Homemade laudry soap in a front load machine?

MOgal · #1 02/08/10, 11:57 AM

I've been reading about the very low cost laundry soap but hesitated to use it because we have a front load machine that makes suds from even the commercial low suds formula detergents. Has anybody used the Fels Naptha, borax and washing soda soap in a front load machine? Would appreciate input please. TIA

#2 02/08/10, 12:05 PM

I do not have a front load machine. But I do use the homemade Fels Naptha recipe and it makes NO SUDS AT ALL.

digApony · #3 02/08/10, 12:09 PM

I don't have a front load washer, but I have used the shavings from left over homemade goat's milk soap. I pulverize them as fine as I can get them and use about a tablespoon. I do not have any suds. I don't know what I do wrong with my goat's milk soap that I have so many shavings...but I use every bit of them.

I also use the shavings to wash my wood floors and cabinets...

digApony

mistletoad · #4 02/08/10, 12:13 PM

I used to use the Fels Naptha, borax and washing soda soap in my front loader but stopped because it is very harsh on clothes, particularly elastic.

cayenne47 · #5 02/08/10, 12:16 PM

Ive just started using this recipe, and the clothes are kind of 'dingy'. Any advice or suggestions?

TheMartianChick · #6 02/08/10, 12:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cayenne47

Ive just started using this recipe, and the clothes are kind of 'dingy'. Any advice or suggestions?

I don't have this problem with the home made laundry detergent, but I also use a half cup or so of vinegar in the rinse cycle. I believe that it helps to get out anything that might be lingering in the clothing and it leaves it nice and fresh.

digApony · #7 02/08/10, 12:41 PM

I use peroxide in place of bleach for whitener. It's cheap and not as damaging as bleach on the septic tank. I think oxy-clean is peroxide... at least in part.

You can fill a spray bottle and spray on spots as well... even colored clothes.

digApony

Marcia in MT · #8 02/08/10, 12:43 PM

We have very hard water, and soap scum builds up quickly making the clothes look dingy. Some white vinegar in the rinse cycle (perhaps about ¼ cup, I have a large capacity machine) not only takes care of this, it's kept the inside of the tub absolutely clean, too.

MOgal · #9 02/08/10, 12:51 PM

Lots of good info and input. Thanks, ladies.

I did find the use of vinegar interesting because the owner's manual that came with our machine said not to use vinegar on a regular basis because it could "affect certain machine parts." Also found similar warning in a page sent to me by the makers of Cheer about too much or too little suds in a front load machine.

Thanks again. I think I'll have to give the recipe a try anyway.

TheMartianChick · #10 02/08/10, 12:58 PM

I forgot to add that I do not have a front load machine... I was just commenting on the question about dingy laundry.

majik · #11 02/08/10, 01:38 PM

I have a front loafer and I use the home made liquid (although I've only been doing it for about a month). It does not make any suds. I have been using a couple tablespoons of vinegar in the rinse because we haver very hard water. I haven't noticed that things are any less clean, or any more dingy, and they smell great and fresh. I can't get Fels Naptha here, so I used Castille soap to make it. So far, so good.

**Kris in MI** · #12 02/08/10, 02:13 PM

Homemade laundry soap (the liquid version of the fels naptha recipe) is all I've ever used in my front loader. Like others mentioned above, suds are not a problem because you don't get suds with this soap.

As far as dingy goes, my clothes aren't any dingier than they were with any other detergent I used prior to making my own (beginning in '02 I think, it's been a long time). Several of us in my house are sensitive to chlorine, so I don't bleach anything. Would rather be dingy than red and itchy!

Fae · #13 02/08/10, 02:18 PM

I don't have a front loader but do use the liquid homemade laundry detergent. I add 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse water and things are just as clean. Commercial laundry detergents contain optical brighteners if I'm not mistaken.

MontanaKJ · #14 02/08/10, 05:36 PM

Here is a low suds recipe that is great for front load/HE washers. I use this to do my laundry.

1/4 cup scented Castile soap (I like lavendar or peppermint)
1 C Borax
1 C Washing soda
1 C Vinegar

Start with first 3 ingredients. Mix well. Add vinegar slowly (it bubbles). Mix well, breaking up all chunks. It will start as a thick paste, but dries to a heavy powder. You may need to break up chunks again when fully dry. Store in an airtight container.

Add 2 Tbls for normal wash load (3 Tbls for extra dirty). 1/2C of vinegar in place of fabric softener.

ronbre · #15 02/08/10, 06:49 PM

our repair man warned us that a lot of people have ruined their front loaders by not using HE soap..so that is all i buy..Arm and Hammer has finally come out with an HE soap..but before that all you could buy was tide and wisk

Joshie · #16 02/09/10, 11:27 AM

You can get a tub of powdered fragrance free front loading laundry detergent at Sears for about $15 (when on sale). These last about six months (for our family of four). My son is now staying with my mom and this tub has a couple of months in it. We've had it about eight months now.

If you can purchase something like that why bother with home made soap?

Our clothing has never been cleaner.

**Kris in MI** · #17 02/09/10, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshie

You can get a tub of powdered fragrance free front loading laundry detergent at Sears for about $15 (when on sale). These last about six months (for our family of four). My son is now staying with my mom and this tub has a couple of months in it. We've had it about eight months now.

If you can purchase something like that why bother with home made soap?

Our clothing has never been cleaner.

Because I can make 2 gallons of homemade soap for about $2 and it lasted over a month for my family of 6. Which beats $15 for 6 months for laundry for 4 people. Now that there's only 5 of us at home (2 adults, 2 teens and a pre-teen, so all adult sized clothes) it lasts nearly two months. So that's even cheaper! And because I'm obstinant and like to do things my way

deb · #18 02/13/10, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOgal

I've been reading about the very low cost laundry soap but hesitated to use it because we have a front load machine that makes suds from even the commercial low suds formula detergents. Has anybody used the Fels Naptha, borax and washing soda soap in a front load machine? Would appreciate input please. TIA

Commercial detergents add sudsing agents to create the right amount of "suds" because people think big bubbles = better cleaning ability.

Soaps traditionally don't make the same amount of "suds" as a commercial detergent. I don't think you would have a problem with suds using homemade laundry soap. You may want to use the liquid/gel version of the recipe to ensure that the laundry soap dissolves quickly & completely.

If you have very hard water you may want to up the washing soda amount in the recipe or add more separately.

deb
in wi

deb · #19 02/13/10, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MontanaKJ

1/4 cup scented Castile soap (I like lavendar or peppermint)
1 C Borax
1 C Washing soda
1 C Vinegar

Start with first 3 ingredients. Mix well. Add vinegar slowly (it bubbles). Mix well, breaking up all chunks. It will start as a thick paste, but dries to a heavy powder. You may need to break up chunks again when fully dry. Store in an airtight container.

Add 2 Tbls for normal wash load (3 Tbls for extra dirty). 1/2C of vinegar in place of fabric softener.

This recipe doesn't make any sense because Washing Soda is a base and vinegar is an acid. When you mix the 2 together they are neutralized and the bubbling is carbon dioxide gas being released.

The original laundry soap recipe uses just washing soda (Sodium carbonate) because washing soda is a water softener and softened water cleans better:

Quote:

IT (Washing Soda) competes with the ions magnesium and calcium in hard water and prevents them from bonding with the detergent being used. Without using washing soda, additional detergent is needed to soak up the magnesium and calcium ions. Called Washing Soda, Soda crystals or Sal Soda in the detergent section of stores, it effectively removes oil, grease, and alcohol stains.

from Wikipedia on Washing soda

Adding vinegar to the rinse cycle neutralizes the laundry and dissolves any remaining soap scum from the clothes

deb
in wi

Carolyn · #20 02/13/10, 09:44 PM

I can not use any kind of commercial store bought clothes detergent--well anything that i can purchase in my area- even the "free" kinds unless I put them through an extra 3 or 4 complete cycles. if i use less soap, the clothes don't get clean but I can use the home made clothes soap without a problem and have nice clean clothes.