When homemade detergent doesn't cut it

I add ammonia to my really grimey laundry. I also wash blankets and pillows in ammonia. When your "dainties" get dingey, do a 10 minute soak, then wash in ammonia, vinegar in the rinse and they perk right up again, almost like new.

Please buy a commercial detergent like Tide instead of using TSP (Tri Sodium Phosphate) as a laundry additive!

Phosphates are no longer used in laundry detergents because of the harmful effect they have on the environment. Modern laundry detergents like Tide and All do a great job of cleaning clothese without phosphates.

Used laundry water goes down your drain will through your septic or sewer system and it eventually ends up in our lakes & rivers and then the ocean.
Using modern detergents may seem harsh, but some of the older laundry cleaning solutions like TSP are actually much worse.

When DH gets used chainsaw oil on his clothing, I spot treat it with Dawn dish detergent, scrub the area a bit, then soak it in warm water then wash like usual. Putting Dawn directly on the oil lets it start breaking up the oil and soaking it next lets the oil start washing out.

deb
in wi

Wow ~ I haven't had an issue with my homemade laundry detergent. I just put the washing machine on its 'heavy duty' selection and the work clothes come out without stains. But...we are usually not working around motor oil or grease. I hope you are able to find something that works for you.

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Me either. Seemed it worked better than store bought detergents. Our whites actually got whiter and even some old stains came out (Red clay). I don't care for the smell much but i don't notice it after the clothes are done. But then again I'm a painter so i don't see many oil stains, just ground in dirt and mud on my painters whites.
I really didn't expect it to work so well for us.

The washing machine sure makes a difference. The newer they get the more gentle they make them. We don't need gentle cycles we need grime busting cycles. Hoping to get one of those new front loads some day. Tumbling has to be better.

I have temporarily stopped using home made too but that is because I haven't gotten around to making laundry grade lye soap to make a new batch.

If you use you nice gentle face soap to make it, like I was, then I can see why it doesn't work so well.

I have a recipe for a much stronger lye soap and I plan to try that in the near future.

Tide is bad for alergies. Bad for the aquifer, and bad for the septic system.
We also itch and break out with red rash.

We also use free and clear for now. My DH complains about my laundry soap being too slimy and slippery.

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Corky

LEAD ME NOT INTO TEMPTATION. I CAN FIND IT BY MYSELF.

you're not alone - have had that problem for years and years so I won't use it. Also the fragrances in it give me an asthma attack.

I use Greased Lightning on my DH work clothes. He works road construction and comes home filthy. All that grease on the equipment. I just spray the worst with the greased lightning and it takes care of it. I tried it first time cause the clothes were ruint anyway, but it worked.

I like homemade laundry detergent ok but I like All Free Clear and I really like no perfumes or dyes. I've used it for a couple years now and I cannot stand the smell of regular detergent. I keep a bucket of 20 mule team borax and baking soda(equal parts) next to machine and use half cup per load. I also don't use fabric softener anymore but now use the dryer balls and really like them.

use a grease cutter for hands-i forget what the name of mine is-i get it at dollar general for $1 for a little tub that lasts a while-i just rub it in the greasy spots and wash as normal. i also sometimes add borax to the wash.

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I see folks talking about 2 different things here ~ Soap and Detergent ~ they are not one in the same!

I will use my 0% superfatted, homemade soap (made with lye) mixed 2:1:1 (soap:borax:washing soda) with sweet orange essential oil & rosemary essential oil for a pre-soak.

For washing, I choose detergent which was formulated to remove oil.

When detergents first came out, they were the god-send of America's housewives because they did not leave the clothes dingy.

that charliesoap site confused me - is it soap or is it detergent??

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I am allergic to tide and a lot of other detergents. I use a mild detergent and if I have stains I use Murphys oil soap.(Yeah! the stuff for wood) Works great! I mix it in a quart spray bottle, about 1/4 to 3/4 water. you can make it stronger if you want or for tough stains apply directly.

I also have all kinds of rashes from some detergents, but not even Tide gets me if I get it in the stinkless dyeless type.