This ain't food, but ........

[Momma J]

It's still a recipe. Of sorts. I've been making my own laundry detergent. I've been refining the mix, and this is what's working.

1 tsp. Zote or other laundry soap, finely grated
1 tsp. Dawn dishwashing liquid
1 heaping plastic spoon borax
1 heaping plastic spoon washing soda (not baking soda)
2 c. boiling water
a gallon jug

I grate the soap on the fine end of a vegetable grater which I have dedicated to the purpose. Since I'm only doing a spoon full it doesn't take long. Then I pour it into the jug.

Add the boiling water and swish it around. Since the soap is fine it dissolves very fast. Then I add the dish washing liquid, borax and washing soda. Swish some more to dissolve everything. Then add cold water to fill the jug.

I use 1/2 c. for a small load and 1 c. for a large one. This is thinner than most home made varieties and you don't have to wonder where to store 10 gallons of product.

And it works! It has been doing a wonderful job. And my sensitive skin is soooooo happy! I haven't figured the cost per gallon, but it couldn't be more than a few pennies.

[Nora]

What is zote or washing soda?

[Momma J]

Mar 21, 2013 16:17:44 GMT -5 Nora said:

What is zote or washing soda?

Zote is a brand of laundry soap that comes in a bar. There's also one called Fels Naptha. Ivory will actually serve the same purpose because it's just soap. Washing soda can be found in the laundry section close to the borax if the store carries it. Our Wally World has it. It is NOT baking soda, even though Arm and Hammer make it. It is formulated to act as a water softener and allow the soap to work. There are dozens of recipes and methods on line to make your own stuff like this. I just concocted one that didn't take up so much storage space.

[Deleted]

I buy homemade laundry soap at the worm farm. lol. Seriously! It's great soap and it's cheap. They use recycled containers too. I could make it myself, but I like to go visit the farm and support them as much as I can.

[lillygurl360]

Mar 20, 2013 23:23:49 GMT -5 Momma J said:

It's still a recipe. Of sorts. I've been making my own laundry detergent. I've been refining the mix, and this is what's working.

1 tsp. Zote or other laundry soap, finely grated
1 tsp. Dawn dishwashing liquid
1 heaping plastic spoon borax
1 heaping plastic spoon washing soda (not baking soda)
2 c. boiling water
a gallon jug

I grate the soap on the fine end of a vegetable grater which I have dedicated to the purpose. Since I'm only doing a spoon full it doesn't take long. Then I pour it into the jug.

Add the boiling water and swish it around. Since the soap is fine it dissolves very fast. Then I add the dish washing liquid, borax and washing soda. Swish some more to dissolve everything. Then add cold water to fill the jug.

I use 1/2 c. for a small load and 1 c. for a large one. This is thinner than most home made varieties and you don't have to wonder where to store 10 gallons of product.

And it works! It has been doing a wonderful job. And my sensitive skin is soooooo happy! I haven't figured the cost per gallon, but it couldn't be more than a few pennies.

I posted this once on another board one time .Frankly this recipe is way too involved for me to do.

[Momma J]

Sept 19, 2013 22:19:03 GMT -5 lillygurl360 said:

Mar 20, 2013 23:23:49 GMT -5 Momma J said:

It's still a recipe. Of sorts. I've been making my own laundry detergent. I've been refining the mix, and this is what's working.

1 tsp. Zote or other laundry soap, finely grated
1 tsp. Dawn dishwashing liquid
1 heaping plastic spoon borax
1 heaping plastic spoon washing soda (not baking soda)
2 c. boiling water
a gallon jug

I grate the soap on the fine end of a vegetable grater which I have dedicated to the purpose. Since I'm only doing a spoon full it doesn't take long. Then I pour it into the jug.

Add the boiling water and swish it around. Since the soap is fine it dissolves very fast. Then I add the dish washing liquid, borax and washing soda. Swish some more to dissolve everything. Then add cold water to fill the jug.

I use 1/2 c. for a small load and 1 c. for a large one. This is thinner than most home made varieties and you don't have to wonder where to store 10 gallons of product.

And it works! It has been doing a wonderful job. And my sensitive skin is soooooo happy! I haven't figured the cost per gallon, but it couldn't be more than a few pennies.

I posted this once on another board one time .Frankly this recipe is way too involved for me to do.

My family has expanded of late and I've graduated up to the big batches now.