Comments on: Make Your Own Laundry Detergent

By: Malia

Malia — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:55:06 +0000

You should mix them together and use it as a mix. It should be the consistency of a watery gel.

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 23:07:54 +0000

I just made this and after sitting for the 24 hours the top was solid and the bottom watery. Is it supposed to be this way? If so am I supposed to use the solid or the liquid part?

By: Malia

Malia — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 16:33:03 +0000

It just soidified more, I would just add it to the bottles as you have room in them (as you use it up). Give it a little shake and do not worry about it. I also live in the city and use regular chloronated city water. This does not seem to pose any problem with my laundry detergent working just fine.

By: Jodi K

Jodi K — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:53:57 +0000

Thank you. After waiting for 24 hours the gel looks pretty good. I was thrilled until I got to the bottom of the bucket at which point I noticed about 1 inch of really solid white stuff. It wasn’t hard breakable solid but a flexiible rubbery solid. That made me nervous that all the cleaning agent was sitting at the bottom. I went ahead a saved this in a separate container. See, I made the batch in a huge pot and then after 24 hours filled up several detergent bottles for easy use and storage. But, with this last final bit of solid stuff I saved it in a 32oz yogurt container because I figured it had all the cleaning stuff in it so I try to add a tablespoon or so every wash. Do I need to keep doing this? Or is the watery gel stuff that I poured into the containers fine by itself. The water Gel stuff was not liquidy at all….much hard to pour into and out of a container than store bought detergent. Is this right? LASTLY, I read something about the homemade detergent not being good with city water. We are in a suburb of a city and our water does have chlorine in it….a fairly good amount unfortunately. Should I not use this new homemade detergent that I’m so excited about because we have chlorine in our water? THANK YOU so much for walking me through this.
Jodi

By: Malia

Malia — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:46:21 +0000

This is fine. This is the gel that will make the detergent more thick. When it is finished, it will be a watery gel consistency. Much of the gel will settle on top, so I just give it a little shake each time I use it, or if you have it in a bucket, a quick stir each time you measure some will mix it for you.

By: Jodi K

Jodi K — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:25:41 +0000

Okay, I just finished making a batch. I need to let it sit 24 hours but I’m concerned because there are lots of white globs of foamy stuff floating at the top. Did I do something wrong? I followed the directions perfectly and I think I started noticing them when I started adding all of the cold water to the hot liquid. Any suggestions?

By: Shannon

Shannon — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:08:08 +0000

another re-use for the used dryer sheet after they have been used saver them and when you have a very stick or caked/ baked on item on a pan soak it with a used dryer sheet in it and wipe it clean! learned this from a very old wise woman — tried it the first time on a pan that had rice krispies in it and no scrubbing needed! loved it also works great on the lazana pan (just a few ideas)

By: Nancy~Jane

Nancy~Jane — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 20:59:58 +0000

I normally hang out our clothes, so in that case I use no fabric softener. However I have been adding about 1/2 c of vinagar to the rinse water in my wash, ( as a fabric softener) and IF I use the dryer i use some dryer balls I made from wool yarn. They really work well for the static and I enjoy the fact that my laundry does not smell perfumy.

By: Erica

Erica — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 13:12:06 +0000

I am going to try this in the next few days. I have been wanting to try this recipe for quite some time now. I will say that if anybody uses cloth diapers (pockets, fitteds, AIO’s, etc.) this laundry soap may cause an issue w/wicking, leaking, repelling, etc, because the soap (instead of detergent) tends to leave a residue, which can cause the above mentioned issues. If you only use prefolds and/or flats, it may not be as much of an issue though.

By: Bernadette

Bernadette — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 02:46:58 +0000

I have a quick question. We are a militay family and my husbands ACU’s (uniforms) state that they cannot be laundered with a detergent that has optical brightners because it comprimises the pattern of the fabric. Since this is a “all natural” detergent I am assuming it would not have the optical enhancing quality of say Tide or other store detergents but has the properties more of the “Free and Clear” detergents. Since I don’t have a box of Borax or Washing Soda I can’t read them to make this judgement call myself. Do you ladies have any knowledge in that area?
Thanks for any help.