So a couple of weeks ago I had HAD it!
I was FED UP!
I could not bring myself to buy ONE MORE bottle of over-priced, wastefully-packaged laundry detergent.
I just couldn’t do it!
Now, I’m no eco-nazi (far from it), but buying those big bottles of laundry detergent, lugging them home and then turning around and throwing them away was definitely starting to get to me. I mean seriously….what a monumental waste!
Not to mention the COST! $15 for a bottle of Brand Name Laundry Detergent that’s smaller than my fountain Diet Coke?? I won’t do it!
It was about this same time that I just happened to come across a picture someone posted on Pinterest.com of their “Homemade” laundry detergent! Call me naive, but it had never even occurred to me that you could MAKE your own detergent! I did a little research online and decided to give it at try. It turns out it’s actually quite easy.
The first batch I made…I followed this recipe from The Rachel Berry Blog.
Liquid Laundry Soap-Family Sized Batch
1 bar grated Fels Naptha soap
5 gallon bucket
1 cup washing soda (Again, Arm and Hammer)
1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
4 1/2 gallons water
Worked out great. I’ve been very happy with it! The main thing you have to get used to is it hardly make any suds at all. At first this is a bit unnerving (especially for my husband!)…but the more I read about it online…I realized that “suds” are not what gets our clothes CLEAN. As a matter of fact, as with dishwashing liquid, the suds are totally cosmetic and add no cleaning value. Less suds is actually better for our clothes.
Today I realized we were getting close to the end of the first batch…so I decided to make some more.
This time I followed a slightly different recipe I found online at Why Not Sew?
1 bar of soap (any kind you want)
1 cup of Borax
1 cup of washing soda
a big pot ( that holds more than 2 gallons)
a grater
a funnel
a long spoon
2 empty gallon jugs/containers
The main difference is that it makes a more manageable 2 gallons (instead of 5 gallons) and you can make it in one big pot on the stove, instead of having to use a 5 gallon bucket.
Here are the two gallons I made today.
UPDATE: (10/2/11)
After months of making this laundry soap now….I have started dividing it into THREE gallon jugs instead of TWO. I was always adding water anyway because it gets very thick! So I just decided to add a 3rd jug and now it seems to be just about right. :-) Just an FYI! STILL LOVIN this stuff!
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| Soap made today – 10/2/2011 |
If you are a powdered detergent fan…you can also make a DRY version of the exact same soap. Here is a recipe I found at LittleHouseInTheSuburbs.com:
Powdered Laundry Soap:
2 cups finely grated soap (Ivory, Fels Naptha, Zote, homemade, or a combination)
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda
Mix and store in a coffee can or what have you. Use 1-2 T per load.
Since there is no water added…it is very concentrated and you hardly use any per load!
So….if you have reached the end of your “soap rope” when it comes to the high price of laundry detergent…I would whole-heartedly suggest giving this a try! I’m no math wiz…but from everything I’ve read online…this homemade stuff costs roughly .01-.03 cents a load! I think I’m safe in saying I will never go back to lugging those big plastic bottles home from the store again.
My next project………..homemade “Oxy Clean“. I’ll definitely let you know how that turns out as well. :-)
And that’s today’s….
{ 71 comments… read them below or add one }
FYI – If you are using Ivory soap – the easiest way to make powdered soap – put the bar of soap in the microwave for 1 minute and then take out the "glob" and place in a large bowl and place the remaining "core" back in the microwace for an additional minute and repeat – once cooled crushed in your hands and it will make a finr powder – you might want to do this outside and wear a mask – but it is the easiest way to make the powder.
Anony…well that is cool! I want to try it just to see how it works. lol. I usually use Fels Naptha…but I'm always willing to try something new! Thanks for sharing!
Do you know if this formula is okay for HE (high-efficiency) washers and how much one should use per load?
-Jennifer
i have an HE washer and i think it is better for them because if you notice, the HE washing powders and liquid are low suds. since this recipe has hardly any suds at all, it has to be better. i have been using it since February and i love it!!! plus it made the musty smell in my washer go away.
Hi Anony….I have read up on this a LOT…and while there is no clear YES from any manufacturer saying it's just fine to use homemade laundry soap in HE appliances (I suspect they don't want to upset the soap manufacturers)….I have read dozens of comments from people who have HE washers and have been using this stuff for years with no problems. This soap have virtually no suds…(which takes some getting used to at first) so it's actually perfect for HE washers because they require low-sudsing detergent. Bottom line…if I HAD a high efficiency washer…*I* personally would not hesitate to use this. :-) Hope this helps!
So is the liquid soap that you use the same recipe as the powdered soap but with added water?
i HAVE BEEN MAKING MY OWN FOR A WHILE NOW AND I LOVE IT. IT'S CHEAPER AND I THINK IT WORKS BETTER. MY HUSBAND AT FIRST WAS UNSURE. BUT, NOW MANY OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS A USING THIS RECIPE AND LOVES IT. DANIELLEDHAYES@YAHOO.COM
I followed the directions on your other post (with all of the pictures) and it still said 2 gallon jars so that's what I did. Is it going to be fine or should I somehow change it to 3? I do have an HE front loader so maybe I could just dilute as I put in (except since I don't have a sink near-by it might be a pain. Any suggestions?
I made my first batch of the dry formula and my husband was the one that said "Wow they smell so clean" Easy to make and I love it!!
Jane Tew
Elizabeth…I think, Yes. :-)
Ruth…not dumb at all! I grate the soap using my cheese grater. :-) I use the Fels Naptha soap you can find in the laundry soap aisle of the store…but I've read that many people just use a bar of ivory soap. I actually think whatever kind of soap you have on hand would work.
Danielle…my hubby is ALWAYS unsure about the "crazy" (like a fox!) stuff I come up with…but he always comes around too! :-)
Cori…i wouldn't worry about it at all. The first several batches I made were in just 2 bottles. It's just a LOT thicker, making it a little more difficult to "pour" out of the bottle. I would just keep adding water to the bottle each time you use some of the thicker stuff until it's about the consistency you like it. But I really wouldn't worry about diluting it before using. Just use a little less. With it divided into 3 bottles…I tend to use a little MORE each time. Hope this helps!
Jane….that is awesome! It's nice when the husband gets on board with these things. :-)
thanks for sharing i will definately try this
Love, love, love your recipe. I made a dry batch with Ivory soap. I grated it, let it dry on waxed paper in the wash room, then used my food processor to mix. I stored it in a plastic container (saved from take out Chinese). When I was at Wal-Mart the other day I picked up a bar of Fel Naptha to use in my next batch. Sat it on the dryer in my wash room and I can't believe how good that stuff smells…like a scented candle burning in there. I'll be checking out your homemade laundry line up soon. A funny thing happend at WM…I usually chat with the lady that answers the phones and monitors the dressing rooms…there was a box of washing soda sitting on her desk. She said someone had called to ask if they carried it. She didn't know what it was. I explained to her about Pinterest and all the goodies on there…love sharing!!! Chat with you later, gator!
Does this clean as well as Tide with Bleach Alternative? Do your clothes fade or pill? I've used a lot of detergents and always come back to the Tide with Bleach because my clothes don't fade or pill with it. But I don't like the new scents. Also, if you come up with a home made version of Tide's new stain releas in-wash booster PLEASE let me know! That stuff is incredible, takes out stains Oxiclean won't touch, and is very expensive.
oh, email is doliphint@knology.net
thanks!
Can you use Dove go fresh scented bar soap? Also does it get too thick that you couldn't put it in the old soap containers I keep them sometimes and have them around the house so I was wondering if i could put it in there and dispense it that way? Thank you Becki
I was wondering for a large load how much detergent you use. Do you divide the soap evenly between the three, one gallon containers, then fill up with water?
Your second recipe calls for any bar of soap yet from your posts, if I'm following correctly, you are using the Fels Naptha soap. Is the Fels Naptha soap the same size as a bar of soap? Looking at the link for the Fels Naptha soap it appears to be a larger size than the normal bar of soap. Could this be why you are dividing by three gallons rather than two?
Fels-Naptha is a 5.5 oz bar. It is longer than most soaps but it’s also skinnier. I personally use Fels-Naptha, but I grew up with it in my Grandmothers house. She uses it to pre-treat stains or wash clothes by hand.
Where do you buy your ingredients?
I am ready to make this in the dry version… but I wanted to know if I will need to use hot water to get the soap to dissolve. I have been reading the posts above have noticed some clumping stated, just wondering if the dry version does this. The only items I wash in hot water are my whites, with bleach… which will hopefully change soon too,
many thanks from…
"things are a changing around here…"
I'm SO excited to find your blog- Thank you Pinterest! I've been up late reading thought all your DIY cleaning and laundry posts and can I tell you I have never been so exited to get cleaning things!?! or anxious to run through all my existing store bought stuff. LOL! I guess I have to wait for now (or at least until morning to get started) and then until I run through my supplies. Then I'm off to find some ingredients to get cleaning! Thanks for giving me a whole new outlook on household chores. My hubby won't know what happened to me! ;-)
I love your blog! MOST DEFINITELY keep the great ideas coming. I can't wait to try all of your ideas. I love to make everything from scratch so this blog is right up my alley. Thanks again!
I use the water bottle jugs at walmart with the spout on them… found in the rubbermaid isle. I make the detergent in a gallon milk jug and pour it in the water jug. It holds a gallon and a half so there is plenty of room to shake. it sits on top of the washer and I just slide it over the detergent dispenser and open the spout! Very Handy!!
so do i boil everything in the big pot for liquid soap how much water and so forth do i add do i would love to try this
I have been making homemade dry laundry detergent for about 6 months now. At first I was hand grating the feltz-naptha THEN my wonderful wonderful hubby suggested I use the food processor to grate the soap! So now I grate the feltz-naptha and the when I get the bar of soap grated I switch to the grinding blade, add the soap, borax and arm and hammer washing powder and pulse! So much easier! Love the homemade dry laundry soap!
Someday I'm going to have to give the dry stuff a try. Just for the heck of it. :-) The food processor sure would be easier! My arm gets tired by the end of the fels naptha bar! lol. That bar of soap is hard as a rock!
well there is another difference between your first attempt and your second, less water in the recipe means your soap is more concentrated, so unless you use smaller amounts of soap in each load your cost per load has gone up slightly as well… i for one am actually going to try your more concentrated method because i have found that this soap works great on day to day dirty laundry, but it still doesnt work quite as well as brand name, on my husbands heavily dirty greasy work cloths… for that i have still had to keep a small bottle of tide on hand.
This was my firs attempt at making homemade laundry detergent and i can say that it came out great and actually works just as well as the name brands. The only problem i have had, which may not be a problem, is after it sits there are what looks like small chunks that pours out of the bottle when i use it. Is this normal or do i need to do something other than shake it well beforeeach use and let the lumps remain?
Do you know if there are any recipes that use like Dawn dish soap instead of bar soap? My husband is a mechanic and I was thinking maybe the dish soap would work better on grease??? Really not sure, nor am I sure if you can make laundry soap with the dish soap. I have also made my own oxy and used as a booster……but spot treating really isn't much of an option usually due to the large surface areas affected.
Also, my first batch came out rather clumpy after it sat between washings. I tried shaking it up, but it is still rather clumpy. Is this normal? Just wanted to make sure.
Becca…you read my mind! I was JUST thinking about that this morning. A reader sent me a "recipe" to try with Dawn and I was going to mix up a batch and try it today. I'll keep you posted! :-)
A few answers to questions/comments above:
I add just enough water to the pot to melt the soap, washing soda and borax (keeping in mind it WILL expand. Heat low and slow!) Then I divide THAT between (3) 1 gallon containers, then add the water. See this post for LOTS of pictures! :-)
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/01/complete-photo-guide-to-making-your-own.html
The "lumps/clumps" in the homemade detergent is just fine. Some OCD people (their words, not mine!) will mix it all up with a paint mixer to avoid the clumps…but they don't bother me. :-)
Melissa…I would definitely try it again. See my Step by Step photo tutorial…it should help a lot! NO MORE $13 TIDE! ;-)
Gale…I must know where you got linen scented essential oil! That's my favorite type of smelly stuff. :)
Jeannie….OOPS! Been there, done that!! Bet your stove top was nice a clean afterwards though? :-)
Tammie R…you are most welcome! So glad you love it as much as I do!
Jill, I got the Linen scented essential oil at Wal-Mart! I'm loving this laundry soap! Thanks so much for posting the "recipe", along with all of your other useful ideas! Absolutely LOVE your blog!!!
Where did you find it in Wal-Mart? I’ll I’ve been able to find there is Tea Tree Oil.
Thanks Gale…I'm going to look for that!
Walmart doesnt sell “essential oil” they sell room spray and other oils. If you want real essential oil a craft store will have a varity or you can order online. Real essential oil will always be in a dark glass bottle. hope that helps.
I just bought all of the ingredients to make it and I am about to try it! Has anyone tried using scented soap (ie. Irish Srping, Dial)? For a better scent maybe? This is probably a dumb question, but could the oils make the clothing greasy?
Hobby Lobby sells scents specifically for soap making. For the powdered soap, I use a couple drops to make it smell yummy. They have lots of scents, too.
Okay…back to reading other comments. =)
I made the powder version last night. I was able to find everything I needed at Walmart. I used my food processor and added a few laundry crystals…I was done 5 mins later! My husband was rather impressed by how good it smells.
LOVE it! I just found you through Pintrest today and excited. :)
I'm curious, has anyone tried to put the liquid into one of the containers that has the "spigot" on it, where you just push the little rubber button to pour it? I think for me with some weakness and disability, that would be easier for me, than to have to lift and pour. Thanks! ~Pamela in Puyallup
I'm going to buy the supplies today for this. As someone else commented, I was wondering about scented soap. I'm thinking about getting a good scent at Bath and Body Works, but do I need a bar or can I go with liquid body wash? So excited to try this!
Fels Naptha Bar Soap: $.97
Borax: $3.38
Washing Soda: $3.24
3 reusable 1 gallon bottles: $8.31
End result: 3 gallons of laundry detergent, with enough ingredients left over to make this batch another 7 times, with a total cost of $15.90.
Basically, $0.61 per gallon of laundry detergent. (ingredients only)
Cost of one gallon of Tide at Walmart: $15.33 (calculated per ounce)
Feeling so self satisfied: Priceless.
Oh I am SO excited to try this. Hittin target this afternoon! I'll have to go for powdered soap because we don't have any big pots. Would a scented soap work alright? I love just a hint of the floral smell but my hubs and son are sensitive to perfumed detergents but neither seem to have an issue with scented bar soap :)
(also I'm right in the middle of following your "clean dishwasher" instructions, so happy to have found this blog!)
My laundry soap came out lumpy and thick I added water but it is not smooth at all any suggestions on how to smooth it out?
I am going to try this and I have a front loading H.E. machine. I think this would be perfect for H.E machines because the only difference between regular soap and H.E soap is that it has been formulated to suds up less. The soapy suds from regular soap can build up and leave a nasty residue in your machine. Those are the words of my owners manuall.
you wont be disappointed. i have been using a powder version since February and i love it!!! the musty smell that was in my washer is gone now. i think it is the best thing i have ever made. i will never buy laundry detergent again.
I have been using this recipe for home made laundry soap for years and love it.
is this ok to keep in a warm garage? my garage gets really hot during the summer months
@mandymel5… I heated mine in the pot while stirring all the time just until the soap shreds dissolved. I should have gone with the suggested 3 gallon containers instead of the two because once it had cooled completely, it thickened and set up like jello! :-)… When I went back to use it, I had to work and work to thin it down enough to divide the first bottle off into another jug so that I could then thin them a little more. Do, indeed, go with at least 3 containers and leave enough head room that you can thin it more, if needed. I'm pleased with the job it does cleaning, though. Even worked well on my husband's nasty, nasty white socks that he wore while mowing. Has anyone else had the problem with it thickening up so much?
Having used a recipe similar to this religiously for the past year and a half (Thanks Grams!), I have a few things to add to this already amazing recipe! 1) I throw my soap bars into the freezer for a few hours in a zip-loc bag before using my hand grater. I do this to make really small flakes that easily dissolve in cold water and to keep the soap from dissolving on my hands 2) For those of you using a food processor to grate your soap, toss in 1/2 cup of baking soda with your soap chunks. It helps keep the soap from gumming up the blades AND it helps soften the water a bit more
Jill just an FYI the microwave method works with Fels as well! Just microwaved half a bar and let it cool. Super easy!
How can you make it scented and can you make it different ones if you want?
I have tried several homemade laundry soaps . Think I will try the dry one next . The one I am using now is from the website whitesilkpurse.com this is just the same as the ones you use water with and you let it set for 8 hrs and them put in a food processor and whip it comes out looking like butter and you use 1-2 T per load works good , but think will try the dry one next . really like every thing on your blog. you have a way of connecting.
Ruth I tried to find the whitesilkpurse.com & it came up with a not found. Is there another spelling perhaps?
Bought pure baking soda instead of washing soda. Does it matter?? Can I use the baking soda instead??? Can’t wait to try this :)
Do not use baking soda; it is definitely not the same as washing soda. I have been using the Fels-Naptha recipe in my HE washing machine for almost a year now and am so happy with it. It has a nice clean smell, gets the clothes clean and is so cheap to make. I make mine in a 5 galllon bucket with a lid and just refill an old empty bottle (that previously held commercial laundry soap). It does tend to clump, but a quick shake before opening takes care of the problem. Doesn’t really seem to matter if its “clumpy” though; works great.
I’ve been using homemade laundry detergent for almost a year now. I raise and show dogs and have LOTS of nasty, dog towels and bedding. It works great! A friend of mine made a suggestion which has REALLY helped with getting the dirtest things clean – add a little TSP (tri sodium phosphate) in the formula. You can get it at the paint section of Home Depot or Lowes or a place that sells pool supply stuff. It has made all the difference.
I made my first batch of this soap – I did 1 cup of baking soda ($2 for 10 cups) baked at 300 deg for 1 hour and added it to a cup of borax ($4 for a 5 lbs box) and a full bar of fels naphtha soap ($1) grated and added to a gallon of water and heated until combined. When it cooled I added equal parts of hot tap water to the container I was going to use right away (50% soap 50% water) and poured the remainder into a 1/2 gallon canning jar for storage. I used it on my worst load- kid clothes, dishtowels, cleaning rags, all of them came out perfectly cleaned and unharmed- I used it on my delicates in a tub with 2 tablespoons of soap and a gallon of warm water everything again unharmed, and clean. I think I’ll switch to this for good- Thanks so much for saving us so much money. Usually a gallon of liquid soap lasts us about 6-8 weeks and with all the allergies and sensitivities we buy “free and clear” costing about $20. This ends up being less than $1 a gallon. savings of $19 a gallon- over $200 a year. I’m pleased- beyond pleased- ecstatic with this. THANK YOU.
I made my first batch of homemade laundry detergent a couple of weeks ago. I LOVE it and will never buy Tide again! I read probably 100 blogs before making mine and here is what I did:
1 bar of Fels Naptha, grated
1 cup of Borax
1 cup of Washing Soda
1/2 cup of Oxiclean
2 caps of Purex scented crystals
I pulse everything together in my food processor and store it in an air tight plastic container.
Our clothes come out super clean and smell very fresh! I also use white vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser of my machine. I have a HE washer and just put the powder right into the drum. I use the scoop that came with the Oxiclean-the line marked on it is right at 2 Tablespoons. : ) I do plan to make a batch with Ivory soap also just to try, but will probably only use it on towels and sheets. The Fels Naptha is a stain remover, so that paired with the Oxiclean gets grease and stains out perfectly! My husband is a mechanic and his clothes are spotless! I also have 2 kids and 2 dogs and every stain and bad smell is gone with one wash!
I also made the homemade dishwasher detergent and love it as well! Now, what else can I make myself?!?!
I just made the dry version tonight (can’t wait to try it!).
Just a word of warning – I couldn’t figure out how on earth anyone could actually GRATE the fels naphtha soap so I used the fine shredder instead (shredded part of my hand, but that’s not my warning). Has anyone noticed what shredded fels naphtha soap looks like? My kids have…it looks like shredded cheddar cheese. They quickly discovered, the hard way, that it does not TASTE like shredded cheddar cheese. LOL. :)
I love that I can make my own laundry soap and my clothes come out clean, BUT I cannot get my laundry to smell like anything. I bought some lavender essential oil. I put some in the mix, the detergent smells amazing but my clothes just don’t get the same smell. I have tried everything to get them to smell. I have put some in the washer during the spin cycle. I have put some in my plain fabric softener. I have put some on a damp sock in the dryer. I have put some in a spray bottle and sprayed my clothes when they are on the line. NADA. Nothing smells like lavender, but a really old dry sock. Is there something I can do? Also when I bought the soap for the mix, I bought lavender soap.
Not to be a party pooper but be aware of the potential toxicity of Borax. I’ve heard others speak of this concern and wanted to share. Scroll down to “toxicity”. I’m sure more detailed info can be found online as well.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borax
Jana…please see my reply to a comment left on the post: NO-GRATE HOMEMADE LAUNDRY SOAP
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/02/no-grate-homemade-laundry-soap.html
Please keep in mind this is not directed at you….but it still contains the information about how I feel about this subject. Thanks for taking the time to leave a civil comment.
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Jillee April 15, 2012 at 11:20 am
As you can imagine, I get a lot of “interesting” comments on this blog….most of which I will let slide because frankly it’s just not worth my time. But if there is one thing that “gets me going”, it’s when people make inflammatory statements and post misleading information about something I have included in a post. You can question my intelligence all you want….but suggesting that I don’t fully understand the consequences of something I am writing about or am doing in my own home is something I won’t ignore.
Kellie and JJ: Please take 5 minutes (or as long as you need!) and educate yourselves. I would not be posting articles, recipes, ideas and methods that include Borax if I thought for one minute that it was harmful to me, my family or any of the readers of this blog. As for it being “especially dangerous for pregnant women”…pregnant women need to be careful of countless things (natural and synthetic) before, during and after creating a new life.
I was just getting ready to write an article about this very subject when I came across this article on the Crunchy Betty website: Getting to the Bottom of Borax: Is it Safe or Not?
http://www.crunchybetty.com/getting-to-the-bottom-of-borax-is-it-safe-or-not
After I read this I decided researching and writing my own article on the subject would be a waste of my time because SHE NAILS IT. Please….if you have any concerns about the safety of using Borax in any of the ideas I post on this website….take 5 minutes and read this.
Here is just a very short excerpt from it:
Borax is wholly natural. It doesn’t cause cancer, accumulate in the body, or absorb through the skin. It is not harmful to the environment. In fact, the largest borax (borate) mine in the world – found in Boron, California – is considered by many to be the most ecologically sound and environmentally sustainable mine in the United States. This is also the mine where 20 Mule Team comes from.
Thank you Crunchy Betty for shedding an INFORMED light on this subject.
In response to the often quoted “Wikipedia” article about the EUROPEAN Chemicals Agency putting Borax on their “list of substances of very high concern” a few years ago, if you “educated yourself” you would find that had to do with EXCESS boron in the soil harming crops. And I’m pretty sure I have never suggested putting Borax in your FOOD.
The writer of this blog DOES fully understand the consequences of making her own laundry soap, or the writer of this blog would not have posted about it on this blog.
Sincerely,
Jillee
I have not read about different amounts for top loaders and HE machines. I used almost 1/2 C for a medium size HE load and results were so-so. I used 1/3 bar of Naptha-Fels, 1/3 C Borax and 1/3 C washing soda for ONE gallon. Would like to recommend for top load users, but not sure of the amount since it would be greatly diluted. Thanks.
Hello I been reading all about making homemade soap, but i was wondering if you use a whole gallon of water or less, sorry for the dumb ? lol. Thank you
So! I was just like you, NOT going to pay for anymore overpriced, stinky smelling laundry soap! I adapted a reciepe and WOW!!! I only use Ivory soap and I add baking soda for the extra deodorizing power for workout and sports uni’s…I am so happy with it, a bunch of friends are making their own too, it’s awesome! I also do liquid handsoap, dishwashing soap and found a different route for dryer sheets. It’s wonderful! :-)
Just wondering how much of the liquid mixture people use for a HE front loading machine? I’ve been using the powdered version, but I think I’m using too much as the clothes sometimes come out feeling kind of greasy, I guess is how to explain it, like there is still residue left on the clothes. Also, what water temperature does everyone use for best results? I normally wash at 30-40 degrees celcius (86-104F). Thanks! Just visiting the US at the moment, can’t wait to test out the liquid soap when I return home to Australia!!
I just made my first batch and now I’m wondering if anyone knows if this is safe for sandmound septic systems?
I think I goofed up? It seemed so simple, but I think I combined two, I use irish spring put in microwave to melt, let it cool then it crumbled to dust, i then cooked the whole mixture to blend, but it is now like jello and not a liquid…. help was i not supose to heat it up? just mix it?
I just made this recipe and I used Dial soap with glycerin. It seems to have come out just fine, but has anyone used a soap with glycerin yet to know if it will mess it up while laundering?? Or cause too much coagulation as it sits?
I love your blog. I love it even more because your in Utah it makes me a little less home sick (I’m from Vernal and SLC) long story.
I’m really looking into this, think I’m going to try it. :-) I currently use Foca which is really cheap, and works well for us, but I’ve never used it with a newborn, and I’m due in September. I think I’d feel better with the home made, plus I think it will be almost 1/2 the cost of what I currently have.
One thing, when scenting it, soap scents should be fine, essential oils are safe, but I would be careful and avoid candle scenting oils, or potporri oils. These are typically what you find in the craft section of walmart etc. (unless it says soap scent, obviously). The thing with these, though they smell tasty is they aren’t tested skin safe and CAN potentially cause irritation, especially to sensitive skin.
Just something I discovered making bath salts. ;-) You live and learn.
I make mine in the 2 gal version & leave a lil room in the top of my containers (I like to use empty detergent containers for the pour spout) I shake vigorously before using. Makes it much easier to pour when it’s thick.
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