Making own laundry detergent

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1

how many moms/dads out there make their own laundry detergent? I wonder if you can use homemade detergent on front loaders? Does anyone know?

2

I have a front loader and started doing this last fall. The recipe I have calls for 1 cup of borax, 1 cup of washing soda (arm & hammer), 1 bar of soap (fels naptha). I bought all of the ingredients at the grocery store. It’s so easy! You just grate the bar of soap and then mix it in with the borax and washing soda. I use 1/2 to 1 tbsp per load and store it in a large glass mason jar. It works really well and the clothes smell clean and fresh, it also saves us a lot of money on detergent.

3

  1. I’ve made my own detergent for about 4 years now. I’m allergic to store detergents with sulfates and fragrances that don’t fully rinse out of fabric, so I make my own powdered detergents that clean far better, rinse out completely, and are much less costly.

  2. I have a HE front-loader. I put my powdered detergent right into the dispenser with no problem. 2 tablespoons per load. We have a little metal ramekin we use to portion it out.

4

I use the duggar recipe for the most part for my front loader.

http://duggarfamily.com/content/duggar_recipes/30455/homemade_liquid_laundry_soap_front_or_top_load_machine_best_value

I have heard, don’t know if its true, that fels naptha can be quite toxic if inhaled(which you do while grating it) and toxic for the environment. So I actually got some like organic soap flakes off of amazon and substitute that for the fels naptha. Works pretty good.

5

I use the same recipe as tri-mom… Only I use 1/2 bar of the pink Zote instead of Fels-naptha. I like the way it smells. :slight_smile:

Also, instead of fabric softener I use wool balls. You just get some (UN-washable) wool yarn, then wrap it tightly into 3" balls (about the size of one of those small oranges.) tie them into socks and wash a few times, until they become fuzzy. Then take them out of the socks, and toss them into the dryer. They cut down on dry time, kill static, and work as fabric softener. I like to put a few drops of Lavender oil on mine to make my clothes smell awesome. :slight_smile:

6

a lot of us make our own detergent here. Search it in the upper right search button and you’ll see lots of good info. good luck!

7

I make my own powered detergent. I found that the cost isn’t really better, but it does a much better job cleaning the laundry. I put the powder directly in the drum (on the clothes) of my front loader. Instead of Fels Naptha or Zote, I use Dr. Bronner’s castile bar soap. I LOVE the scents and they are certified fair trade and organic. My laundry has never smelled cleaner.

8

Yep. I’ve been using homemade laundry detergent for about a year now. I think I’ve spent less than $40 on detergent (and we do a LOT of laundry around here!). I’ve found that it causes no problems with my HE front-loader (I have a Samsung VRT steam washer), and is safe even for delicates, yet also gets my husband’s nasty construction jobsite laundry clean. Here’s the recipe I use:

Homemade Laundry Soap
Ingredients:
1 (4 lb 12 oz) Box of Borax
1 (3 lb 7 oz) Box of Arm & Hammer Super
Washing Soda (note that this is washing soda, not baking soda!)
1 (3 lb) Container of OxyClean
2 (14.1 oz) Bars of Zote Soap (You can also
use Fels Naptha)
1 (4 lb) Box of Arm & Hammer Baking
Soda
1-2 (55 oz) Bottle of Purex Crystals Fabric
Softener OR Downy Unstopables (Optional -
leave out for unscented)

Directions:

  1. Grate zote soap with cheese grater or food
    processor.
  2. Mix all ingredients together in a large bucket.
  3. Use 2 -4 Tablespoons per laundry load.
9

Yep. I make and use my own also. Front loading machine also. No problems… just clean clothes.

I also use vinegar as fabric softener instead of Downy.

10

Hi Samantha, for the past 4 years we have used only the Laundry Ball in our front load HE. we buy it for about $40 and it lasts all year!

Barbilee

11

I found a recipe for HE washers! Woo hoo!