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Posted: 4/4/2008 2:26:12 PM | | Dr Bonners soap is great - I've only tried the "baby" variety but sadly it's quite hard to get hold of in the UK so I haven't bothered for years. I'd definately buy it regularly if I lived in the US or Canada though. | |
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Posted: 4/6/2008 11:14:41 AM | I tried the soap! It works great and the clothes come out clean, soft and with a clean smell to them. The only thing though is that I didn't shred the soap bar thin enough so some of the flakes don't melt cause I don't use hot water.
One question though, I'd like to stop using the dryer sheets, definitely don't need them for softness as the soap does that for me but I need something for anti static.
There was a recipe posted in this thread for fabric softener with vinegar in it, do you think that would help with the static? | |
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Posted: 4/6/2008 11:28:18 AM | | as far as grating the ivory soap.. I gave the recipe to my daughter who has 5 children.. she put the ivory in a food processor and it still didn't dissolve in the wash.. so she used all the ingredients except the ivory added 2 scoops of powdered Gain or whatever powder you have on hand and it works great... no more leftovers on the clothes and no grating... kids clothes come out stain free too.. | |
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Posted: 4/6/2008 11:32:11 AM | here's one for Dishwasher detergent too
one box of baking soda
equal amounts of borax
mix together and use 2 tbs per load... works great | |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 12:39:53 AM | I would think that the food processor would whip the soap and make it mushy.
my Ivory soap has not been a problem at all... I grate it...and when I mix it in with the Borax and Soda it breaks up.... I just use a large spoon that I use to measure out the soap...stir it all around to mix the 3 ingredients and the Ivory gets small.....and it does indeed dissolve.
No one else has mentioned the Ivory not dissolving...now I did try to do a hand wash of swimsuits in the sink, and the Ivory did not dissolve at all. | |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 1:53:00 AM | does this recipe actually work with lots of dark clothes?
because at some point, I heard adding the arm and armor washing soda would make my laundry detergent last longer... but my blacks didnt come too "nice"... and eventually lots of my darks faded to a not so good looking black... so now I simply stay to normal liquid detergent to not deal with that.
can anybody answer this? :) | |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 7:50:56 AM | | Just a thought (I haven't actually tried it) but if there's a problem grating the soap, try sticking it in the freezer or fridge for a few minutes. | |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 8:20:49 AM | Mines a front loading machine. Put the homemade stuff directly into the drum as it'll clog up in the drawer.
Using white vinegar instead of fabric conditioner works for me as it removes any soap residue, (preventing skin irritation), and also as I live in a hardwater area helps keep my machine from getting silly amounts of limescale build up. I add a couple of drops of lavender oil just so that the clothes have a nice scent once they've dried on the line.
I use a damp flannel with a few drops of lavender oil instead of dryer sheets in the winter sometimes, especially for bedding. I have no idea if they help with static etc as I can't use most commercially scented laundry products as they irritate my skin so have never done a direct comparison.
I know that using commercial dryer sheets and fabric conditioners plays havoc with the absorbency of towels and nappies (diapers for the US peeps) as it leaves a coating on the fabric. | |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 8:22:15 AM | Bless all of your earth friendly, greenies! I just cannot give up my Purex and I would be constantly ODing the washer with this stuff cause there is no way I feel a small tablespoon or whatever, would clean it! Heck...I can't stand how they have concentrated all of the regular store bought detergents! LOL
I do make my own convenience wipes! ;) | |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 10:44:07 AM | I'll have to give this a try.
I did not try it, but I saw a recipe that called for grated fels naptha soap. May work better on real dirty or greasy work cloths.
My work cloths get real grungy as I work construction. I add a cup of ammonia to the wash. Really cuts the crude and grease. | |
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Posted: 4/10/2008 4:11:57 PM | USE 4 to 5 TABLESPOONS.
I did 12 loads of clothes last Friday...including a very heavy furry coat, a faux suede with furry lining...it was filthy... I also did 20 pairs of blue jeans...- yes, I have girls and they have jeans and they get muddy and wet as we live in the rain forest.
so...20 pairs of jeans...smelly coat... and no Ivory soap residue, no fuss to grate the stuff... quick and easy... and I use a front loading machine... several btw as I was at the laundrymat... I put the soap in from the top.
no overflow or heavy sudzing occurs and the clothes come out clean smelling....
I will mention... I don't use 1 tablespoon or 2. ... no way.... I use@4-5 spoonfuls. I use a large dinner spoon and just regular scoop....but yes...you need 4- scoops at least...not the 1 Tablespoon.
I should of mentioned that...cos I used 1 Tablespoon the first time around and not even the undies came out clean. | |
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Posted: 4/11/2008 8:07:38 PM | So tell me this what would work on a large blanket that is 80/20???
80 silk / 20 cotton | |
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Posted: 4/11/2008 8:14:30 PM | eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeekkkkkkkkkkkkkk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! silk????????????
well , it would be a gentle soap mix for those fabrics...but I don't think the Ivory would dissolve if you were to handwash.
my mother has saris, you know the East Indian wrap clothing.. 6 yards of silk... you have to be careful with silk...so I would suggest doing the handwash thing...or a machine wash on a very gentle cycle...and use only 2 scoops of this stuff...and then hang it wet to dry... ..or better yet...lay a cotton sheet on a flat surface and lay your blanket on to.... lay it to dry. | |
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Posted: 4/12/2008 12:14:54 PM | I spilled Tea on it -- I washed it in cold water but it got kind of stiff n hard when it dried. I'm a little too afraid to even hold it up to the light (because it cost so much $$$) and see if I really got it all completely clean.
Would love to try your recipe but I have never seen borax or cleaning soda in the stores. Do I find this in the grocery store or drug store? Near what other products?Can baking soda be substituted for the cleaning soda?
I'm not used to looking for these kinds of things. I am a guy -- Most of my clothes wear out from either sweat or abrasion.
As far as people having trouble grinding/blending/food processing it -- try adding the soda and/or the borax -- they should be drier than the ivory and allow it to process better and hopefully finer which in turn should dissolve better.
I add about 1/4 cup rock salt crystals when I do laundry -- softens the water, soap works/whitens better and it rinses out. Almost the same thing as having a water softener. | |
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Posted: 4/12/2008 9:03:20 PM | Hi Random RE:
1. "Would love to try your recipe but I have never seen borax or cleaning soda in the stores. Do I find this in the grocery store or drug store?"
Forget the grocery store for this stuff (although most do carry it in the cleaning supplies section). They have too much disgusting fragranced stuff that gets in everything. Drug store??? Maaaaybe, but I don't think so unless they are pretty unusual. Instead, try your local hardware stores. Out here in the West it's Ace Hardware, Lowes, OSH (Orchard Supply Hardware) Home Depot, and sometimes non-chain, old fashioned hardware stores if you can still find them there. They usually have a great cleaning supplies section.
2. "Near what other products?" There will be a whole section of cleaning stuff.
3. "Can baking soda be substituted for the cleaning soda?" Not for this purpose, although it works wonders for getting smells out of clothing.
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Posted: 4/13/2008 2:46:09 AM | Hey Random... I bought all my ingredients at the Safeway.
1 bar of Ivory soap... I buy my soap in packs of 8.. these are the handsoap size
Arm and Hammer makes the Oh So Clean cleaning soda, I think there is a brand in the US called 20 Mule.
Borax again is a freshner.
everything in the grocery store and really well priced... I have been giving away the soap.
and btw... you need to use @1/4 cup...not the recommended 1 Tablespoon amount I found.
mix all the ingredients...I use a kitchen soup size spoon...and a little tupperware type container...give it all a good mix and stir..and you are good to go.
here is a link on Borax: http://homeparents.about.com/cs/householdtips/a/borax.htm
link on Washing Soda: http://www.thelaundrybasket.com/Our_Products/Our_Products_Super_Washing_Soda/our_products_super_washing_sod.html | |
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Posted: 4/13/2008 3:16:43 AM | If your in Australia use sunlight soap, that was the usual soap for this recipe here in tthe 70's, however now that Sard wonder soap is available it would do a better job and the sunlight would do for woolens and delicates.
It works, the old recipe was this soap with grated with washing soda and I think that is Borax here,
Its a lot of grating and it is best if you disolve it all properly first in water before adding it to a cold water machine cycle, it may or may not disolve properly and you could get soap marks on certain types of dark fabrics, but it is only certain types of fabric it seems to happen too, other than that its jsut as good | |
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Posted: 4/13/2008 11:20:13 PM | Just found the borax at the alternative book & herb store -- its probably organic, too. was only 55cents for a cup of the stuff.
now to find the cleaning soda...
you know what else is great on grease stains? gojo like mechanics use on their hands, liquid orange is about the same. I buy a gallon of the stuff at a time because I've often got my hands into grease and oil.
oxyclean is a great laundry booster -- is this stuff really TSP relabelled? The new TSP-PF is not good, though, stick with the ol formula -- fantastic for greasy kitchen walls like next to the frybaby!
I have aquirt bottle of oxyclean mixed up and pretreat with that. | |
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Posted: 4/14/2008 12:58:56 AM | I add about 1/3 cup per wash for me and I wash on warm.
For whites I add a 'dash' of powdered color safe bleach.
For dryer sheets:
Mix 50/50 H2O and liquid fabric softener in a spray bottle and spray onto a washcloth and then toss into the dryer with the clothes. 1 bottle of fabric softener will make 100's of 'dryer sheets' and work great. | |
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Posted: 4/14/2008 12:27:20 PM | | Ta for the tip about the dryer sheets - it'll be no good for me but sounds a handy one to pass onto my neighbours : ) | |
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Posted: 4/14/2008 1:22:01 PM | | Arm and Hammer also has Super Washing Soda but hard to find in Fl...... | |
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Posted: 4/27/2008 4:19:51 PM | I've been doing the 50/50 fabric softner/water in a spray bottle for a while now and it's great!!
You do have to get used to not using alot though...one or three sprays on a facecloth is all I need to use in my super capacity dryer.
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Posted: 4/27/2008 8:13:12 PM | Can someone with some OXYCLEAN on hand look at the label and see what it says is in there? (what am I nuts? No one has to label cleaning supplies!) Does it have any smell? Please and thanks
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Posted: 4/27/2008 8:39:26 PM | I use those blue dryer balls, they work great, never buy another dryer sheet!
I remember a few years ago when buying new eyeglasses, they said not to clean your lenses with a towel that had been in the dryer w/a dryer sheet, because it would leave a film on the glasses...
Debbie | |
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Posted: 4/29/2008 1:21:26 AM | OK, I have another challenge for all you laundr-ophiles out there.
I spilled a container of mineral oil. It was literally glugging out of the bottle so I picked it up and in a panic threw an all cotton item in it.
That was about six months ago! Last night in the basement I ran across the said item tied tightly in a plastic bag still saturated through n through with mineral oil meant for my maple breadboard.
I was thinking using gojo and hot water. Would the borax help? What is the strongest de-oiler you know of that is laundry safe?
Maybe let it soak overnight? There is literally probably close to a pint of mineral oil saturated into this item. It now weighs about 3 times what it used to. 
The item was hand embroidered by my mother otherwise I would have just tossed it.
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