After reading the Yahoo article today about rising thefts of Tide detergent in grocery stores, it got me to wondering: How many people actually make their own detergent? I started making mine 2 years ago after getting tired of detergent prices. And while I can now afford to buy even the expensive brands, I'll never go back because my home made version works sooooo much better than the store bought. And I'm pretty sure it's much better for the environment. Yes, I've become slightly evangelical about it :)
So, who buys and who makes their own?
My recipe makes 2 gallons. I was paranoid at first that it wouldn't get stuff as clean, especially since it was more liquidy than the store brand, and gosh there sure wasn't a lot of soap put into that 2 gallons! So I tested it. I have some horrible, horrible dogs that make horrible dog messes. I figured that if the detergent could get my dog towels clean the clothing would be fine. And to my surprise, the home made stuff got the dog towels CLEANER than Tide did. First time ever that the odors were actually gone from the towels. Had it not worked,I'd been out mabye a dollar and 20 minutes of my fime.
For my recipe and good instructions, check out this website: http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm. Read through all the questions and answers too. I divy my detergent into old laundry detergent bottles. As the detergent is not blended and stabelizers are not added like they are with factory detergents, I have to shake my bottle to 'remix' every time I use it. Not a big deal - just 2-3 seconds to mix it up a little. It will sepearate if it sits more than a few hours.
Kristy, I just use my chef's knife and a cutting board to cut up my soap. I slice it really thin and it melts quite nicely. This is my favorite part of making detergent - the Fels makes the house smell sooooooooo good for the whole day!
I make my own detergent. I use the duggers recipe. Although I am glad about what the poster below said about Fels Naptha because I did not know that, and will probably switch over next time.
I've been making my own for about a year now. I absolutely love it and would never go back to buying it! I make the powder laundry detergent and made a double batch last time. Hoping it lasts me around 9 months!
My answer is going to be very unpopular, since you love Fels Naptha, but it's toxic to the environment, bad for septic systems and can be harmful if particles of the soap are breathed in.
I recommend using Dr. Bronners bar soap as an alternative to Fels Naptha. It's completely safe and environmentally friendly! You can find the bars at Target in the cosmetic department. My favorite scents (scented with real essential oils, no fake fragrances) are the lavender and the citrus.
I used to make my own, but in my situation, I just don't have the time or energy to make soap. I wish I did, but I don't. My favorite detergents to buy are Charlie's Soap and EcoNuts soap nuts. Both are amazing and ridiculously economical. :) I also buy homemade from the farmer's market. I love supporting my local vendors!
I know people will pooh-pooh my info on Fels Naptha, but I'm pretty fanatical about health and environment. Check out Dr. Bronners! You will never go back!
* Here is one link. http://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/441-FelsNapthaHeavyDut...
I realize that most people will not see it as a concern, but I don't use it because I don't see the point in using FN when I could use something safer.
Our septic man was the one who said that FN is bad for septic tanks. Also, FN uses titanium dioxide which is toxic to our water supply. One main reason that I don't use FN is that the fragrance is unspecified and most synthetic fragrances are carcinogens and made from petrochemicals.
Christy, you are right that some of the warnings don't apply any longer as Dial has changed the recipe. Thank God they have! Regardless of the changes, I know there are better choices for my family. I'm glad we are able to choose what we feel is safe. I just want people to know the concerns and alternative options. :)
I make my own and love it. I've become slightly evangelical about it too! ☺
♥
C. Lee
ETA: I use it powdered and find it isn't any better as a liquid. It's easier to handle as a powder, in my opinion.
My recipe is:
1 Box of 20 Mule Team Borax
1 Box of Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda
3 Bars of grated Fels Naptha
Mix well. Use 1-2T per load. Adding more doesn't make it work any better, in my experience.
Does anyone have any good ideas on how to grate up the Fels Naptha? I hate sitting there forever with a cheese grater.
Oh, and Kelly, my laundry gets FAR cleaner with this detergent. Store bought detergents leave lots of soap and fragrance in your clothes and don't rinse out fully. Homemade soap rinses out completely and if you have a front loader (HE) machine like I do...you can SEE the dirt in your kids' clothes coming out in the water. It's pretty awesome stuff.
For a smaller batch, to try it out instead of commiting to the whole big batch:
1C Borax
1C Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda
1/2 bar grated Fels Naptha laundry bar
Mix well.
Sunshine: Can you please provide citation to your claim that Fels Naptha is dangerous? A link to a worthy information site, perhaps? I Googled and found only speculation. Some mentioned that it's an eye irritant...of course it is. All soap has irritants. Lye is caustic. As Dial has revamped the recipe to remove some of the dangerous chemicals that were in the original bar, I wonder if these warning still apply.
We buy ours, but I am curious about making it. I don't think my husband would allow it though . . . he would be paranoid that the laundry did not get fully clean!
I've been thinking alot of making our own lately but am reluctant as my kids have really sensitive/dry skin. As for right now, I buy ALL free & clear. If anyone has a good recipe (that doesn't irritate sensitive skin) I would be very interested!
Also curious to how it works with the HE machines? I know I'm supposed to buy HE detergent, so how does that work when making your own? (Just don't want to wreck anything! lol)
I have made mine in the past. I started out with the real homemade soap (lye and oils) and then grate it, let it dry out and add the borax and baking soda. If you know that your children or family members have skin conditions and you make the soap so that it does not cause dryness. You can store the soap in a plastic bucket and scoop it out in a measuring cup or a cup from an old laundry detergent box.
It seems we have come full circle on the laundry items and such where we are going back to our roots to make the things we need.
the other S.
We buy it, but I have a recpie to make it. I just don;t have the space to keep it. We live in a condo, and it makes 10 gallons.
One of these days we will make vs buy, but I am not there yet
I make ours...and have been making it for several years.
I'd love to start making my own! Can you share your recipe?
Debra, will you share your recipe? I made my own for the first time recently, but I am not sure that the hassle was worth it for me. The recipe I used was with grated Fels Naptha, washing soda and borax and it made a cream that you spoon out.
I was making it for a while with washing soda, borax, and a kirk's cocount bar soap. It was nice and I think I saved money by doing it, however, grating the bar of soap was getting time consuming. Sometimes I couldn't find the borax or washing soda, so I just grabbed a detergent off the shelf with no fragrance.
I would like to go back to it eventually. I have heard that Tide has cancer causing ingredients. Also the fragant ones are bad for kids with allergies.
Well, Debra, would you be so kind to share your recipe with us? I have done a lot of DIY projects and considered making my own, but Costco sells what I need for now. I used to use only Amway products and absolutely loved their SA8 product, but have not been able to find it where Iive...
Honestly, I'll give it a try and tell you what I think.
I've never even considered making my own, but now I'm intrigued and can't wait to try it! :)
Thanks!
ETA: I'm so excited - I just went to amazon and bought the ingredients!
I do. I don't premix, I just make it by the load. I grate a little FelsNaptha into the drawer/slot, then add a shake of 20 Mule Team Borax, then a shake of A & H washing powder... then pour some vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser. Good to go.
:)
I buy. I have pinned a bunch of things about making your own but have yet to try it.
I have been making it for a year now. I used to do the liquid version but have sense moved to the powder version cause it's much easier to store.
We are a family of 10, so laundry is done daily here and it was just getting expensive. I spend about as much (sometimes a little more depending on what I put in it) as on to two boxes of the name brand but instead of it lasting for a few weeks I can get a few months if not more out of it.
ETA>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This is the one use, it smells nice and sometime I use Zote or even regular ole' Dial soap.
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/08/make-a-years-...
my best friend makes her own. She loves it! I have never done it though
I make my own using borax, washing soda, and grated soap. It makes about 4 gallons at a time. A friend of mine said hers was clogging up their drains and causing the clothing to smell funny, but I think she didn't trust it and wasn't diluting it fully--the washing soap you make is actually quite thin! I'm not super-particular about my clothes, but they seem to be coming clean, we smell ok, and I feel good about spending a LOT less money and being a bit kinder to the environment! I can't wait to use Dr Bronner's--I've been using Ivory, I think? and Dr Bronner's sounds like a fabulous idea! I miss just a tiny amount of scent on my clothes sometimes, but I haven't wanted to go back to fragrance; even before making my own, I used color/scent free Tide.
I admire those who make their own detergent, one day I'll have to try this. Thank you. And I agree detergent prices are ridiculous.
Make my own. Started about a year ago. I made a big batch for less than 20 dollars total a year ago and it's NOW just about to run out. My clothes have never been whiter and I've never gotten stains out so easily. I'd NEVER go back to buying tide. Giant waste of money.
