A Safe Solution to Laundry Soap ( Homemade Substitute )

Submitted by Chef #407645

"This is a solution for all those concerned with petrochemicals causing health problems in your family. I noticed many recipes on this site use Fels Naptha. This product contains mysterious ingredients like "colorants, perfume, cleaners". What does that mean? Any time a product fails to disclose their ingredients, you can be sure they are hiding something."

 

• Ready In: 5mins
• Ingredients: 3
• Serves: 24

ingredients

• 1 bar castile soap (comes in many flavors!)
• 1 cup borax
• 1 cup washing soda

directions

1. Grate the bar soap into a storage container with a lid.
2. Add the borax and washing soda.
3. mix.
4. use about 1 Tablespoon per regular size load.
5. Make sure to keep covered and away from kids and pets!

Reviews

[Cactuscat]

An awesome substitute to store-bought detergent and far easier to make than the liquid laundry soap recipes I've run across. Made it with my own, handmade soap and it was wonderfully cleansing and also had a fabric softener-like effect on the clothing. One word of caution: My wife found info that suggests that if you use cloth diapers for your baby, this type of laundry soap is bad to use. Apparently it can affect the absorbency of the diapers over time. But for everything else, thumbs up! :)

 

[kim_michele]

Love this stuff! I've been using this recipe for years and years. I agree - castile soap is the only way to go. I add a few drops of both lavender essences oil and grapefruit seed oil to the castile soap then mix in the dry ingredients. This is also very safe for septic tanks and for the environment. Thank you for posting this!

 

[emcarrillo]

I use the liquid version and Fel's Naptha as I am satisfied with it. Here are the listed ingredients from their website: Soap (sodium tallowate*, sodium cocoate* (or) sodium palmate kernelate*, and sodium palmate*), water, talc, cocnut acid*, palm acid*, tallow acid*, PEG-6 methyl ether, glycerin, sorbitol, sodium chloride, pentasodium pentetate and/or tetrasodium etidronate, titatium dioxide, fragrance, Acid Orange (CI 20170), Acid yellow 73 (ci43350) *contains one or more of these ingredients Here is another site that may be helpful with comments below: http://www.dld123.com/q&a/index.php?cid=61 If there is a problem with absorbency and diapers, check the hardness of your water. Some people like to use white vinegar as a softener during every rinse cycle and have said it helps with the absorbency problem. Also, any soap with oil may cause that over time. I've been doing this over a year and have no problems with it.

 

[bridget.bat4]

This sounds great, and since my kids have allergies the no perfumes and dyes are perfect for us! I was wondering if it can be used it the HE washing machines?

 

[COOKGIRl]

I, too had problems with the vague ingredients' list on a bar of Fels Naptha. In response, I used a bar of unscented soap (at least it tasted unscented to me) from Sappohill.com. Their soaps are dye free, perfume free and use no animal products. To make the soap easier to grate, I softened it in the microwave. Be careful doing this! You don't want to melt the bar! For each load I use 2 tablespoons of the soap. The clothes turn out clean and fresh smelling. No more store bought laundry detergent for me. Nope!