[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.

 

[shellyrhds]

I tried homemade laundry detergent, but had a problem with grease spots not being removed, even when i used oxy clean with it. Although the recipe I used was not the same as yours. Maybe I'll give it another try with your recipe and see how it goes.

 

[jas]

Have made both the liquid and the powder. I am using a powder version that was recently posted here. It has the oxygen cleaner in it. Like oxy-clean. So far so good and it smells good too.

 

[zakity]

I make up a powder but mix it in hot water before I put it in my front loader. I have a small house and I don't have the room for a bucket of laundry soap sitting in my kitchen.

 

[momof2boys2005]

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.

If you have one and are planning on making HM soaps this is the ONLY way to IMO!!! So fast and easy...saves your fingertips thats for sure!!!!

 

[savvy_sniper]

The HM laundry soap did not clean my clothes well and left a residue in my washer. Now I use 1/2 HM and 1/2 store bought until it is used up.

After that I am going to purchase Charlies Soap. It was recommended by Grainlady. You can purchase online and possibly locally. I found it locally and it is cheaper than buying online because of the shipping (added into the price of the soap).