holy cow! WHAT a difference vinegar makes!

[julezdisney]

Great tip! THANKS!

 

[dgthree]

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!

The soap recipe upthread is a powder. Can't tell you about the smell, as it depends on the soap you use - that's the only scented component.

I remember the Duggar family making a liquid soap on one of their shows - when I did a search, this is the recipe I came up with (can't check their site, as it's blocked at my work, but here's a link you could try - http://www.duggarfamily.com/recipes.html).

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4 Cups hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

 

[apnep]

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.

I've had my front loaders for a couple of years now and I've always used the vinegar as a softner and have never had a problem with smell. I also do wipe down the rubber gasket when I am done laundering for day and leave it open to air dry too.

Ang

 

[phred52]

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

I wash mostly in cold with the homemade powder and vinegar. Works great.

I started doing this back when my DD #2 was a very itchy kid. Once I realized she scratched in her sleep, all night long, we went to the allergist and dermatologist. The cure for her was to eliminate fabric softner and perfumes and dyes in laundry detergent. Made a HUGE difference in her life!

 

[labdogs42]

The soap recipe upthread is a powder. Can't tell you about the smell, as it depends on the soap you use - that's the only scented component.

I remember the Duggar family making a liquid soap on one of their shows - when I did a search, this is the recipe I came up with (can't check their site, as it's blocked at my work, but here's a link you could try - http://www.duggarfamily.com/recipes.html).

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4 Cups hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

That's the recipe I have seen before. Sounds like that one is just a bigger pain to store, huh? The ingredients are about the same as the powder stuff. I think I'll try the powder recipe. Seems MUCH easier to deal with! I think I never tried this because I couldn't figure out what I'd do with 10 gallons of detergent!

 

[2thfairy]

I'm definatly going to try using this for laundry. I have stopped using fabric softner due to a dr's recomendation. Never know how bad that stuff was.

I also use vinegar in my dishwasher instead of jet dry. It does not leave a vinegar taste or smell and the dishes come out spotless still. Saves a ton of money. also helps keep the inside of the washer clean and good for the elements inside it.

 

[disneydonna]

We have a well. I use vinegar for everything! Put about 1/4 cup at the end of the dishwasher cycle and your glasses come out sparkling!

 

[Berrie]

This is so interesting! I've got to try vinegar in the laundry and dishwasher.
Thanks for the tips!

 

[triciari]

I can't wait to wash more clothes!!

 

[manhattan]

I recently had one of my son's friend stay with us after a fire at his house. I washed and washed his clothes and could not get the smell of fire out. I googled and found someone recommending vinegar to remove the odor....sure enough, it worked! Have used it a few times to remove odor, but will start using it as a softener too.

 

[MANDY48449]

I use vinegar to clean the coffee pot, and to clean the drains just add a little baking soda with it..

 

[minnie1928]

My family puts vinegar on their green beans. I always thought that was gross. Does anyone else do that?

My family did that too when I was growing up! I haven't done it in ages, mostly because no one (other than me) in my family eat green beans.

I use vinegar in the washer, dishwasher, to clean out drains (with baking soda), and to clean windows.

 

[Aisling]

I can't wait to wash more clothes!!

Me, too!

 

[HappyGilmore]

Wonder if BP has thought to try it in the Gulf of Mexico- I bet it would work

 

[apnep]

Wonder if BP has thought to try it in the Gulf of Mexico- I bet it would work

Ha! Good one!

 

[superme80]

Just did 2 loads today!!!! Can't wait to sleep on my sheets!!!! Laid down and wow!!! Oh so soft!!!!

 

[superme80]

Just did 2 loads today!!!! Can't wait to sleep on my sheets!!!! Laid down and wow!!! Oh so soft!!!! Thank you for the tip!!!!!

 

[mickeymaker2003]

For those of you with front loaders, I keep my door cracked open all the time. I have one of those big round magnetic wreath holders they sell at Christmas (it is about a three inch round vinyl coated magnet). It sticks to the front of the machine. I can put it overlapping the door opening so the door won't close, but it still looks mostly shut (not hanging wide open). When I want to do laundry, I just move it to the side and it stays stuck to the washer until I need it again. Mine is white on my white washer so it is barely noticeable.

 

[disneyhand]

My Mom always cleaned with vinegar. There are so many good uses for it already mentioned, here's another one for food. Simple and tasty if you like sour!

My Mom used to pickle cucumbers. My picky children wouldn't eat them although they loved store bought dill pickles . Years ago my friend told me her family always peeled and sliced cukes and put them in a covered container with water and vinegar and nothing else. Shake it. Keep in frig.

Never gave me a ratio of the liquids so I just guess every time I make it. My kids love them and call them sour cucumbers. We like the cukes crunchy so we usually make only a couple days worth at a time.

 

[sameyeyam]

For those of you using vinegar instead of fabric softener, try using tinfoil balls in the dryer to help eliminate static. I know it sounds weird, but put two balls of tinfoil in the dryer. I just loosely crumple up tinfoil and throw them in, they last for a week or two of drying. I make mine a little smaller then the size of a baseball. They don't work quite as good as fabric softener, but they do help somewhat with the static problem.

If you are using dryer sheets, you can also cut them in half. They still work just as good and then they go twice as far and cost half the price.