Posted on 06/12/2009 12:31:42 AM PDT by JoeProBono
Making your own detergent is a great way to save money on doing your laundry. You get a lot more bang for your buck! I started with the powdered detergent and just got brave enough last weekend to try the liquid. It was a LOT easier than I thought.
Powdered detergent 1 cup Borax 1 cup Washing soda 1 bar of soap (I prefer Fels Naptha which is a laundry soap.) Grate the bar of soap. Combine all three ingredients in blender and mix well. I used 2 Tbsp for a normal load of laundry and 3 if I was washing my husbands work clothes. Liquid detergent 1 5 gallon bucket with lid 1 bar of soap 1 cup Borax 1 cup washing soda 3 gallons plus 4 cups water Put about 4 cups of water in a pan on stove on high heat until almost boiling. Take soap and grate or shave off pieces into the pan with the water in it. You want to keep the water just under boiling so you will have to keep adjusting temp on stove top. Once you have put the whole bar of soap in the water, stir it until all the soap dissolves.
Put 3 gallons of hot tap water in the bucket. Then stir in all the other ingredients making sure to mix well. Place in a safe spot and let cool overnight. When you get up the next day you will have a bucket of slimy looking stuff a little bit lighter in color than whatever soap you used. I use 1 cup in a load of clothes. I thought this was going to be a long drawn out process but it took me maybe 15 minutes. A box of Borax and washing soda will make about 6 batches of the detergent.
Each batch should get about 48 loads of laundry. Keep in mind differences in cost for different areas but it equals out to about .03 a gallon. LOTS cheaper than Tide!
During WW2 my brothers and I helped our Mother make lye soap. We built a fire around a large cast iron cauldron and she used grease from our home and the neighbors combined with lye and”incantantions”. There was no dirt,muck, mire or scummy substance that the product could not remove.
Those must be some wonderful memories. But I must repeat the warning. If you go looking for photos that remind you of the event, so not use the search words granny soap. I’m thinking of gouging out my eyes.
Those must be some wonderful memories. But I must repeat the warning. If you go looking for photos that remind you of the event, do not use the search words granny soap. I’m thinking of gouging out my eyes.
Funny I am making a batch of my own detergent right now
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Al4EK59ta9A
This is the recipe I use. It works.
I learned the lesson of choosing key words carefully several years ago. I couldn’t remember the name of the French donkey with long hair - key words: hairy donkey. Yikes!!!! gay porn!
bttt
I have been using this recipe since december and I am pleased I make it up about once every two months. makes a little less than five gallons
What is “washing soda” and where can I buy it?
I reuse them 3 or 4 times. This works very well.
I like the pics, and hope you continue to post them.
Of course. It contains ammonia ... lots of it. Ammonia is basic, and as such cleans away fats and oils very nicely. In fact, if you recall your HS chemistry properly, you'll recall that reacting a base with a fat yields soap. Which, of course, dissolves right nicely in water.
So do I. I love Sun, and I've tried 'em all. Just wish they hadn't discontinued the one with Cuddlesoft mixed in, in the blue container. It was so fresh smelling, almost made my laundry smell as good as old Ivory Flakes did.
Any better detergent recommendations are most welcomed IF they do a better cleaning job on colors and whites.
Can this be found in my local grocery store?
> Of course. It contains ammonia ... lots of it. Ammonia is basic, and as such cleans away fats and oils very nicely.
Else I’m mistaken it was used particularly by the makers of fine Irish linen, right up until relatively recently. I think the EU had something to do with stopping the practise (predictably).
I’m not surprised by either of
1) Some fine, old high-end product being made by “earthy” methods
2) The EU putting the kibosh on the project.
I just use this Big Rock down by the stream. Works great and gives that worn look that everyone pays so much for.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.