tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post6275973741381235977..comments2024-03-02T00:36:37.300-08:00Comments on sew green: Laundry Soap DIYlisa solomonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11824254691379334918noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-33129710459160054012016-06-25T21:32:08.722-07:002016-06-25T21:32:08.722-07:00The problem is that you used real soap. Soap leave...The problem is that you used real soap. Soap leaves behind soap scum. Add just a drop or two of dishwashing liquid to the machine and fill the rest of the receptacle with washing soda. A drop of dish soap won't foam too much, it's all about the right concentration. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-61562914569418101332016-06-25T21:26:21.322-07:002016-06-25T21:26:21.322-07:00Castile soap will leave residue buildup on your cl...Castile soap will leave residue buildup on your clothes. In fact any real soap has the potential to leave residue (aka soap scum). Makes clothes dingy and prone to mildew. You could sub orvus for the soap though. That should work like a charm.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-33607567885286603692016-03-24T15:26:32.655-07:002016-03-24T15:26:32.655-07:00I used to use castile soap on my clothes, until ev...I used to use castile soap on my clothes, until everything got covered with soap scum and started having persistent mildew (growing on the soap scum). One wash with regular detergent took care of that problem and proved the problem to me.<br /><br />Then I tried a bar soap recipe for a while (ivory soap). Just grated, mixed with other dry ingrendients (washing soda and borax). Eventually I got the same problem, although it took longer for the soap scum to build up. I tried other real soaps. Same problem.<br /><br />Fels Naptha scares me. It's not non-toxic.<br /><br />Now I use a dish soap. Dish soap is not real soap, but a detergent (sodium laurel sulfate). One could use Orvus paste or a simple cheap shampoo too. A little bit mixed with washing soda, oxyclean, and borax. Cleans as well as commercial detergents, and no soap scum problems!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-20767986474170813532009-02-21T02:18:00.000-08:002009-02-21T02:18:00.000-08:00If you grow "ÿucca" plants, these are used by the ...If you grow "ÿucca" plants, these are used by the natives as soap, then all you would need to do is cut a leaf each time you washmuttleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13244984514701069716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-69272359642754925492008-07-25T14:13:00.000-07:002008-07-25T14:13:00.000-07:00I've been thinking about this soap and detergent t...I've been thinking about this soap and detergent thing a lot lately. I've tried a lot of different detergents, now I have soap nuts but those do not grow near us... So I am going to try this one Finnish product that is 100% biodegradable and I can buy it without packaging if I take my own bottles to the shop to be filled. I do not know where they get their ingredients from, but at least it's supposed to be ethical and vegan. I have to send them an email and ask.<BR/><BR/>What do you think about soap nuts?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-67331024310580325422008-05-14T00:18:00.000-07:002008-05-14T00:18:00.000-07:00But, but, but...That's a lot of time spent just to...But, but, but...<BR/><BR/>That's a lot of time spent just to make soap. Plus the energy to boil it down, the plastic buckets to store it in, and there is still plastic in the soda bag.<BR/><BR/>I just get detergent that comes in cardboard boxes, and recycle the cardboard.<BR/><BR/>Also, phosphates were phased out in the 70's already, to my knowledge, at least in the US.<BR/><BR/>I like your energy though - keep up the experimentation :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-56856539684694557222007-08-11T13:33:00.000-07:002007-08-11T13:33:00.000-07:00For the life of me I cannot find washing soda. Ev...For the life of me I cannot find washing soda. Even my trusty hardware store that sells everything but the kitchen sink doesn't carry any. Is there a particular brand name that I should be looking for?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-83040849868171551482007-08-06T10:47:00.000-07:002007-08-06T10:47:00.000-07:00Thanks for the tip, we'll try less mixture.Thanks for the tip, we'll try less mixture.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-16238714805911231592007-08-06T02:36:00.000-07:002007-08-06T02:36:00.000-07:00I don't have a dishwasher so i'm taking a guess he...I don't have a dishwasher so i'm taking a guess here but maybe you used too much of the mix? I use the lectric soda to wash dishes by hand and discovered that i only needed around 1 tbsp otherwise thy all had a coating on them and you could taste it.<BR/>I'd say just use less mixture and see how you go.nikkishellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425180621203281125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-3368768265367172532007-08-05T10:14:00.000-07:002007-08-05T10:14:00.000-07:00Hi!We just tried to make our own detergent. We co...Hi!<BR/><BR/>We just tried to make our own detergent. We could only find the Arm and Hammer washing soda and Ivory Soap. I grated one bar of Ivory and dissolved it with one cup of the washing soda. Then we poured it into a clean kitty litter bucket and diluted it with about two gallons of water. Overnight it turned into almost jello consistency, pretty firm. So we thought we would just experiment with a load of dishes in the dish washer. We used about 1/4 cup of the mixture. The dishes are clean, but everything has a soap film on it.<BR/><BR/>Did we use the wrong proportions of soap to soda, not enough water, wrong ingredients? <BR/><BR/>Any help, advice, insight would be very welcome.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-15473993076815448062007-07-18T11:21:00.000-07:002007-07-18T11:21:00.000-07:00My Mom used to make this by the bucket from soap s...My Mom used to make this by the bucket from soap scraps and Fels Naptha bars. Check the Fels Naptha bars, though, as I think the Naptha is a petroleum fraction solvent. <BR/><BR/>Once upon a time, you could buy real soap soap flakes at the supermarket. Sadly, no more.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15098127217395669520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-86183003350001150602007-06-30T20:32:00.001-07:002007-06-30T20:32:00.001-07:00Great blog, sew green. : )I have used the powder v...Great blog, sew green. : )<BR/><BR/>I have used the powder version of this for a few years. I use a front loader and have never had a problem. To answer the questions above, it is biodegradable so you can use the water on your pants, but not in the vegetable garden. If you add borax to the mix, don't use the water in your garden or you'll have a build up or boron in your soil.<BR/><BR/>I have the powder recipe in my blog: http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2007/05/make-your-own-laundry-detergent.htmlRhonda Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00175785349529109084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-62543508769639755562007-06-30T20:32:00.000-07:002007-06-30T20:32:00.000-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Rhonda Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00175785349529109084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-86923001914331304022007-05-27T20:46:00.000-07:002007-05-27T20:46:00.000-07:00I used to make this using ivory soap and borax- I ...I used to make this using ivory soap and borax- I will have to look up the recipe as it has been a few years. Thanks for the reminder of this eco-idea!!Natashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07738843877539210609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-10581693204008976472007-05-24T06:28:00.000-07:002007-05-24T06:28:00.000-07:00BluePrarie- according to the packet, the lectric s...BluePrarie- according to the packet, the lectric soda is good for woolens and delicates.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12178859030056134827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-84511673027928441212007-05-23T03:44:00.000-07:002007-05-23T03:44:00.000-07:00I read today that you can use 2 tsp of bi-carb sod...I read today that you can use 2 tsp of bi-carb soda in the dishwasher with vinegar as rinse aid. I will give it a try.Donnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02518204959047267335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-41549690430712072162007-05-22T14:57:00.000-07:002007-05-22T14:57:00.000-07:00I use Orvus paste for my delicates. If I made thi...I use Orvus paste for my delicates. If I made this with castile soap instead of Fels Naptha, would it be gentle enough for lingerie, sweaters, etc? Has anyone tried this?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-51022540035971247742007-05-19T08:10:00.000-07:002007-05-19T08:10:00.000-07:00Thank you! I am going to try this today! I have be...Thank you! I am going to try this today! I have been using Ecos detergent for a while, and find it irritating that they have no refill pack or any way I can fill my bottle back up, and it's so expensive that I'm too stingy. I also use vinegar as a softener, and add a few drops of whatever scent suits my mood-usually eucalyptus. <BR/>My dude's request for MORE scent has us now putting drops of oil on a washcloth and drying it with our clothes.Audreyrosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12924443547727210142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-22360067017788604242007-05-17T03:19:00.000-07:002007-05-17T03:19:00.000-07:00You can also grind soap to a fine powder with an o...You can also grind soap to a fine powder with an old meat grinder. Preferably, one you never intend to use on food again.<BR/><BR/>I grind up Fels Naptha soap and use borax as a booster. Works swell, no florescent dyes anywhere.oschenehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11567126596040886868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-985456267633732392007-05-16T22:01:00.000-07:002007-05-16T22:01:00.000-07:00why does the idea of cooking soap make me giggle? ...why does the idea of cooking soap make me giggle? i love it... thanks nikki!lisa solomonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11824254691379334918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-24248699975781179632007-05-16T17:43:00.000-07:002007-05-16T17:43:00.000-07:00Here's another recipe: 2 lb box of soda, 3 cups b...Here's another recipe: 2 lb box of soda, 3 cups borax, 2 cups grated soap, and 30 drops of essential oil (I usually use lavender or grapefruit). Stir it all together and use about one fourth of a cup per load. Be sure to add the mix to the water before you add the clothes and to use the smallest size grater you can find for grating the soap. I love using this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-5079885514004903632007-05-16T15:34:00.000-07:002007-05-16T15:34:00.000-07:00As far as i'm aware lectric soda is biodegradable....As far as i'm aware lectric soda is biodegradable. I've also come up with the phosphate level being 1.20% by weight. If anyone discovers otherwise please let us know. thanks!nikkishellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425180621203281125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-41305906770737513902007-05-16T15:21:00.000-07:002007-05-16T15:21:00.000-07:00Yes, it can be used in the dish washer too!Yes, it can be used in the dish washer too!nikkishellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08425180621203281125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-64379094369660373512007-05-16T14:41:00.000-07:002007-05-16T14:41:00.000-07:00I'm going to try to find the soap powder - this is...I'm going to try to find the soap powder - this is great!mainely stitchinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05915498269348257624noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389538230458905844.post-9802834633184545152007-05-16T11:44:00.000-07:002007-05-16T11:44:00.000-07:00What a perfectly timed post! We (husband and I) ar...What a perfectly timed post! We (husband and I) are about to host one of our neighborhood Crafturdays, and the theme is DYI cleaning products. Laundry detergent, both powder and gel, is one of the items that we're making. <BR/><BR/>And these events are always fun; getting our friends together for some craftiness and socializing. We even throw in a BBQ for a party atmosphere.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com