We all have to tackle the laundry giant from time to time. If you would like to use a more gentle, natural and cheaper alternative to the boxed variety, I have a couple recipes for you today. Tutorials for this abound out in bloggerville, and since I didn't want to show up all the other bloggers with my tutorial genius (Ha!), I figured I would leave it to them.
Soaps and detergents work in different ways, so don't expect this to suds up as much as a commercial laundry detergent. It isn't the suds that get the laundry clean, anyway. Soap acts as an emulsifier, allowing dirty oils and water to mix so the oily grime can be removed during rinsing. Detergent was developed during World Wars I & II because of a shortage of the animal and vegetable fats needed to make soaps. Detergents are basically surfactants produced with chemicals made from petroleum. Modern detergents have even more chemicals added. They lower the surface tension of the water so that it is less likely to stick to itself and more likely to interact with oil and grease. Both soaps and detergents are only able to bind to the grime until the agitation of the washer sloshes around and removes the dirt and water mix from the clothing. So there you have it. More than you ever needed to know about your laundry.
Making your own laundry soap is an inexpensive way to lower the chemical content in your home. This soap cleans very well. I have heard that many people who are allergic to the heavy perfumes in commercial laundry detergents are able to use this without problems. If you find you begin itching when you first switch from detergents to soap, it isn't likely that it is the soap. What happens at first is that the soap begins to release the detergent that has worked deep into the fibers of your clothing. As it is released, it moves to the surface of your clothing, and can be irritating. It can take several washes before the irritating detergent is completely removed from your clothing. Once it is removed, however, you should not have any more problems. (If you don't think your detergent leaves a residue, try this test. Take a clean towel and slosh it around awhile in a sink full of water. If there is a residue, you will see the water get kind of cloudy. Sometimes it will even make some suds.)
I make the powdered version of this soap. It is easier to make and in my opinion, easier to use. If you use very cold water to wash your clothes, it might not dissolve as well as the liquid version. I usually wash in warm water, rinse in cold and I have never had any problems with undissolved soap. Even when I wash in cold water, I don't have problems. We have front loading machines, and this is suitable for both top and front loaders.
Powdered Laundry Soap
1 bar Fels Naptha Laundry Soap, grated
1 1/2 cup Washing Soda (NOT baking soda)
1 1/2 cup Borax
Mix well. Use 1-2 Tablespoons per load.
Liquid Laundry Soap
1/3 bar Fels Naptha Laundry Soap
1/2 cup Washing Soda (NOT baking soda)
1/2 cup Borax
Water
Large cooking pot that won't be used for food. (Check thrift stores or garage sales)
5 gallon bucket with lid (Keep this covered as a safety precaution. Children can drown in less than an inch of water, and can become trapped if they fall into a bucket.)
Grate soap and put shavings into the large pot. Add 6 cups water and heat until soap melts and mixture is mostly clear. Add washing soda and borax. Stir until completely dissolved. Remove from heat.
Pour four cups HOT water into bucket. Add soap mixture and stir. Add 1 gallon plus 6 cups (or 22 cups) water to bucket and stir. Cover bucket and let sit for 24 hours. You will get a very thick gel mixture. (If it doesn't gel up, don't worry. It is still good, just a little soupy. It happens sometimes just to mystify us.) Use 1/2 cup for regular loads and 1 cup for very dirty loads.
Laundry Tips: If someone in your family is dealing with sickness, you can add a few drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil or Lavender Oil to your laundry with your soap. It will disinfect the whole load. Adding one of these oils when you wash the bedding will kill dust mites. If you want your laundry to smell lovely, you can add a few drops to the rinse cycle.
