homemade laundry detergent question

**sinopa27** · 07-31-2011, 02:35 PM

I have been making my own laundry soap for over a year. I use the same recipe for whites, colors and darks. What has been puzzling me all this time is how my whites get so white but my darks have not started to fade. My whites are fabulous and my colors are still beautiful....all with the same detergent.

**sinopa27** · 07-31-2011, 02:36 PM

Oh.....this is the laundry detergent I use:
1 bar of Fels Naptha
2 cups of washing soda
2 cups of borax

It is so simple that my young daughter makes it without me asking. She thinks it is fun and now prefers this detergent.

**sinopa27** · 07-31-2011, 02:38 PM

And another note: my husband is a die hard Gain man. We just got married a month ago. So I just pour my detergent into his Gain box. He swears my washing machine is the best washer. I will have to tell him.......right???

**piney** · 07-31-2011, 04:44 PM

Do you make the powder or liquid and how much do you use for each loads? when i was thinking about making my own detergent i could not find the fels naptha soap but now walmart has it.But right now probably have enough liquid detergent bought to last a.year.

**sinopa27** · 08-01-2011, 09:25 AM

i make the powder detergent. I used about 3 tablespoons. I just bought a HE washer and it does great!

**bumplett** · 08-01-2011, 10:14 AM

I use the same recipe, only I use Ivory soap instead.

or whatever bar soap I have - I need to use down the stockpile of bar soap .....

I made batch after batch of liquid, but just didn't like it -

I use 1/8 tbsp per load, also have an HE washer.

I wonder if your hubby is still smelling the Gain that was in the box & that's why he hasn't noticed?

Too funny!!

**kathy5456** · 08-01-2011, 04:57 PM

I make my own too. I use the Fels Naptha (1 bar grated) but i've only been adding 1 cup of the washing soda and 1 cup of the borax. I put mine in an old plastic Tidy Cat container (approx 5 gal) and fill with hot water. I mix mine with an immersion blender. I use about 1/2 cup per load in my HE front loader. Been using it for a year now with no problems.

**Sophiasmama** · 08-01-2011, 08:51 PM

Do you wash in warm water? Just wondering how well the powdered stuff breaks down in the wash.

**sinopa27** · 08-02-2011, 04:36 AM

Originally Posted by Sophiasmama

Do you wash in warm water? Just wondering how well the powdered stuff breaks down in the wash.

i wash with cold water. I do grate my fels naptha with a rotary cheese grater. I haven't had any residue.

**sinopa27** · 08-02-2011, 04:38 AM

Originally Posted by kathy5456

I make my own too. I use the Fels Naptha (1 bar grated) but i've only been adding 1 cup of the washing soda and 1 cup of the borax. I put mine in an old plastic Tidy Cat container (approx 5 gal) and fill with hot water. I mix mine with an immersion blender. I use about 1/2 cup per load in my HE front loader. Been using it for a year now with no problems.

Maybe I will try this. I need to find a 5 gal bucket and an immersion blender.