Teach Soap

I'm playing around with the idea of making my own laundry detergent. I was just wondering, for those of you who make your own detergent, what type of soap do you use? I was reading that fels naptha has some toxins in it and also read a few sites who said you could use any bar of soap. I would probably (at least eventually) use my own soap, but I'm not sure what would be a good base to use. Does it matter if it's mp or cp and would you just do a basic mp base or a basic palm, coconut, olive oil base for cp??

Thank you! Trying to get more green and natural!

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Amy in Soapland

I've made it with CP soap and added water. It ended up as awful snot and made my clothes dingy, even with a vinegar rinse. I've never made it again.

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

Yeah, I can imagine that with a liquid. I was going to try powder first so you don't add water, just mix all of the dry(semi) ingredients together. Just not sure if there's a base that's better or if any bases (oils and butters) will work.

Thanks though for your input!

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Amy in Soapland

I make it using my soap bar shavings (CP) and add borax and washing soda. I love ti and so does my family who get it for free from me.

Bruce

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www.homebrewsoaps.etsy.com

wat is "washing soda"? do you meen baking soda?
do you maind shering the reciepe?

It is washing soda and is not baking soda. Not all stores carry it but if they do it will be by the laundry detergents or near by. Here is a recipe that will make 2 gallons.

11 oz. soap scraps (grated works best)
1/2 cup borax
1/2 cup washing soda
2 gallons water

I make this in a large SS pot. Start with 1 gallon of water and your soap scraps. Simmer (do not boil) till soap is dissolved. Add borax and washing soda and simmer 15 minutes more stirring often. Remove from heat and add 1 gallon of cold water and stir. Leave this set overnight stirring if you walk by it. It will thicken within 24 hours. Stir well and pour into your jugs. This soap does not look pretty but it does work. This is a low suds/no suds laundry soap so it is great for HE machines. I use 1/2 cup for a large load and if you have a HE washer only use 1/4 cup. If you make this and try it please post your reviews of it here so everyone can see what you think.

Bruce

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www.homebrewsoaps.etsy.com

thank you .as soon as i find washing soda,i will tray it and let you now!!

Bruce, thanks for so much info! Is there a type of soap that works best? Certain oils?

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Amy in Soapland

I trim all of my bars of soap and use those scraps to make mine so I am using everything. The person who I got the recipe from preferred lard soaps or a lard/coconut oil blend.

Bruce

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www.homebrewsoaps.etsy.com

I have been making laundry soap for over a year now...and I love it!..all though..I use Fels Naptha....but I think I will use my soap trimmings as well...

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Deb.....


If you blow in a dogs face he gets mad....take him for a car ride ..and he sticks his head out the window....

I found a recipe on another forum that I like a lot and have been using for a long time... in fact I have a batch brewing right now.
It does not use soap shreds but rather it's a blend of ingredients much like making CP soap that results in a zero % superfat soap the consistency of flan or custard. It probably comes out similar to what it sounds like Bruce described... but no cooking is needed.

Here's the recipe I use:
1. Fill a 1 gallon plastic pitcher or wide mouth bottle with 1/2 gallon of cold water
2. Add 79g Sodium Hydroxide and stir
3. Add 1/2 Cup Borax
4. Add 1/2 Cup Washing Soda
5. Add 1 Pound melted lard
6. Add fragrance as desired
7. Fill pitcher rest of the way with very hot tap water
8. Whisk / Stick blend ingredients until well blended
9. Whisk / Stick blend occasionally until water is fully incorporated (approx 3 days)
10. Stir one last time and pour into a wide mouth plastic container (if not made in one)

A few notes:
* Washing Soda can also be purchased as "PH+" or "PH Increaser" from a pool/hot tub supply. A 10 pound bottle cost me about $6 and will make many batches. Washing soda is Sodium Carbonate which is NOT the same as Baking Soda which is Sodium BI-Carbonate. I once tried subbing baking soda and it did not work for this recipe.
* The "soap" blob will float on top of the water in the pitcher getting a little larger each time you stir and then let it settle. I leave it on top of my washing machine or in my kitchen with a whisk or SB next to it and just give it a quick stir whenever I pass by.
* I have also subbed PKO or CO for the lard. If you do this just recalculate your lye for a 1 pound batch with 100% of your fat of choice and a zero % superfat.
* Using lard, a 1 gallon batch costs me approx. $2.00 and lasts me between one and two months.
* You can use this soap any way that works for you. I keep a plastic jar handy and add 1-3 ice cream scoops of the soap (depending on the size of the load) and fill with hot water. I shake this up well and pour it into the washer as the machine is filling. You could possibly add more water or otherwise adjust the recipe to avoid this step but it works fine for me this way.
* I use white vinegar in place of fabric softener which also saves $$ and keeps away any soap buildup in my washer.

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- Mickey!