Making Laundry Soap with Recipe!
Commercial laundry detergent is expensive. And has a LOT of chemicals.
As one of those "crunchy-granola-people" I like the idea of an all natural laundry detergent that WORKS. There are a few options for those who are looking for natural laundry detergent.
Soap nuts are an organic alternative--you use them with hot water, smallish loads, and use a separate stain remover. On the plus side, they are extremely gentle and totally organic, and the best for the earth as no chemicals enter the waste stream from their use. They are also reusable, so they are very cost effective.
A mixture of Borax, Washing Soda, Baking Soda, and Soap is natural because it uses oils and minerals (the minerals make it not strictly organic but they are from the earth), and works well because the ingredients react with water and fabric to remove dirt and some stains. One recipe (the recipe used here) consists of 1/2 cup Borax, 1/2 cup Washing Soda, 1/4 cup Baking Soda, and 1/2 cup shredded soap. Always use soap with organic oils, no synthetic fragrances, and food grade lye. That way you know you have the purest, gentlest soap possible.
Shepherd's Harvest makes a laundry kit with all of the ingredients pre-measured (see it here: http://www.shepherds-harvest.com/collections/home/products/laundry-kit-with-stain-stick). The reason I decided to make the kit was that there were so many people who wanted to make their own, but Borax and Washing Soda come in huge boxes...they cake after a while. There is a commitment to purchasing huge amounts, and what if you don't like the result? Also, it is nice to have a little natural fragrance, but really expensive to purchase essential oils. And what about set-in stains? A stain stick would be nice... So the laundry kit has everything pre-measured, with some essential oil for fragrance, and a stain stick.
If you want to make your own, go for it! Use the recipe above, and mix the powdered ingredients together before you begin. Here is the how-to:
You will need:
Bucket that holds more than 2 gallons of liquid
Large pan
Measuring Cup
Hot Water
Pour soup shavings into a pan.
Boil 6 cups of water and pour over the soap shavings.
Heat on low setting, stirring occasionally, until soap is melted.
Add the packet of powder and stir until all ingredients are dissolved.
Pour 4 Cups water into bucket, then Add soap mixture and stir.
Add 1 Gallon plus 6 cups hot water and allow to sit overnight. The mixture will be thick and gel-like, and may be used as it is, or you may add additional water if desired. Shake well before using, and use the same amount you normally use of non-concentrated detergent.
After the detergent gels, you can either leave it in the bucket (you will want to cover it) or you can fill old detergent bottles with the liquid. The detergent will be brownish with a gloppy "wonton soup" consistency. Always stir or shake it before using, and use the same amount that you would use of a non-concentrated detergent.
I made it! A question: If I want to add fragrance beyond what is in the soap, how much do I add and when?
ReplyDeleteAbout 10-30 drops of essential oil will do the trick, depending on how strong you want the scent. I add mine to the powdered mixture before it is poured into the melted soap. Of course, it is important to make sure if you are using a scented soap that the scents do not clash! If you look up the particular essential oil (in the soap) on the Mountain Rose Herbs website you can find some great suggestions for complementary scents to add.
DeleteThank you for these kits! I bought a couple to see if I'd like the process and the smell. So easy to do and now I make my own! Saves my family money and I no longer sneeze each morning when I get dressed!
ReplyDeleteYay! Glad you liked them and I am especially glad that you are saving money and being environmentally responsible and healthy. Thanks for commenting!
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