best homemade laundry detergent recipe for hand washing

[booger]

I do our laundry by hand but have been using Tide because it's the only thing that gets the "funk" out. Between DH's stinky work clothes and clothes for all of us getting funked by the animal smells, it can get pretty stinky around here.

There are a thousand laundry detergent recipes on the web but... I'd like to hear some personal recommendations for what works best for getting funk out and washing by hand. Anyone experienced in this have any recipes?

Thanks! I'm tired of paying for Tide.

 

[Pogonip]

I machine wash in cold or lukewarm water, and buy whatever liquid laundry detergent is on sale--no brand loyalty here...and no one seems to make a point of staying upwind of us...

How about trying some different cheap brands, and adding vinegar to the rinse water? Worth a shot...

 

[booger]

Thanks, Pogonip. I'm ready to try my hand at making my own laundry detergent, though. Gotta try everything at least once, right?

 

[peachfuzz]

My friend uses these recipes

Personally, I like my Tide and will stick with it, but she swears by these recipes! Hope they help you!
peachfuzz

http://www.lotsofkidssite.com/homemadelaunddet.html


Liquid Laundry Detergents

Recipe #1

3 Pints Water
1/3 Bar Fels Naptha Soap, Grated
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax
2 Gallon Bucket
1 Quart Hot Water
Hot Water

Mix Fels Naptha soap in a saucepan with 3 pints of water, and heat on low until dissolved. Stir in Washing Soda and Borax. Stir until thickened, and remove from heat. Add 1 Quart Hot Water to 2 Gallon Bucket. Add soap mixture, and mix well. Fill bucket with hot water, and mix well. Set aside for 24 hours, or until mixture thickens. Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load.



Recipe #2

1 Cup Grated Fels Naptha Soap
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax
2 Tablespoons Glycerin
2 Gallons Water (NOTE: This recipe originally called for 2 Cups Water)

Mix all three ingredients together. Add glycerin and water. Use 1/2 - 3/4 cup per load. Best when used with cold or warm water.



Recipe #3

Water
1 Bar Fels Naptha Soap, Grated
5 Gallon Bucket
1 Cup Washing Soda
4 1/2 Gallons Water

Place grated soap in a small saucepan and cover with water. Heat on low until dissolved. Fill bucket with hot water, and add soap. Stir to combine. Add 1 cup washing soda and mix well. As it cools it will thicken. May be used immediately. Use 1-2 cups per load.



Powdered Laundry Detergent

1 Cup Grated Fels Naptha Soap
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax

For light load, use 1 tablespoon. For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 tablespoons.



TIPS

* Liquid detergent can also be used as a pretreater for stains.
* Ivory Soap, Deodorant Soap, and Beauty Bars can be substituted for the Fels Naptha Soap.
* Essential Oils can be added to soap for fragrance.

WHERE TO FIND INGREDIENTS

Fels-Naptha® Laundry Soap Bar: Made by the Dial Soap Company, so any store that carries Dial should be able to get it for you. If they carry it, it will be found in the bar soap or laundry soap aisle at your regular supermarket. It is usually on the bottom shelf. If you can't find it in your area, try
Ivory Soap instead.

Super Washing Soda: Washing Soda can be found on the laundry detergent aisle of your supermarket. It comes in a 55-ounce yellow box. Baking soda SHOULD NOT be used in place of washing soda. They are completely different products, although they are both made by Arm & Hammer.

Borax: One brand name is 20 Mule Team® Borax. It is also found on the laundry detergent aisle.

 

[Deena in GA]

Hmmm....I don't hand wash much, but I do make my own laundry detergent - the powdered version - and it works fine in the washer. It's just a bit different from the one listed above.

1 bar Fels Naptha, grated finely
1 box Borax
1 box washing soda
Mix well. I only use 2 teaspoons per load, but if you have really smelly laundry, you may want to use a bit more.

 

[Mrs Smith]

I too would like to try this, but for 6 months I've been checking out laundry soap aisles of different stores around here, and have yet to find either washing soda OR Borax.

Any suggestions on where else to look?

 

[Deena in GA]

Wal-mart sells the Borax. I don't know which grocery stores you have, but around here Publix sells washing soda as well as the other ingredients for the detergent. It's just not as obvious as the name brands. Have you tried asking a clerk? If they don't have it already, many grocery stores will order it for you.