
cashmere:
Oh, that's too bad! Could you order the ingredients you need online, or possibly research the ingredients to see what might work to make a laundry detergent from comparable ingredients that are available in your local shops?
This looks really interesting. I will have to find some Zote. Thanks for the recipe RTalloni!
snakeslane:
So glad you like the concept. Remember, Zote is not necessary. Other soaps can work well.
Thank you for coming by and leaving a comment!
Oh wow, I have some bars of sunlight soap, would they work or is that cheating?
Not being familiar with Sunlight Soap I took a peek at it. What delightful vintage posters are available--makes me want to redo my laundry room! From what I read online Sunlight Soap would be a perfect soap to use...not cheating at all! If you use it, let us know!
Are you going to write a hub about Sunlight Soap? --Yes, that's a hint. :)
Hi again, RTalloni. I had a hard time finding Zote soap, but through my experience (which involved going to 9 stores in 2 different towns), I have now written a hub on where to find Zote soap! I linked your hub (it's at the end of my hub). Now I just have to actually make the detergent.....!
Hi Giselle Maine:
Thanks so much for letting me know--I will link yours to mine now. :)
Am looking forward to reading about your detergent making experience. The process is interesting.
I very much appreciate that you came by again!
RTalloni,
I love your work but this is simply too much bother for me - I liken it to making marshmallows. I wish I had the time but alas there are boundaries I must mark.
Your brownies intrigue me and I must try them.
Love your work - very well done.
GmaGoldie:
Thanks much--I understand what you mean. We simply can't do every neat thing that comes across the computer screen! This had my curiosity up and I wanted to check it out, but if the batches did not last so long I would not take the time to do it--although it's not really that time consuming.
Hope you enjoy the brownies! :) So appreciate your visit and input.
--Oh, I'm hoping to tweak my recipe for laundry detergent soon, so if you decide to give it a try check for the new hub.
Very good information and research you've done. I was surprised to read how hard it is to find Borax and Zote. My local supermarket carries Borax in the detergent isle. Now I'm curious to see if they have Zote. I use Borax by adding it to the wash. I find I can use less detergent that way since it softens the water. You gave me something else to try now. Great hub. I voted up and useful.
Thanks kindly. Hope your area has the Zote if you want to try this recipe. I'm getting close to trying my new one... :)
Appreciate your visit and your input very much!
Hi, RTalloni. As you can see, this hub of yours really inspired me - besides my previous one on where to find Zote soap, I have also written a new hub calculating how much cheaper is it over the course of a year to make homemade laundry detergent.
I have linked my new hub to this hub of yours via an in-text clickable link, if you're interested you will find the link early on in my article (above the table, next to my first pic). Thanks again for your hub. I love the way it is written.
Giselle Maine:
I definitely see that! :) And I'm delighted that you've gotten back with me on it! You've done a fine job on your hub and I've already linked it to this one. Thank you for giving a really balanced look at the costs. I am pleased with the savings, but even happier about not giving as many of my $ to companies that support causes I do not support.
Again, you've posted a super hub and I'm glad to be able to link it to this one!
RTalloni - thanks so much for linking to mine on yours too! I see it on your hub already! That is so nice of you. I appreciate the link. And that was a very important point you raised about having control over the causes you support when you make your own laundry detergent. I admit I hadn't thought about that aspect before, so you've given me something extra to think about. I always seem to learn something new from you!
Oh yes, Giselle Maine, it was such an honor to have you highlight my work in such a well-done hub that I couldn't wait to get yours linked!
HubPages is full of tremendous learning opportunities throughout the posts. It is a mutual relationship when there are good writers like yourself. :)
Looking forward to seeing more of your work!
This sounds wonderful. Next time I need to purchase laundry detergent I will want to give this a try first.
homesteadbound:
Thanks for checking it out in this hub. I want to make some soon, but it requires a little extra time that I don't have right now. Soon I want to try a different recipe and post it.
homesteadbound:
Thanks for checking it out in this hub. I want to make some soon, but it requires a little extra time that I don't have right now. Soon I want to try a different recipe and post it.
homesteadbound:
Thanks for checking it out in this hub. I want to make some soon, but it requires a little extra time that I don't have right now. Soon I want to try a different recipe and post it.
It was very useful.
mathira:
Thanks very much, both for stopping in and for letting me hear from you!
Wow - we spend a small fortune on laundry detergent (6 in our family, all active in sports....) I am totally game to try making our own at home. Excellent, helpful hub!
stephhicks68:
It's so easy the kids (the big ones) could make it for you. Hope you do find the product helpful. Thanks for stopping in! :)
Great hub, I'll definitely have to try it sometime :)
Thanks for sharing!
sabrani44:
You are welcome!
I'm still exploring options with this home made product so stay tuned. Life may yet slow down and let me get to the newest recipe.
Although I don't think I'll find Pink Zote in Germany, I'll definitely hunt for the borax - my water is so hard! Bookmarked and voted up! Thank you!
nifwlseirff:
You should be able to order Zote online, but either way, I hope you'll be able to use the borax for the hard water situation. Thank you for checking this out and leaving your input!
I have been told that over time homemade detergent makes clothing look dingy. How would homemade laundry soap make clothing dingy? Have you had that experience with homemade laundry soap? I found a recipe similar to the one you provided. I am trying to figure out which recipe is more accurate. Could you explain the difference?
Recipe:
1/3 of a Pink Zote Soap Bar
1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
3 qt Sauce Pan
Cheese Grater
2 empty gallon size (or larger) milk jug or liquid laundry soap bottle
ArmySweetPea:
There are any number of reasons why laundry becomes dingy. From a washing machine that isn't working properly to washing extremely dirty clothes with regular laundry. i'm not at all certain that homemade laundry detergent would be the cause if the recipe is used correctly. I've not had that problem.
The web has several laundry detergent recipes floating around out there and my guess is that they are generally all okay, but I would do just what you are doing here and check on/compare any I was thinking of using. Factors like the type water your region has, as well as how dirty your laundry usually is play into what detergent will work best for your circumstances.
My plans to continue experimenting with recipes were interrupted by life but I do hope to get back to tweaking recipes soon. You might like to do some experimenting with recipes to find exactly what works best for you. It looks to me like the recipe you have in your comment makes a smaller amount of liquid laundry soap than the one in this hub and that would explain some of the differences in the ingredient amounts.
Thanks much for stopping in with your comment. I appreciate the nudge to think this recipe through again. :)
Hello again RTalloni, haven't made the laundry soap yet, but have all the ingredients (that's a start). Thanks so much for reply to my earlier question: could I use a bar of Sunlight soap in place of Zote (Yes!).
snakeslane:
Hi! I looked up the Sunlight product again and am even more impressed with my second look. It seems like a smart choice and I hope to try it myself. I've not been able to do more work on the laundry product recipes yet but I'm going to try to get this Sunlight to use when I do get to it.
Would love to hear about your use of it. If you write a hub on Sunlight please let me know so I can link it here.
Thanks much for stopping in again and commenting for I needed to SEE the mistakes in my opening capsule! Sometimes I wonder where my brain wanders off to. I could tell myself that I made corrections but that they didn't stick, however, even if I could get by with that I know it's my responsibility to double check that they did stick! Stupid mistakes tempt me to give up--but I need to keep learning! Your visit is doubly appreciated! :)
Looks good to me, guess I missed that too. Takes a lot of proof reading to catch every typo. Will let you know how the laundry detergent turns out, yes.
snakeslane:
Love that edit option! :) Looking forward to hearing about your laundry project.
Thanks for the great information. I am always on the lookout to save some extra money. This looks totally doable! Does this homemade detergent affect handbags and shoes in a different way than normal detergent. I have this Baggallini around town bag that I really need to wash and was wondering how this homemade detergent might affect it. Thanks!
wow...I had no clue that pink zote was so good. I googled it to findout more about it.
I have bookmarked this and will try to make this detergent. Thanks for the enlightening hub, RTalloni :)
voted up and sharing it across!
Moe:
Indeed, it's very doable. I'm still looking forward to time for working on another recipe, but we're still liking this one.
I've not used it on my Baggallini, but now that you mention it, I might need to try that! I love my Bagg and would be careful washing it, yet I wouldn't hesitate to use this laundry detergent on it. A mild solution in a delicate soak/cycle will probably describe my attempt. I would use a lingerie bag.
Hope you get to give this homemade laundry detergent a try sometime. Thanks for checking it out and letting me hear from you!
Ruchira:
I'm so glad you are researching using the ingredients in this recipe! That is how you will find out what works best with your water source and other resources.
Appreciate your visit and input very much--thanks!
Very inspiring! I enjoyed your courage to try new things, the urge to be self reliant, and your humour! I remember the 20 Mule Team Borax as very good in hard water!
diamond1mo:
Thanks much. Appreciate that you stopped by with your comments on this laundry project!
Hi there, I have a question for you. I've been wanting to try making my own detergent not only because it's cheaper, but also because I want to eliminate as many chemicals used in household products that I am using. My question is how does this homemade detergent affect the clothing, does it fade it any or cause any extra wear and tear on it after using it for awhile? I just wondered whether it's gentle or harsh on fabric. thanks!
Hi Kathie,
Thanks kindly for checking this hub out. those are all good reasons to make your own laundry detergent. I have not experienced any fading or other problems with this detergent. I have read that some people have problems with dinginess from using homemade laundry soaps, but I do not know what recipes or what kind of water they were dealing with. When I wash something particularly delicate I will still use something like Woolite, but that is not often, maybe once or twice a year. You might find the above comments from other readers helpful. Hope you have good success with making and using your own laundry products!
Hyphenbird Level 8 Commenter 13 months ago
I have been wanting to make my own detergent. You have given me the incentive. Thanks!