holy cow! WHAT a difference vinegar makes!

[apnep]

Simple Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe

1. Grate 1/2 bar Fels Naptha or Ivory soap (or you can try other soaps) in a food processor or cheese grater.
2. 1 cup 20 Mule Borax
3. 1 cup Arm and Hammer Washing Soda
4. 1 cup Baking soda.
5. Process until mixed.
That’s it. It takes 5 minutes. Use about 2 tablespoons per full load of laundry.

OK, one last question. Sorry if this is dumb. When you grate the soap, is it fine or just a normal big grate? I told you it was dumb but I'm going to try it!

Ang

 

[drgreene1096]

What is Arm & Hammer Washing Soda? I've never heard of it.

 

[buckler]

What is Arm & Hammer Washing Soda? I've never heard of it.

Arm & Hammer Washing Soda

 

[hapandpam]

The title of this thread caught my attention and I read through it. When I read about the person making her own laundry detergent, I vaguely remembered hearing something years ago advising against using soap to wash children's flame resistant pajamas, but I couldn't remember the specifics so I did some research. I found out that if you do buy flame resistant pajamas for your child, you should not use soaps to launder them. The reason cited was soaps contain fats and laundry detergents don't. The fats break down the chemical they use to make the material flame resistant. (I also came across a whole controversy about the use of the flame retardant chemicals in children's pj's, but that is a whole new topic.)

I don't know if all soap contains these fats, but it is something you might want to investigate if you are considering making your own laundry cleaner and you have children.

 

[pilesoflaundry]

A few years back a wise mom told me to use vinegar in the wash to clean soccer socks and get the smell out - it worked!

It works great on all uniforms and gym clothes. I use it in the wash on hubby's pt uniforms and it's also the best thing to get the funk out of stuff they wear in the field. (you military spouses know what I'm talking about, that stuff can stink!)

I always keep vinegar in the house. It's great for glass cleaning and other clean up. Thanks for reminding me to put it in the towels. I've been forgetting lately.

 

[elle bell]

Thanks for the tip! I use vinegar to mop my kitchen and bathroom floors, but I've never thought to use it in the laundry. I personally love the way my floors smell after cleaning them with vinegar. It reminds me of being at my grandma's house as a little girl.

 

[billwendy]

Im very tempted to try both the vinegar and the homeade laundry detergent. Question - doesnt everything smell like vinegar when you are done? Does vinegar get your whites white? Im curious about the soap grating also....

ANyone have a good idea for cleaner that you put into the shower sprayer (the automatic one where you push the button - Scrubbing Bubbles maybe?)????

Thanks!!

 

[turkeymama]

Im very tempted to try both the vinegar and the homeade laundry detergent. Question - doesnt everything smell like vinegar when you are done? Does vinegar get your whites white? Im curious about the soap grating also....

ANyone have a good idea for cleaner that you put into the shower sprayer (the automatic one where you push the button - Scrubbing Bubbles maybe?)????

Thanks!!

I use vinegar to clean my floors and windows (and sometimes in the laundry with towels). Once the vinegar dries, the smell goes away, but the house does smell cleaner and fresher once it dries.

ETA: I also use vinegar and baking soda to clean the shower. It's the only thing the truly gets the soap scum off the shower door.

 

[Carl Fredricksen]

OK, one last question. Sorry if this is dumb. When you grate the soap, is it fine or just a normal big grate? I told you it was dumb but I'm going to try it!

Ang

I grated mine as fine as I could so it would blend with the soap powder. You can us a food processor if you don't want to grate it by hand.

 

[njsweetP]

I'm assuming you all are talking about white distilled vinegar when it comes to cleaning and laundry right? except for using apple cider vinegar for a hair rinse.

 

[Carl Fredricksen]

I'm assuming you all are talking about white distilled vinegar when it comes to cleaning and laundry right? except for using apple cider vinegar for a hair rinse.

Yep. Standard cheapo white vinegar for laundry.

 

[njsweetP]

Yep. Standard cheapo white vinegar for laundry.

Thank you!

 

[snowgooseltd]

That's very interesting about putting it in you laundry. I'll have to try that.

It also works great for cleaning out you coffee maker. My family puts vinegar on their green beans. I always thought that was gross. Does anyone else do that?

My husband puts vinegar on his cooked spinach. Of course, we're original New Englanders so we use vinegar on our french fries and fried fish, also steamed periwinckles....what can I say????we have weird tastes!!

 

[snowgooseltd]

How funny you posted this, I JUST got done washing some towels in white vinegar. The reason I'm doing it, is in a last ditch attempt to get the mold smell out of them. If this doesn't work, I'm probably going to have to toss them...

Did it work??

 

[dumboiu]

Does anyone know if you can use a little vinegar when washing hardwood floors?

 

[billwendy]

Question - can you use this when you wash in cold water (the soap mixture?). Also, is it good for sensitive skin?

 

[Mickeyfollowers]

This is a great thread. I will be going to the store this weekend and buying a jug of white vinegar and washing all my towels even if they are not dirty, I could never get them soft. I also will be trying it on my floors, I have a very good sense or smell and all the cleaning product smell stick in my nose for days. Thanks for all the ideas.

 

[WeLuvDiznee]

Thank-you everyone for your great tips in vinegar! I stopped putting fabric softner in with my towels awhile back after reading in a Martha Stewart Magazine,that it will lessen the absorbency of the towels.And, I noticed that my washer stinks if I don't keep the door open all the time,like a mildew smell.I have a front loader,so I'm going to try the vinegar for certain.

 

[labdogs42]

I don't use fabric softener on my towels because of the absorbency issue. I'm goign to try the vinegar thing to see if it makes them softer but still absorbent. I had heard of this tip before, but I keep forgetting to try it! Thanks!

As for the homemade laundry soap, is this stuff a liquid or a powder? Does it have any scent? I like unscented laundry detergent, so I want to make sure if I make it myself, it won't have some perfumey smell!

 

[Mickeyfollowers]

Thank-you everyone for your great tips in vinegar! I stopped putting fabric softner in with my towels awhile back after reading in a Martha Stewart Magazine,that it will lessen the absorbency of the towels.And, I noticed that my washer stinks if I don't keep the door open all the time,like a mildew smell.I have a front loader,so I'm going to try the vinegar for certain.

I just bought a front loader a couple of weeks ago, I did research on them looking at reviews that buyers posted and said they had the same problems with the mildew smell. They suggested and the manual also stated this, you should wipe down the rubber gasket and the door after your last use and keep the door opened to dry out. Like I said I have only had a couple of weeks and hoping that it doesnt get the mildew smell.