Another Homemade Venture - Laundry Detergent

[Brew-Happy]

Well we have been using this home brewed detergent for over a week and have had no ill effects from the stuff. It is low suds producing and gets the clothes clean and smells good.

I have passed on the recipe to several co-workers and they are using it also.

Only thing I do not like is that it separates when left to sit for any length of time. But a good shake gets it all mixed up and ready to go.

Salute!

Thanks for the update. I have read about the separation issue, which is leading me to try the powdered version that is listed online. Interestingly, if there is a buildup you can add some vinegar (even to the powdered recipe).

Brewing detergent!

 

[bmckee56]

A powdered version of this would be:

1 bar of ivory soap shaved or grated fine.
1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax

Mix the ingredients together for 5 minutes and store in a plastic tub. Use 1TBS per load (2 for heavily soiled clothing).

I also have read that 1/4 cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle will help to remove any residual soap and reduce static.

Been looking for liquid dish detergent formulas, but they seem to be less economical to produce, but they are significantly better for your skin and the environment.

Salute!

 

[thataintchicken]

Been looking for liquid dish detergent formulas, but they seem to be less economical to produce, but they are significantly better for your skin and the environment.

Salute!

SWMBO makes one. I'll see if she will give me the recipe or the source for one tomorrow.

edit: here it is.

1/4 cup soap flakes
2 cups hot water
1/4 cup glycerin
1/2 tsp. lemon essential oil
In bowl combine soap flakes and water and stir until the soap is dissolved. Cool to luke warm.
Stir in the glycerin and the essential oil, leave to cool. AS it cools it will form a loose gel. Stir with a fork and break up the gel and then pour into a narrow-necked bottle. An old shampoo bottle makes an excellent container.
To use, squirt 3 teaspoonfuls into hot running water.

 

[bmckee56]

SWMBO makes one. I'll see if she will give me the recipe or the source for one tomorrow.

edit: here it is.

1/4 cup soap flakes
2 cups hot water
1/4 cup glycerin
1/2 tsp. lemon essential oil
In bowl combine soap flakes and water and stir until the soap is dissolved. Cool to luke warm.
Stir in the glycerin and the essential oil, leave to cool. AS it cools it will form a loose gel. Stir with a fork and break up the gel and then pour into a narrow-necked bottle. An old shampoo bottle makes an excellent container.
To use, squirt 3 teaspoonfuls into hot running water.

Are the soap flakes from a bar of soap like Ivory or are they purchased in the laundry section as actual soap flakes? I will try this out to see how it works. Thanks.

Salute!

 

[RoaringBrewer]

A powdered version of this would be:

1 bar of ivory soap shaved or grated fine.
1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax

Mix the ingredients together for 5 minutes and store in a plastic tub. Use 1TBS per load (2 for heavily soiled clothing).

I also have read that 1/4 cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle will help to remove any residual soap and reduce static.

Been looking for liquid dish detergent formulas, but they seem to be less economical to produce, but they are significantly better for your skin and the environment.

Salute!

How ironic - I just made some of this today, THEN i found this thread.

I was torn between liquid and powder, but went with powder. Exact recipe above, except I used to the felsnaptha soap stuff, instead of regular bar soap.

The fels stuff has a fairly strong scent to me, but I like it...

May need to try the softener next...

 

[thataintchicken]

Are the soap flakes from a bar of soap like Ivory or are they purchased in the laundry section as actual soap flakes? I will try this out to see how it works. Thanks.

Salute!

something along the lines of Zote laundry soap. Which is what we use, since it is really cheap at the Food Maxx across the street.

SWMBO is so hooked on this now that she is starting to make her own custom soaps -- my evil frugality wins over another hot Italian babe. I am teh luckys!

 

[bmckee56]

something along the lines of Zote laundry soap. Which is what we use, since it is really cheap at the Food Maxx across the street.

SWMBO is so hooked on this now that she is starting to make her own custom soaps -- my evil frugality wins over another hot Italian babe. I am teh luckys!

I use the fabric softner in the liquid detergent. I have actuallyy not made the dry detergent, but might give it a shot the next time around.

Salute!

 

[WAdamC]

Anyone with sensitivities to some laundry detergents try this out? I'd like to try it, but my wife has reactions to certain detergents.

Yep. My wife uses the same recipe, with ivory. over the last 10 years I've developed allergies, and have to use the unscented crap. This stuff is great. We usually add Oxyclean free to our whites, which is the only downfall. They can get dingy with the detergent alone. This stuff works as well or better than most commercial detergent, and no rash, which is sweet. Dirt cheap, too.

 

[Yooper]

I've made the "powdered" version of this. I used 1 cup borax, 1 cup washing soda and 1/2 bar of fels naptha. I chunked the soap and stuck it in the food processor with some of the borax, and then mixed it all together in a quart jar. The total was $8.25, but I used maybe a tenth of the borax and soda, so it could easily be a year's supply of detergent (plus a couple of bars of soap at $1.25 each). I like liquid detergent better, but I didn't want to have to refill the container or wait overnight, so I decided to give the powder a try.

It really smells "clean" with no fragrances added, but I know I could add a few drops of essential oil if I wanted a fragrance.

Thanks for sharing this!

 

[bmckee56]

Made a second batch of the liquid detergent and made a few changes. I wasn't happy with the separation problems, so I did the following in putting this batch together:

I shaved the soap bar and added it to a pot and covered it with water, then placed it on the stove and heated it to a simmer to melt it down. When it was completely melted in the pot, I added the borax and arm and hammer super washing soda and the fabric softener to the liquid in the pot and simmered it for 5 minutes (Keep an eye on the pot to ensure it does not boil over).

I then followed the rest of the original directions, adding the pot of simmered ingredients to what amounts to a total of 5 gallons of very hot water. I stirred thoroughly and allowed it to sit overnight. The next day it had a very thick skin on the top which required me to stir vigorously with a paint stirrer for some time to get it to break up and then I allowed it to sit for several more days. I then stirred the entire batch again and it now resembles store bought detergent. It no longer separates in the bottle after long term storage.

It takes a bit longer, but it seems to be fine in the final product.

It works great too!

Salute!

 

[bmckee56]

Welll we have made several 5 gallon batches over the last several months. We pass the stuff along to friends and family and everyone seems to share the same opinion of the detergent....... It's good!, but.......?

Anyway, we use it and are well pleased with the performance. The savings over this time period has allowed me to put together some DIY projects. I am currently building a PID controller for my HLT and Electric Smoker and I now have a variable speed Grain Mill.

Saving money using homemade goodies allows me to make even more homemade goodies for use in brewing, smoking and then of course cleaning up stuff too.

Note: The procedure I have been using (heating all the ingredients up slowly in 3 or more gallons of water for 30 to 45 minutes, then topping up with the remaining water to 5 gallons) keeps the water from seperating as it did in my initial batch.

Salute!

 

[lustreking]

Welll we have made several 5 gallon batches over the last several months. We pass the stuff along to friends and family and everyone seems to share the same opinion of the detergent....... It's good!, but.......?

What's the "but"?

 

[bmckee56]

Seems some people are above using homemade products. Imagine that! With the economy the way it is, people still can't bring themselves to use something that is as good, if not better than store bought, but at a fraction of the cost.

Anywho....... It saves me money and does the job, so it works for me.

Salute!

 

[MetallHed]

cool may have to try it.

for the liquid.. i may have missed it, but would you just use about as much as store-bought per load? Also what are people using to store the detergent in?

 

[bmckee56]

I use about 3/4 cup per load. I have saved plastic containers from old laundry detergent or any type of container available. You can also just keep it in the plastic pail and use a ladle to dispense.

Salute!

 

[conpewter]

Was looking into this as well as a recipe for powder dishwasher detergent. Most people have issues with the homemade dishwasher detergent leaving a white film on dishes, so this recipe has citric acid added to it to solve that issue. I found it amusing since he recommended getting citric acid at a brew shop... and I started looking for these recipes because of this thread... on a brewing forum


Dishwasher detergent

1/2 cup borax
1/2 cup washing soda
1/4 cup citric acid
1/4 cup kosher salt

combine and shake well

1 rounded tablespoon per load

use white distilled vinger in the rinse aid

http://diynatural.com/simple-effective-jabs-homemade-dishwasher-detergent-rinse-agent/

 

[Yooper]

Was looking into this as well as a recipe for powder dishwasher detergent. Most people have issues with the homemade dishwasher detergent leaving a white film on dishes, so this recipe has citric acid added to it to solve that issue. I found it amusing since he recommended getting citric acid at a brew shop... and I started looking for these recipes because of this thread... on a brewing forum


Dishwasher detergent

1/2 cup borax
1/2 cup washing soda
1/4 cup citric acid
1/4 cup kosher salt

combine and shake well

1 rounded tablespoon per load

use white distilled vinger in the rinse aid

http://diynatural.com/simple-effective-jabs-homemade-dishwasher-detergent-rinse-agent/

Have you used this? I have everything I need, and I'd love to know if it worked for you!

 

[bmckee56]

Was looking into this as well as a recipe for powder dishwasher detergent. Most people have issues with the homemade dishwasher detergent leaving a white film on dishes, so this recipe has citric acid added to it to solve that issue. I found it amusing since he recommended getting citric acid at a brew shop... and I started looking for these recipes because of this thread... on a brewing forum


Dishwasher detergent

1/2 cup borax
1/2 cup washing soda
1/4 cup citric acid
1/4 cup kosher salt

combine and shake well

1 rounded tablespoon per load

use white distilled vinger in the rinse aid

http://diynatural.com/simple-effective-jabs-homemade-dishwasher-detergent-rinse-agent/

I don't have a dishwasher, but I will try this and give it to a friend to review.

Thanks.

Salute!

 

[Yooper]

Just like everything I do, making the laundry detergent snowballed!

I started making the dry laundry detergent (same recipe, but without water) and LOVED it. It costs about $1/month now for detergent. That led to soapmaking which is great, but NOT cheap.

Now, Bob wants me to make all of our own cleaning products and even shampoo. I swear that every little hobby is even more addicting than brewing!

 

[bmckee56]

Just like everything I do, making the laundry detergent snowballed!

I started making the dry laundry detergent (same recipe, but without water) and LOVED it. It costs about $1/month now for detergent. That led to soapmaking which is great, but NOT cheap.

Now, Bob wants me to make all of our own cleaning products and even shampoo. I swear that every little hobby is even more addicting than brewing!

That's so true Yoop! I started with a single wine kit and now do Wine, Beer, Laundry Detergent, Jerky, Sausage, Home Canning and so much more.

It may save a few $$$ but it eats up your free time. I do not forsee giving any of them up though.

Salute!

 

[lustreking]

Made a second batch of the liquid detergent and made a few changes. I wasn't happy with the separation problems, so I did the following in putting this batch together:

I shaved the soap bar and added it to a pot and covered it with water, then placed it on the stove and heated it to a simmer to melt it down. When it was completely melted in the pot, I added the borax and arm and hammer super washing soda and the fabric softener to the liquid in the pot and simmered it for 5 minutes (Keep an eye on the pot to ensure it does not boil over).

I then followed the rest of the original directions, adding the pot of simmered ingredients to what amounts to a total of 5 gallons of very hot water. I stirred thoroughly and allowed it to sit overnight. The next day it had a very thick skin on the top which required me to stir vigorously with a paint stirrer for some time to get it to break up and then I allowed it to sit for several more days. I then stirred the entire batch again and it now resembles store bought detergent. It no longer separates in the bottle after long term storage.

It takes a bit longer, but it seems to be fine in the final product.

It works great too!

Salute!

I may have missed. Which soap are you using Fels Naptha or Ivory?

 

[dataz722]

We have been using the dry version using Ivory for probably about 6 months now. Actually just had to buy a new box of washing soda yesterday. The dry version is just so easy to make and much easier to store. I can make enough to last us 2-3 months in about 5 minutes.

I haven't been able to find Fels Naptha so I can't comment on how that works.

 

[conpewter]

Have you used this? I have everything I need, and I'd love to know if it worked for you!

Hey Yoop,

I have not used this yet, I'm still gathering the ingredients. I have put the vinegar in the rinse aid (Jet-Dry) container and that is working great, I had worried that my dishes would smell of vineger but no problem here.

I do plan on getting the ingredients for the dry dishwashing detergent this week though and you can be sure I'll post a review when I do.

 

[bmckee56]

I may have missed. Which soap are you using Fels Naptha or Ivory?

Fels Naptha, but I am sure Ivory would work just as well, or even something like Castille might be good.

Salute!

 

[bmckee56]

Hey Yoop,

I have not used this yet, I'm still gathering the ingredients. I have put the vinegar in the rinse aid (Jet-Dry) container and that is working great, I had worried that my dishes would smell of vineger but no problem here.

I do plan on getting the ingredients for the dry dishwashing detergent this week though and you can be sure I'll post a review when I do.

I use a 1/4 cup in the rinse cycle for my laundry. Vinegar cuts the soap residue and aleviates some of the static cling. I also rinse my beer glasses with a mild solution of vinegar and water after cleaning. Helps to rinse away any detergent residue and aids in better head retention and lacing (or so it seems to me).

Salute!

 

[Yooper]

Fels Naptha, but I am sure Ivory would work just as well, or even something like Castille might be good.

Salute!

I've used Fels Naptha, too, for the "dry" version of this detergent.

 

[Brew-Happy]

My wife and I are starting this endeavor as well. We just found our ingredients and I'm looking to try Zote Soap. Very cheap @99c per bar and a bar is about 2cups grated.

Next thing to find is near bulk quantity of baking soda.

Link: http://www.zote.com.mx/english/about.htm

 

[Yooper]

My wife and I are starting this endeavor as well. We just found our ingredients and I'm looking to try Zote Soap. Very cheap @99c per bar and a bar is about 2cups grated.

Next thing to find is near bulk quantity of baking soda.

Link: http://www.zote.com.mx/english/about.htm

NOT baking soda!!!!!! You need washing soda. It's in my grocery aisle next to the borax.

 

[Hugh_Jass]

I've made the "powdered" version of this. I used 1 cup borax, 1 cup washing soda and 1/2 bar of fels naptha. I chunked the soap and stuck it in the food processor with some of the borax, and then mixed it all together in a quart jar. The total was $8.25, but I used maybe a tenth of the borax and soda, so it could easily be a year's supply of detergent (plus a couple of bars of soap at $1.25 each). I like liquid detergent better, but I didn't want to have to refill the container or wait overnight, so I decided to give the powder a try.

It really smells "clean" with no fragrances added, but I know I could add a few drops of essential oil if I wanted a fragrance.

Thanks for sharing this!

Substitute the cup of washing soda with the powder I sent you. I'd bet you'd see a marked improvement in performance.

 

[Brew-Happy]

NOT baking soda!!!!!! You need washing soda. It's in my grocery aisle next to the borax.

This recipe calls for both washing soda and baking soda:

Powdered Laundry Detergent – Recipe #9

12 cups Borax
8 cups Baking Soda
8 cups Washing Soda
8 cups Bar soap (grated)

* Mix all ingredients well and store in a sealed tub.
* Use 1/8 cup of powder per full load.

We have the Borax, washing soda, and Zote soap.

This is the website we are using for recipes: http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/