not going back to commerical detergent

[sinopa27]

I made homemade laundry detergent and I am so happy with it that I am not going back to commerical detergent again.
I can already tell that I have saved $$ cause I usually buy detergent every month. Well, 2 months have gone and I still have lots of my homemade laundry detergent. It has gotten out old stains.
I used the following:
1 bar Fels Naptha grated
2 cups of Borax
2 cups of Washing soda.

I use it as a powder. Keep it in a container. I used 2 tablespoons for my top loader washing machine.
I use white vinegar in my rinse cycle.
I am a nurse and get some "weird" stains.....blood, urine, poop, vomit, and anything else when it comes to working in the ER.
My uniforms look great.

[mamamia]

I need to give this another chance. About 10 years ago, when people 1st started taking an interest in the HM det., there were some girls who sold it on-line before the recipe became known. Well, I sent away for a 5-load free sample, and found my clothes to be very dingy. That's not what I'm hearing from anybody now though.

I got about 4 bottles of detergent left. Maybe, I'll give this another try.

Thanks for the post!

Theresa

[nuisance26]

~I love HM detergent too! I use the Dugger's Recipe posted here on FV but I use Zote instead of Fels Naptha. It smells great and Grainlady says it has optical brighteners so that's why I went with it over the FN.
I think it's amazing at getting out bodily fluid stains too. I'm struggling a bit with grease stains. I think I'll have to make up a pre-treater just for grease.
After I used the HM detergent for a month or so I was amazed at how soft our clothes became. Did you notice that too?~

[Palooka]

Glad it's working great for you. I've made it with Fels Naptha once. I think I might try it again with Ivory or Zote.

[NikoSan999]

K, this is probably going to sound like a stupid question...but when you say grated...do you mean like grating cheese to where it comes off grater like shredded cheese? Feel silly asking.

[Palooka]

K, this is probably going to sound like a stupid question...but when you say grated...do you mean like grating cheese to where it comes off grater like shredded cheese? Feel silly asking.

Yep! I just used my cheese grater. That puppy washed up clean for the next time I needed it for cheese.

[NikoSan999]

So you actually have big slivers and not a powdery substance

[Palooka]

So you actually have big slivers and not a powdery substance

No, I made mine liquid detergent. You grate the soap and it melts in the hot water. I used the Dugger one or the one that The Muse has posted on her blog. I think both is close to the same recipe...

[Palooka]

This is the one I used. Sage & Simple: recipes

Next time I think I would add more Borax.

[Mom2-3]

I used a small food processor to grate the soap. Then I added the borax and washing soda. It was much easier this way than hand grating.

[karichelle]

I use a bar of Ivory soap that has been sitting out overnight or for a couple of days to dry out, cut it up in chunks with a knife, and process it along with the powders in my food processor until it's a fine powder.

[brenda67]

I would like to try this recipe but I have a front loader..and it only takes liquid I believe? TIA..

[leighcat]

I miss the smell of regular detergent. Also my clothes were starting to look dingy. I switched back to Tide for right now. I might save up and get some of that Charlie's soap stuff eventually.

[Palooka]

I would like to try this recipe but I have a front loader..and it only takes liquid I believe? TIA..

I do too and I used the liquid recipe for it.

[porembam]

I started using hm detergent this summer and I am amazed how soft the clothes are. I do miss the nice smell so I made softener with hair conditioner that was posted on this site this summer.