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I am thinking about making the homemade laundry soap that uses a bar of soap, 1 cup washing soda and 1/2cup borax and makes 5 gallon of detergent plus when you fill your detergent bottle from the bucket you use 1/2 detergent and half water if I understand it right. It calls for fels napa but I know some use ivory. I was wondering if you use this detergent, what bar of soap do u use, is yours the same recipe, do u wash your diapers with this and do you have any repellent issues or buildup problems. Do u have any problems with the regular laundry or baby clothes being washed in it. I know there is potential for build-up in diapers because you use a bar of soap and because I have learned a lot on this forum but I was wondering if anyone had any experience. It seems like there isn't a whole lot of soap when you break it down into how much it makes. I would like to do all my laundry with the same thing but if I do need seperate for diapers it prob isn't too bad to use different but wanted some advice from you. I remember we talked about this detergent when I was more active on this site but couldn't find the thread and at that poiint I am not sure if the ones who used this recipe had tested it to know how it worked. A quick update on me. If you remember we had the stillborn baby named Esther in April of 08. We now have a 4 1/2 month beautiful baby boy. It is so exciting to be allowed to raise this one for the Lord and get to use my cloth diapers that I got when I was pregnant with the first one. Thanks in advance for any advice you have for me. Sorry it is a long post.
Karen
Missionaries to the Deaf |
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Congrats on the new baby, that's wonderful news!
I remember that recipe (actually I think I saw it on another frugal living site as well) and always wanted to try it but never did (I use soap nuts for diapers and I'm still working through a huge stock of detergent for regular clothing). So I'd love to hear what others experience is with the homemade recipe.
Karen. |
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| That receipe works fine for cloth diapers. you use about a teaspoon for your diapers is all though. Be sure to use either ivory (not my favorite or Fels-naptha laundry bar for the best results though. LMK if you need any help. |
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| Congratulations on your healthy baby boy! There can be so much healing in a new life. |
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Karen,
you mean you are still working on that huge stash of laundry soap. It must have been 1 1/2 to 2 years you talked about your stash. I can't believe you are still working on it.
Karen |
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LOL! Yup, I started my 'stash' about 2 years ago. Got a whole bunch for free (well paying only the taxes) plus I added a few more a little later using a Try-Me-Free rebate so I must have had at least 15-16 bottles at one point!! And I never use more than half the recomended amount, even on clothing...
Karen. |
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| I've had a local eco option that I've been wanting to try for our normal clothes forever, but had to work through two (fairly small) detergent bottles that I was given first. A year and a half later, I'm nearly there . . . |
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| i would love to use soapnuts because the extra diapers that i was given were perfectly clean and there were not any build up issues at all (thanks again for the diapers karen.) i am still trying to strip my OS diapers in the hottest water that my washer can do at ME's suggestion but i am still getting bubbles. perhaps i will make some of this home made stuff as i cannot afford to get neither the soap nuts, nor the rockin'green detergent. |
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You know, the soap nuts are more of an upfront investment, but after that it's actually a very frugal option. You can not only wash all your clothing in it but you can even use them to make a liquid to use as an all-purpose cleaner. I save my used up nuts to make a liquid and get even more for my money that way. The nuts I bought came to less than $55 or $60 (including shipping) for 2 - 1kg bags which will do at least 600 loads of laundry and lots of extra liquid afterwards. I could have bought just one bag for probably around $35 but figured I'd save on shipping by buying two.
Some websites have very inexpensive little trial bags that I've heard of, you only pay a few dollars for a small sample bag and it includes shipping I think. You could also maybe try local health food stores, I recently found one local one that carries them (and it would actually be even less than what I mentioned above since they were the same price but no shippin). That would save you the shipping...
Karen. |
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Another couple of random thoughts Firedancer. First, when stripping and checking for suds, be sure to differentiate between detergent suds and air bubbles. They can be very very similar. Easiest way to tell is to wait 30 seconds or so, if they're still there then they're probably suds. If not then they were probably just air bubbles from the agitation of the washer.
Also, if your diapers don't stink then you may not really need to keep going with the stripping. They may still have a small build-up in them but if they don't smell then that's what matters. Cutting down on detergent or switching to something else will probably take care of the rest of the build-up eventually.
Karen. |
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i actually did a very intensive stripping on the diapers and the amonia smell is tons better. my son's dipes smell in the morning, but not burn your eyes and nose amonia smell. also i am rincing each dipe very well after use. the front bathroom where i keep the diaper pail does not smell at all anymore. i found this website that sells different cd detergents. i am going to do a price check and comparison of each one. if they are too expensive after my comparisons, i am just going to make the home made stuff.
the site where i found the different detergents is
http://northernessence.com.
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| I just use a store brand free and clear on my ds's diapers. I use about 2-3 tablespoons (about 1/4 of the the dispenser cup that comes with it and I haven't had any problems. If u have a FL, u could prob just use a little bit less. |
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| I just use a store brand free and clear on my ds's diapers. I use about 2-3 tablespoons (about 1/4 of the the dispenser cup that comes with it and I haven't had any problems. If u have a FL, u could prob just use a little bit less. |
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| I just use a store brand free and clear on my ds's diapers. I use about 2-3 tablespoons (about 1/4 of the the dispenser cup that comes with it and I haven't had any problems. If u have a FL, u could prob just use a little bit less. |
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| oh wow you use 2-3 tbsp in a TL? i had no idea that that little amount of detergent would get the dipes clean. we switched to arm and hammer free and clear sensative skin and we have had no issues ever since. i thought that suds had to be present in the washer in order to get the job done. btw i am totally blind and have a hard time accurately measuring liquid detergent into the little cap that comes with it.when i intend to measure a small load for my large load of dypes, i accidently measure the amount of detergent for a large load. how can i pour a tbsp worth out of the container w/o spilling it? i have asked my dh if we can switch to powder for that purpose and he said no because powdered stuff breaks him out. and also he does not want to buy 2 different types of detergent. |
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If I remember my math right there is 4 tablespoons in a 1/4 cup so you could just use a 1/4 cup and not fill it full or use an 1/8 of a cup depending on what kind of nmachine you have and just keep it in the laundry room. Its not an exact science, I don't measure it that close but a smaller measuring cup might make it easier for you to see. Some of those detergents with dark caps make it difficult to see. Hope that helps.
Karen |
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| that is the only problem. i cannot see to mesure by sight. i use my finger to measure the detergent. when i feel the soap come up to the tip of my finger, i pour the detergent in the washer. and when i put my hand in the washer to feel if there are suds, there are way too much of them. so 4 tbsp is equal to 1/8 cup? ok. the next time i wash, i will get a 1/8 cup and fill it, then scoop 2 or 3 tbsp of the liquid out and pour the rest back into the container in which the detergent came. i just am really sick of having to strip every month because of accidental detergent overuse. |
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4 tablespoons is 1/4 cup. You don't need suds to get clothes clean. I would use the least amt needed to get the diapers clean. I would try 1/8 of a cup to start. Most measuring cups on the detergent containers is a 1/2 cup when full so if I use a 1/4 of that or so then I am prob only using a little more than 1/8 of a cup. I wouldn't use more than 1/4 of a measuring cup but I hope that helps. Either pour directly in a measuring cup or if its easier to pour into the lid of the detergent first and then pour into a measuring cup.
Karen |
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| hey thanks so much. that does help alot. that is what i meant to say was 4 tbsp being equal to 1/4 cup. the thing would not let me edit it. one thing i also took note of as well is how his diapers feel so much softer with this detergent. i know for a fact that fabric softener is not built into the detergent so i guess it is the detergent softening the diapers on its own. so 1/8 cup is sufficient to clean the diapers in a top loader then? |
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I would say so. That's about all I use. Sometimes a little more than that. U could use 1/8 of a cup full and 1/8 of a cup half full. That would give you 3 tablespoons if you want a little extra.
I want to applaud you for using cloth diapers. Most people with sight don't use cloth diapers because they think it to much work but you are willing to use them with a sight impairment. I think that's just great. |
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