Laundry Detergent Recipes

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Laundry Detergent Recipes

Submitted by: Jen 09/02/2008 8:31 AM

You should do a lookup on laundry soap...make your own...save a ton....and feel better too....

My kids have skin allergies that have gotten WAY better since I gave up on Tide and started making my own....best of all, I'm saving a TON of money...

Tide 80 loads for $20 = 25 cents a load....Mine is 3 cents a load.

I have four kids and two adults that I wash for and I went through a box of tide every two weeks. With my detergent that I make (found the recipe on the internet), I only spend 2.40 every two weeks now. That is $62.40 a year when I was paying $520.00 dollars a year in laundry detergent alone.

I am saving $457.60 in laundry detergent every year from now on....that is some nice Christmas presents....could you imagine how much more it will be when I switch all of my cleaning products over as well?

GOING GREEN AND SAVING SOME!!!!!

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Comments:

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You can check out the following link for recipes making your own detergent.

http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/

Posted by Nancy on September 24, 2008 10:07 PM

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the laundry soap recipe that i have been using & works fantastic & will never go back to store bought is:

1 c. grated fels naptha soap
1/2 c. borax
1/2 c. arm & hammer WASHING SODA
mix well & keep in covered container
use 1 T for regular clothes; 2 T for heavily soiled

THIS is because there are NO FILLERS added like commercially bought are to make it 'appear" you are getting more for your $. You can use Ivory soap, simply use the whole bar.

Posted by katrina on December 18, 2008 1:25 PM

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Does this work for High Efficiency washing machines? I have to use a specially formulated highly concentrated detergent for my washing machine. Any DIY recipes for that?

Posted by jessa28 on December 28, 2008 11:33 AM

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This recipe works well in my high efficiency Bosch machine. It is not sudsy and it cleans well. I use 1 bar of Ivory melted in hot water (chop first) to that I add 1/2 cup borax and 1 cup of washing soda. Add 5 gals of hot water, let it sit overnight and add 5 gals more of hot water. Store in left over washing liquid bottles or whatever else you can find to store it in. Use 1/2 cup per load.

Posted by Annette on December 28, 2008 8:20 PM

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I have 2 cats and I take very good care of them. They are "stay in" cats but fleas always seem to get in anyway.....
Editor's Note: we moved this tip on how to keep your pets free of fleas to the Pet Category http://www.tiphero.com/tips_714_keeping-pets-free-of-fleas.html

Posted by Tanya Paul on December 29, 2008 2:10 PM

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Thanks Annette! Was worried that I would get too much sudsing. Will have to test this out.

Posted by Jessa28 on December 30, 2008 12:43 PM

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Yes. It works perfectly with front load machines. It is a low suds detergent...the reason for the special front load commercial product. As I recall it is FAR more expensive than regular other detergents, too. My mother-in-law uses it in her front load machine (Whirlpool) with great success.

Posted by gene probasco on January 09, 2009 3:39 PM

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Where do you buy washing soda?

Posted by Kim on January 09, 2009 3:48 PM

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Kim, you can get Arm and Hammer Washing soda on the Ace Hardware website, so you can probably get it at the store as well.

Posted by Brenda Hedgepeth on January 09, 2009 5:15 PM

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You can get all the products you need, including Washing Soda, at http://www.soapsgonebuy.com

Posted by Joy on January 09, 2009 9:57 PM

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How long have you used your homemade detergent?

About 3 years ago I tried this and I used it for about 6-8 months, and was so thrilled at my savings--until I got sick of the fact that my clothes, especially whites, started looking a bit "dingy," and since I hang all of my clothes to dry (in the house) they took on kind of a weird aroma - kind of stale.

I just like fresh smelling clothes or at least non-offensive smelling clothes! I was even adding Fabreze Laundry Odor Eliminator. Then I started adding Oxi Clean to each load, which now my savings was cut considerably.

That's when I realized my old reliable Sears brand detergent, which is 120 loads (powdered) for $10 on sale right now was better for me and I switched back to that -- I just check the detergent every time I go to Sears and stock up when it's on sale - I NEVER buy it at regular price!

When I switched back I realized how much cleaner my clothes actually were when I went back to the Sears detergent. Now I cut down to 1/2 - 3/4 scoop per load (depending on size, what load it is -towels or undies, how dirty the load is, etc.), as recommended by our appliance dealer and don't notice a difference.

I was loving the pennies per load, but it just didn't work out for me...

Posted by anonymous on January 10, 2009 10:50 AM

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I buy washing soda at the grocery store in the regular laundry sopa section.

Posted by anonymous on January 10, 2009 11:12 AM

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We have a front loader and my husband is a mechanic and we have very hard water will your recipe work with those conditions? Or should I use /add something else? Thanks

Posted by Dana on January 10, 2009 12:06 PM

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Hi-
I get my Arm & Hammer wash soda and Fels Naphtha at our local Giant store. I use a combo of Fels, Borax, and Arm & Hammer - it works great on the cheap! hth's

Posted by annette on January 10, 2009 12:18 PM

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Is this laundry detergent recipe safe and gentle enough for infant clothing?

Posted by Anne on January 10, 2009 7:15 PM

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I have been using this detergent (liquid formula) for a couple of months now. I think that it works great, if not better than store bought.

First, yes, it is safe enough for infants, I have a 3 year old and a 13 month old and have no problems using it with them. Had I been making this earlier, I would have used it instead of the baby detergent.

Second, my husband is also a mechanic and it works great. Even with the store bought stuff I had to add a scoop of oxy stuff (I buy the generic version) to get some stains out and with this I add a scoop as well and it works great! Good luck and Happy saving.

Posted by Stacey on January 11, 2009 12:45 AM

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We have a septic system. Are there any problems with using the homemade laundry soap?

Posted by Anne on January 11, 2009 2:26 PM

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To get any stains out of clothes, I use GOOP. It can be found in the automotive dept. of Wal-Mart and costs only a little over a dollar a tub. My husband is a mechanic and ALL the grease comes out! I buy 4-5 tubs at a time. It's cheap and works better than all the prewashes and sprays.

Posted by anonymous on January 11, 2009 2:38 PM

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I am unable to connect to the above-mentioned web site, soapsgonebuy.com. Is that the correct address? Thanks.

Posted by NancyMRY on January 11, 2009 10:47 PM

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Referring to the homemade detergent for high efficiency washers - is it really 10 gallons of water? That just seems like a lot of water with just a little bit of soap to clean your clothes! If it works I want to try it, but I just want to make sure that the amount of water is correct. Thanks!

Posted by Julie on January 12, 2009 4:42 PM

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http://www.soapsgonebuy.com link worked for me........

Posted by anonymous on January 14, 2009 1:22 PM

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Katrina,
I recently made my own homemade laundry soap. I love it and love the fact that you only need a little. We were using unscented detergent anyway so this really does work out. I am looking forward to the savings this will bring.

Posted by anonymous on February 13, 2009 11:58 PM

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can some one tell me what is washing soda and where would you purchase it? walmart? dollar store? i have recently lost half of my hours at work and while i have always practices so many of these ideas and truly appreciate every tip i come across i just cant figure this one out

Posted by anonymous on April 11, 2009 9:19 AM

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How about for whites. Does this home stuff work well for whites or do you still have to add Clorox?

Posted by anonymous on May 01, 2009 6:57 AM

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help I need dishwasher soap receipes! anyone? Thanks so much

Posted by anonymous on May 02, 2009 12:04 PM

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We just made the above comment regarding dishwasher soap recipes its own tip question. You can find it here:
http://www.tiphero.com/tips_1479_help-know-any-dishwasher-soap-recipes.html

Posted by Tip Hero Editor on May 06, 2009 12:06 PM

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I tried the dry powdered laundry detergent recipe and added like the 2T. to my front loading washing machine and had VERY unsatisfactory results. Even my husband said to me one day, "Whatever you're doing to the laundry...STOP." :-(

Since then I started making my own liquid version of the detergent and because my water is hard I use 1c. Now the results are great and when I do a load of darks I'll also add 1/2c. of baking soda and then when washing towels, underwear, whites, etc I'll then use 1/2c. of washing soda instead. That's my new green bleach substitute and it works wonderfully in the laundry and no more complaints from the husband.

Posted by Z.S. on May 28, 2009 5:20 PM

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This is the liquid laundry detergent that I make. It makes about 5 gallons with a cost of about 4 cents a load (when using 1/2 cup).

Liquid Laundry Soap Recipe:

1 bar grated Fels Naptha soap

4 1/2 gallons hot water

1 cup washing soda (Arm and Hammer, NOT Baking Soda)

1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax

Put grated Fels Naptha in saucepan and cover with water. Heat on low until dissolved. Using a 5 gallon bucket, add hot water and add soap. Stir to combine. Add 1 cup washing soda and 1 cup borax and mix well. As it cools, it will thicken. If mixture becomes too thick, add hot water to thin it to desired consistency. May be used immediately. Mix well before each use. Use 1/2(normal) to 1 cup per load (heavy). Cost per load .04.

Posted by Sharon on May 28, 2009 8:26 PM

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I have been using the liquid detergent for about two months now. I am having a big problem with our cloths not smelling clean. The recipe that I use is:

1 large bar ivory, 1 C Borax, 1 C soda ash (same as washing soda, bought at pool supply store).

To ease the odor I have been adding 1 C Baking Soda which now raises my cost to above store bought. We are retired on fixed income, thought this was great, any suggestions please.

Thank you and God Bless.

Posted by David on August 03, 2009 12:04 AM

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To David: I think the Ivory soap is way too mild for your laundry. Fels-Naptha and Zote soaps ARE laundry soaps, which means they're too strong for skin use. Big Lots, IGA, Kroger,Publix and I just found Zote at the .99 cent store for .59 cents. Ask one of these stores to order you a case of the soap.

Also don't forget to rince with a little vinegar. I haven't given up bleach yet, I use 1/2 cup in a load of whites.Also why not make your own bars of laundry soap. It is VERY cost effective. There are recipes on line. Make lye soap with added borax. You don't need ANY fancy equipment. I found a recipe the other day for people who don't have ways to weigh their ingredients.

Hope this helps. YSIC, Gale

Posted by Gale on August 03, 2009 9:15 AM

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I read somewhere if you want a scent you can add a little essential oil. I have been putting in a few drops of tea tree oil and it makes the whole laundry room smell good. It suggested lavender or any other oil.

Posted by Cami on October 02, 2009 10:49 AM

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I use Sears Laundry detergent, with two in our household one 5 gallon tub, 240 loads lasts me about 9 mos. at twenty four dollars, or less when it is on sale, this is a great bargain. It cleans well too.

Posted by anonymous on October 07, 2009 8:25 PM

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Just to show you the difference, the laundry soap I make I added a bar of Zote (.59$) to the mix and that made it a lot stronger. That put my cost at $2.30 for ten gallon. At 1/2 cup per load that 32 loads per gallon(16 cups in a gallonx2)and 32x10 makes 320 loads. The savings being $21.80. If you make the dry mix it's the same, as you use 1/2 to 1 tablespoon per load.

There are many people at my church that use it and they use just one bar in the mix and love it. I live in the country and the stronger mix works best for me. I have a daughter and grandaughter that are red heads and have very delicate skin, most laundry detergents break them out. My soap does not. It's perfect for them.Give it a try,you might like it!!LOL

Posted by gale osborn on October 08, 2009 9:20 AM

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