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Tuesday, May 14, 2013

DIY Laundry Detergent




Since the beginning of the year, well actually a little before that, I was at a ladies gathering, where we talked about frugality and organizing our time and home.
We walked away with a lot of notes, really useful advice, a sample DIY of laundry detergent and a overwhelming feeling at the thought that we were far from getting there LOL

I went home and tried the liquid version... and though it did a good job I wasn't completely "in love" with it.
I don't really know why it just didn't seem to make the cut.
So I went online and searched for what seemed like ever till I came across a blog and read several versions of how to make your own Laundry detergent.
Jillee's blog on DIY Laundry Detergent (<<< check it out)

so I tried the one where you boil the Fels Naphtha's soap and pour it in a bottle..
I substituted the Naptha for Zote and tried it out for a while.
And though I like that version the trouble with that was that EVERY time I wanted to use it, I had to "shake" it to un-clump it and maybe sometimes had to use a little hot water to help it liquefy.
Well that got old Real Quick. To me it was time consuming.
So I again went on searching, but this time I didn't search nearly as far and long as I had before.
It was actually already on her blog (she has this whole page dedicated to Laundry Detergents, DIY Shout stain remover, DIY bleach pen... The Works!!)
It was a trial version of a powdered one.
Now I was very hesitant because i prefer liquid soap
BUT when push came to shove I went for it.
I had ran out of liquid soap and so I decided to try the powdered one since this one was for a trial size.



I normally don't give my opinion until I know for sure I have a pretty solid opinion about it.
Well dun dun DDUUUUUNNNN!!!

Drum Roll Please...


I LOVE this version.

However the ONLY down Side (whomp whomp whomp) is that I don't Have a powerful blender or a food processor so I HAVE TO GRATE (AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!)

Yes time consuming and painful, my hand hurts afterwards.. LOL

Okay so here is what you need ...
This is The DREAM TEAM .. lol




~BORAX~ ~ARM N HAMMER SUPER WASHING SODA (not the same as baking soda)~
~ARM N HAMMER BAKING SODA~ ~PUREX CRYSTALS~ ~ZOTE (substitute for Fels Nalpha)~
*And it also calls for Oxygen Bleach  which I decided to omit and use only for heavily soiled clothes*


I kinda forgot to take pictures during the process of making it so here's a quick run down

*1st- Grate the Fels Naptha (in my case the Zote)
     OR if you were smart you purchased the ALREADY grated Zote for a few extra bucks
*2nd- Pour all the ingredients (measured of course) in a container with a Tight Lid
*3rd- Close tightly and give it a couple of spins and shakes to make sure all the ingredients are Well Mixed.
*4th- Use about 1-2 Tablespoons per load




Okay so a few more pictures (since I missed the process of it) and then to the recipe.

All of the Products






Pour them into a container....



One with a tight lid (you will be shaking to mix them up)


The Finished Product


The amount I use per Load: About 2 Tablespoons




Here's the How To and The link To where I got this "recipe" from

 HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT 

  • 1 bar grated Fels Naptha soap
  • 3 cups Borax
  • 2 cups washing soda
  • 3/4 cup baking soda
  • 4 1/2 cups oxygen bleach
  • 1 cup (heaping) fabric softener crystals – store-bought or Homemade (optional)

A FEW SIDE NOTES: (PLEASE TAKE A QUICK NOTE OF THIS)
I SUBSTITUTE FOR "ZOTE" THE WHITE ONE (i love the smell... childhood memories)
AND IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO USE IT AS WELL HERE IS MY VERSION OF IT

USE "ONLY HALF" OF THE "ZOTE" SOAP BAR FOR THE RECIPE ABOVE.
~OR~
I GRATE THE WHOLE BAR SOAP AND USE IT ALL "BUT" I ALSO DOUBLE THE REST OF THE RECIPE

AND I ALSO DON'T USE THE OXYGEN BLEACH

Why? 
Well here's why.. 
Just keep in mind this was MY Experience and therefore have chosen Not to Use it. 
So try it out and form your own opinion about it.
(id love to hear if you did and what you thought!)

*I noted a quick color fade in my clothing, not sure why. 
I re-read the reviews and comments on a couple of blogs and only a handful of people actually had the same experience, while others, mainly all, claimed they hadn't seen the colors fade at all..
So I decided to omit this one and not even include it at all (you can half the request if you'd like too.
I chose not to use it unless it was a heavily soiled load or my whites.
I haven't noticed any more color fading since
Like i said JUST MY CHOICE. Doesn't have to be yours.


 HERE'S MY VERSION 
  • 1 bar of Zote Bar Soap (I prefer the white, there's also a pink to choose from)
  • 6 Cups of Borax
  • 4 Cups of Washing Soda
  • 1 1/3 Cups of Baking Soda
  • 4 1/2 Cups Of Oxygen Bleach (I only used half the first time, I Don't include this ingredient any more)
  • 2 Cups of Purex Crystals (any scent of Choice or you could use Downy Unstoppables. You can even choose to Omit this part since this is used for fragrance only, if you choose to skip this part keep in mind  your clothes will have No scent but they will still be clean.. Your choice.)
***And to be completely honest... I add a little more than 2 Cups Of Purex Crystals, I love the scent of Clean Laundry***

Hope you enjoy this if you try it out.
And Id Love to hear if you do.

3 comments:

  1. Thk you Ericka. You're turning into quite a regular with DIY! Question though... Did you know you can buy a 64 load powder sun laundry detergent for 3/4$ or of Purex powder for 5/6$??? Just saying... Its cheaper, economical, more for ur money, and easy. The only prep time is opening the container. Love ya. Of course I expect feed back

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  2. yeah theres pretty inexpensive detergents i still think this is way more of a bargain.. It is costly up front because your purchasing everything at one time
    But heres the breakdown for a BIG Batch
    1 Box Borax $3.50,
    1 Box Washing Soda $3.25,
    1 Box Baking Soda $2.50,
    Purex crystals maybe $5.99 and
    2 Zote bars $2.00 Total
    Total $17.24
    but using 2 tablespoons you get about 180 Loads about 6 months rougly) at about $0.10 Cents a load if you omit the Crystals it'll be $0.06 a load
    Sun= 194 loads at $3.00 is $9.00
    Using Purex should come out to $0.04.
    SO yes it would be less inexpensive
    Most people do the DIY bc it minuses all the "harmful" ingredients I still think i would continue to the laundry detergent though ONLY bc it makes me feel useful and as an added Small bonus my clothes smell very Good bc of the Purex Crystal...
    But yes If you want to use the Sun Detergent thats a bargain also.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love ya... Just like a good debate;)

    ReplyDelete