| Laundry Detergent
Posted: 2/26/2008 10:35:14 PM | All these ingredients are sold at the grocery store.
Seaspot posted this earlier: bought Arm and Hammer "Super Washing Soda
hope that helps. | |
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| Laundry Detergent
Posted: 2/26/2008 11:17:06 PM | | when i have run out of dish washer and laundry deteregent in the past, i tried regular liquid dish soap in both machines. both overran. isn't there something "low suds" in both dishwashing and laundry soap that is being overlooked or does the borax make the difference? i use borax and/or arm and hammer instead of bleach in combination with my costco detergent. i'm not convinced that this is any cheaper. have you tried it and costed it out? | |
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| Laundry Detergent
Posted: 2/27/2008 6:59:00 PM | | Just did all my towels and comforters and everything came out lovely....clean...smelling clean.. no scents and it worked great.... did my jeans and sweats too and everything came out bright and clean... this stuff does work well... I am very very pleased. | |
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| Laundry Detergent
Posted: 2/27/2008 9:00:23 PM | YAAAAAY!!!!!!!!! Thanks for sharing this recipe. I am horrifically chemically sensitive and despise the products that are on the market. It doesn't just affect me if I wear clothes washed in it. Just being in a space with people who use those products kills me for weeks on end. I like this idea, but will combine it with the earlier "lemon juice for fragrance" idea instead of the essential oils.
Bring on more of this kind of recipes!  | |
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| Laundry Detergent
Posted: 2/27/2008 10:04:57 PM | | ok, since no overflows i will try it. with lymes, i am also chemically sensitive but i thus far have just gotten soap w/o scent. i am also going to compare prices and see if not much more effort. tried making some of my own petfood and then gave up. way too much time and i can buy quality products. in the end, the cost was about the same. | |
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Posted: 3/6/2008 12:47:41 PM | OK I caved and used this in my brand spanking new front loader. No bubble wall to be seen!!! The clothes came out great.
Mind you I did completely tear the skin off the side of 3 knuckles grating the soap bar
Now I have to work myself up to using the fabric softner on the face cloth idea | |
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| Laundry Detergent
Posted: 3/6/2008 3:40:11 PM | You got to grate with some love in your heart darlin.....not grate with your stickin lyin cheatin EX in your mind.....
glad it worked...yup.. I have been using a front loader too and no excess amount of suds here...
remember...grate with love in your heart for Mother Earth... | |
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| Laundry Detergent
Posted: 3/24/2008 1:22:10 AM | I am sold!!! I have been using this laundry detergent recipe for a month now and I LOVE IT!!! It makes my clothes, blankets and sheets smell "fresh" without the perfumes.
Side effect- WARNING - Cats really like it! I know that all you cat people out there know that a kitty cannot resist the freshly washed binky, but for some reason when you wash a blanket in this stuff the cats are running surveillance on the washer and have been perfecting their heist of the laundry basket with never seen before tactics! I've tried to set up cameras but somehow they have been able to 'neak through and still get the stash before I can. | |
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| Laundry Detergent
Posted: 3/24/2008 4:20:19 AM | Here's a few recipes written for the UK market (so you can get the ingredients in tescos)
Gloop Recipe – No more Detergent
You will need:
A large tub capable of holding about 4 litres, with a good fitting lid (or a few smaller tubs) to store gloop
A big pan
1 bar unscented white soap - something like Simple or an own-brand sensitive skin soap – Asda 29p bar is good or granny's soap flakes
1/2 cup washing soda crystals - usually on the cleaning aisle of the supermarket
4 litres hot water
Optional:- About 20 drops of a suitable essential oil. I use lavender but any oils safe for children will be fine. ½ Tea Tree, ½ lavender is a good combination for nappies etc
To Make
Put the water in the pot and bring to the boil. Grate the soap and once the water has boiled, add the soap and turn the heat down. Stir until all the soap has dissolved. Take off the heat and add the soda crystals stirring until they have dissolved as well. Leave to cool until you can safely handle it, then decant into your tub(s) and add essential oils.
To use
Use about half a teacup for each load.
You can add a dose of Ecover laundry bleach if things get a little grey – this will brighten things up again.
CAUTION
M
To avoid problems with the gloop and machine blockages:- It is HIGHLY recommended that you put the gloop directly into the drum not the drawer. If the gloop sets hard, chop it into small pieces so that it melts easier. Adding a ½ a cup distilled white vinegar to the final rinse will also help prevent any problems.
Laundry Powder
1 Cup Grated White Soap (Asda 29p??) or Granny's soap flakes
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax
For light load, use 1 tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 tablespoons.
Nice alternative to gloop when you can't be bothered to mix up a batch/are travelling.
Fabric Softener
2 Cups White Vinegar
2 Cups Baking Soda
4 Cups Water
Combine slowly and carefully over sink. The baking soda and vinegar will fizz.
Pour into plastic bottle, cover, and shake.
*Hint - Reuse your "Lenor" bottle.
Use 1/4 cup in the final rinse or in a "laundry ball".
NOTE - WHITE VINEGAR ON IT@S OWN WORKS JUST AS WELL.
Ironing water
2 desertspoons Orange Blossom water
up to 1 litre water - distilled from your garage is best)
pour ingredients into 1 litre drinks bottle (I use an old tonic water bottle)
The orange blossom water can be obtained anywhere they sell vietnamese/chenese ingredients - look in oriental sections of sainsburys or in specialist chinese food shops.
It only costs about 50 - 60p for 1/4 litre so is a really cost effective way of scenting your laundry. You could also use rosewater approx £1.35 from Boots
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Stain remover For Heavily Stained Nappies:-
**NOTE: This is for use with white cotton, nylon and polyester only.
1/2 Cup Gloop
1/2 Cup Washing soda crystals
1/2 Cup Ecover Bleach
Soak nappies in bucket overnight or until stains disappear. Launder as usual.
You can also use these products alone to remove stains:
Plain White Vinegar
Hydrogen Peroxide
Tip
Nappy wipes solution for sore bums – cooled chamomile tea also works well for sunburn.
HOMEMADE DEODORANT DISKS FOR THE NAPPY BUCKET (also good for cat litter trays!)
Most nappy buckets have a place for a deodorant disk in the lid, or you can use a mesh tablet bag hung from the inside of the lid if like me you just use an ordinary poundstretcher bucket.
You can make these disks yourself for pennies . You will need:
distilled or boiled water (approx 1 cup)
baking soda (2 cups)
your choice of essential oils (tea tree and lavender both work well )
a muffin pan
paper muffin cups
1.Add a few drops of essential oil to a small amount of water.
2. Mix the water with 2 cups of baking soda. Mix well.
3. Gradually add and mix more water until you have a thick paste.
4. Press about ½" of paste into each muffin paper and let dry 24 hours.
To use:-
keep the discs in an airtight tupperware container still in the paper so that they don't lose their effectiveness until you are ready to use each one.
Tear the paper off. After you've used each disk for a month or so (however long you find it effective), crumble the disk into the diaper wash. Baking soda deodorizes and softens the nappies.
Stain remover for oil stains
Baby Powder
Cornflour
Coca Cola
For a cotton item: - Baby powder or cornflour on a fresh stain. Leave for 24 hours +, in order to dry up and draw out grease. Then wash as normal.
Seems to be ok on polyester or acrylic as well, but less likely to stain on these anyway.
Other method involves soaking in coca cola - but use the 'full strength' stuff as the sugar is part of what makes it acidic enough to work. Leave for a few hours then rinse clean and wash as normal. Again, pick your cloth carefully.
Fabric Freshener
A couple of tablespoons of bicarb + a few drops of your fave essential oil (use lavender around v. young babies) in a plant spay bottle full of water makes a great alternative to “Febreeze” or a commercial Fabric Freshener
For fabric softener I just use white vinegar with a few drops of lavender oil - the vinegar sorts out limescale and soap build problems on clothes and washing machine.
For extremely sensitive skin does anyone else use soap nuts? They contain no bleaching agents so you have to use a bit of borax or gloop for stain removal BUT they even get stinky nappies clean so worth a look at for anyone with excema etc. | |
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| Laundry Detergent
Posted: 3/24/2008 4:54:01 AM | | Ok sounds like it might save money but being in American I have no clue what cleaning soda is. I love that people waste money on oxi clean when it's mostly borax lol | |
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| Laundry Detergent
Posted: 3/24/2008 5:22:15 AM | In North America it's called Arm and hammer "washing soda" and comes in a bright yellow box. I understand it's cheap as chips.
Over here it's made by dripack and is only 52p | |
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| Laundry Detergent
Posted: 3/24/2008 5:23:25 AM | http://www.thelaundrybasket.com/Our_Products/Our_Products_Super_Washing_Soda/our_products_super_washing_sod.html
a link | |
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| Laundry Detergent
Posted: 3/24/2008 7:38:37 AM | | The recipe posted by the OP sounds like a great idea. I've always preferred less detergent in my wash, I think it's easier on the fabric. | |
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| Laundry Detergent
Posted: 3/24/2008 3:20:58 PM | quote)grating a soap bar. BTW, it's easier than grating cheese(/quote)
My cheese grater does a fine job on bar soap.
Now how come, my pizza taste soapy? | |
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| Laundry Detergent
Posted: 3/27/2008 3:13:46 PM |
n North America it's called Arm and hammer "washing soda
Like 20 mule team, Death Valley & Ronald Reagan did the commercial bit. | |
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| Laundry Detergent
Posted: 3/27/2008 3:23:18 PM |
For fabric softener I just use white vinegar with a few drops of lavender oil - the vinegar sorts out lime scale and soap build problems on clothes and washing machine.
faithfey, you know way of good natural cleaning without running to the store!~smile~
It was on the news here that the fabric softer actually destroys the clothes & fabrics faster and should not be used. Thanks for the natural tips. | |
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| Laundry Detergent
Posted: 3/27/2008 3:38:57 PM | | Is arm and hammer washing soda the same as arm and hammer baking soda lol | |
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| Laundry Detergent
Posted: 3/27/2008 6:32:39 PM | 1 bar of Ivory soap, grated to equal 1 cup.
1/2 cup of Cleaning Soda ( So Clean brand is good)
1/2 cup Borax brand
Would using 1 cup of Ivory Snow detergent be the same as grating the bar of Ivory?
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| Laundry Detergent
Posted: 3/27/2008 6:58:09 PM | Is arm and hammer washing soda the same as arm and hammer baking soda No. Washing soda (which is sodium carbonate) is approximately twice as strong as baking soda (which is sodium bicarbonate). | |
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| Laundry Detergent
Posted: 3/27/2008 10:08:32 PM |
Would using 1 cup of Ivory Snow detergent be the same as grating the bar of Ivory?
No, I don't think it would be the same. You may be able to find "soap flakes" in your area and that would work.
I was very surprised to see how easy it was to grate a bar of soap. I made a big batch when I did it and grated up 4 bars of soap. | |
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| Laundry Detergent
Posted: 3/27/2008 10:36:24 PM | ^^Thanks^^
Definately going to check this out and some of the other good
suggestions posted here. | |
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| Laundry Detergent
Posted: 3/28/2008 8:52:36 PM | Update... I could not find any toilet bowl cleaner the other night...and I decided to try out the laundry stuff on the toilet.
It worked like a dream!... really it did and there as absolutely no sudzing and overflow or mess. The boil was clean and I am sold now. | |
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| Laundry Detergent
Posted: 3/29/2008 8:29:33 PM | ^^As you advised, I "grated with love"^^
The formula worked great! The clothes were very clean and fresh.
As for scent, yes that was missing: but the smell of clean wasn't.
Makes me wonder if the perfumes are addictive and how they definitely DO give the illusion that our clothes are cleaner.
Ever notice how everything now comes with "febreeze fresh scent"? It’s a sham! | |
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Posted: 4/3/2008 9:13:25 PM | okie dokie... my heavy winter coat with the faux suede and faux fur....thick and heavy and some bad sap stains from a fur tree that could not come out...well... it is a machine washable.... 4 scoops...and wow...the coat was good as new today...smells......CLEAN!!!!!! and the sap came out..weird....but hey..it worked! < do the Happy Banana dance with me kids! | |
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| Laundry Detergent
Posted: 4/3/2008 11:45:47 PM | I don't know if this has been suggested yet, but a good organic, biodegradable and non-toxic soap to use for laundry is Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap. I prefer the peppermint variety, a little dash of the soap with a spoon of baking soda and you're good to go. The soaps made by Dr. Bronner's company are all plant derived, no animal fats like a lot of major market soaps.
The price may look like a lot, $9 USD for 16 ounces, but bear in mind it only takes a little bit of the stuff to make a lot of soap, it's extremely condensed.
It's good stuff, give it a whirl. You can also use it to clean pretty much anything else. Hope that helps.
Glen
Link: http://www.drbronner.com/DBMS/PEP.htm | |
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