Homemade Laundry Detergent Question?

[tadamom]

I was wondering if any of you that make your own laundry detergent have had a problem with clothes shrinking?

The recipe I use is:

1 cup Borax
1 cup Laundry Soap
2 cups Fel's Naptha Soap

I then use 2 tbs. of the mix in each load.

I have been using this mix for several months now and we have started to notice that some of the clothes seem to be shrinking. I know that my hubby and I have both put on a couple of pounds but the clothes seem to be shrinking in length. For example: my DH's polo shirts seem to be getting shorter when before they were pretty long.

Anyone else have this problem?

 

[dward1961]

I make my own detergent and have been for about 9 months. I use Zout, borax and washing soda, I haven't had any problem with anything shrinking.


The only thing shrinking is the money I used to spend, what a savings!!!

 

[semo233]

I been using 1 bar Fels for the same recipe for over a year now and have noticed no change at all. I did change to using only cold water.

 

[Goofyzgurl]

I just started using homemade detergent about 2 months ago and haven't noticed anything. I also do use just cold water too.

 

[Echo queen]

I make my own detergent and have been for about 9 months. I use Zout, borax and washing soda, I haven't had any problem with anything shrinking.


The only thing shrinking is the money I used to spend, what a savings!!!

I have been using this recipe for a year now and we love it. No shrinkage no dingy cloths. I am so proud of being green.

 

[Mrs.Reese]

Would this recipe work well in an HE washer? I would love to make my own detergent but worry about how it will effect the machine.

 

[mousehouselover]

I really haven't noticed any shrinkage (except when I gained weight ) and we've been making our own detergent for almost a year. We have a HE machine and it's great since this is a low sudsing mixture.

I use:
1/2c Sodium Carbonate/washing soda (sodiun carbonate is usually in the pool chemicals and a bit cheaper than washing soda)
1/2 c borax
1/4 c purex 2
1/3 bar grated ivory soap
I mix it all up and use 2T per load. I generally make a lot all at once and we have months of detergent. I chose ivory for the light scent and availibility. I finally found some of the other soaps (fels naptha and zoat) but they're more than $1 per bar and I can get the ivory 3/$1.

We also use vinegar in place of fabric softener. 1/4 to 1/3 cup. Our machine rinses it all out so there's no vinegar smell in the laundry.

I found a recipe for dishwasher detergent that's 1 T sodium carbonate and 1 T borax in the wash well and 1 T vinegar in the rinse agent well. We're going green in the dishwasher too!

 

[Mickeyorbust]

I use the same recipe you do and I haven't noticed any shrinking. I always use cold water.

 

[semo233]

Would this recipe work well in an HE washer? I would love to make my own detergent but worry about how it will effect the machine.

YES! I have an HE washer and it works just fine. Some people have a hard time finding the Fels Naptha Soap, but as long as you get something that is low sudsing, you'll be fine.

 

[tadamom]

Well, I ony use cold water unless it is sheets & towels. I bought some regular detergent yesterday and I am going to keep using the homemade for towels & sheets. I'm going to reevaluate after this box of detergent is gone. I'm hoping that I can go back to using it for everything.

 

[MEM]

I use two cups of grated Kirk's castile soap, two cups of washing soda and two cups of Borax. I have not noticed any shrinkage of the garments. They come out cleaner than with my Tide-free and smell fresh rather than having an artificial scent to them. I have an HE front-loader but you have to be careful because some warrantees are void unless you use HE-specific detergent. We decided it was worth taking the chance since the homemade detergent does not suds at all whereas the Tide was ridiculous.

 

[Echo queen]

I have been using this recipe for a year now and we love it. No shrinkage no dingy cloths. I am so proud of being green.

We have HE washer, no problems like others have said low suds.

 

[goofyandmickey]

Can anyone tell me where you buy the ingredents that you are using? I wold like to start making my own detergent to save money but have no idea where to buy these items. I live in rural Pa.

 

[ChrisinNJ]

Can anyone tell me where you buy the ingredents that you are using? I wold like to start making my own detergent to save money but have no idea where to buy these items. I live in rural Pa.

I found all the ingredients in ShopRite in NJ. They were all in the laundry aisle.

 

[Echo queen]

Can anyone tell me where you buy the ingredents that you are using? I wold like to start making my own detergent to save money but have no idea where to buy these items. I live in rural Pa.

This info may not help you because I am in Texas but I will post anyway.

Pink ZOTE bar at Big Lots
Washing soda at HEB
Borax at HEB or Walmart

Good luck

 

[soccermomof3]

I have used homemade detergent. No shrinkage. However, it seems to be rough on our clothing. I noticed teeny-tiny holes on new t-shirts. Any suggestions for softening the detergent?

 

[java]

Am I the only one doing the watered down version? I do a VAT of this stuff- mine is 1 cup washing soda, 1 bar Fels Naptha 1/2 cup of borax and 4 cups of water. Then I put that in one of those giant covered buckets from Home Depot- fill the rest with water- leave overnight to gel- mix it with a paint stirrer- fill a jug 1/2 water the other 1/2 with the gel- shake and use.


I had read the straight powder leaves a residue? Not true? Mine is from the Duggars website- I figure if it works for that household it should work for ours(6 of us)

 

[mousehouselover]

Can anyone tell me where you buy the ingredents that you are using? I wold like to start making my own detergent to save money but have no idea where to buy these items. I live in rural Pa.

I usually get all my ingredients at Walmart. Not all of them carry the Zoat or Fels Naptha though. I get the sodium carbonate in the pool supplies (it's labeled pH increase.) I made the mistake of not purchasing an extra bottle before they makered it all down and almost didn't find one before winter. I did find Arm and Hammer washing soda and Fels Naptha in the laundry department of our local Kroger grocery store.

Soccermom~ are you using the washing soda? That is a water softner. How high do you have your wash and spin cycles set? I never use the heavy duty or high soil settings on my machine.

 

[tadamom]

Can anyone tell me where you buy the ingredents that you are using? I wold like to start making my own detergent to save money but have no idea where to buy these items. I live in rural Pa.

I get all of mine at Publix.

Am I the only one doing the watered down version? I do a VAT of this stuff- mine is 1 cup washing soda, 1 bar Fels Naptha 1/2 cup of borax and 4 cups of water. Then I put that in one of those giant covered buckets from Home Depot- fill the rest with water- leave overnight to gel- mix it with a paint stirrer- fill a jug 1/2 water the other 1/2 with the gel- shake and use.


I had read the straight powder leaves a residue? Not true? Mine is from the Duggars website- I figure if it works for that household it should work for ours(6 of us)

I don't use the liquid version simply b/c I don't like liquid detergent....I don't feel that it cleans the clothes as well. JMO.

Also, I have never had a residue.

 

[Mickeyherewecome123]

I thought you guys might want to check out this blog I read. She just posted a blog about homemade laundry detergent. Its full of great info.
http://www.passionatehomemaking.com...y-detergent-charlies-soap-nuts.html#more-5319