Lately I’ve had a few different questions come in about my Homemade Laundry Soap recipe. I thought I’d share them all here-so everyone can see the answers and add in their own knowledge!
Dear Frugal Upstate,
I have a laundry question. I recently started making my own laundry detergent and softener. Thanks for the recipe. However, my DH noticed that it is fading the color of our clothes do you have any suggestions?
Devon
Wow, Devon, that’s a new one to me. I’ve been using homemade laundry soap for over 5 years and have never noticed any fading! Readers, I need your help. Has anyone had this issue? Any suggestions?
Dear Frugal Upstate,
I have to use HE detergent. Has anyone tried the homemade laundry soap in an HE machine?
Thanks,
Flo
One of the interesting things about homemade laundry soap is that it does NOT foam up like traditional store bought detergents. This actually throws folks off when they first start making it-we’ve been trained by brands to EXPECT a whole bunch of foam. From that fact I would guess that homemade laundry soap would actually work quite well in an HE machine. However, I can not swear to it, so try it at your own risk. I don’t want anyone blaming me for an overflow!
So what do you all think readers, has anyone tried the homemade soap in their HE machine successfully? Please share!
Dear Frugal Upstate,
I have wanted to make the laundry detergent for ever. I have looked for the items needed, the only thing I cannot find is WASHING SODA! Where can I purchase this item?
Thank you,
Jaycee
If you’ve looked and can’t find washing soda at your local stores, I recommend contacting Arm & Hammer directly and asking them which stores in your area carry the product. I did this myself when I first started making the detergent in Virginia, and then again when I moved to New York.
I simply went to the Arm & Hammer website and searched around until I found the “contact us” section (I’m not sure that is exactly what it is labeled). Then I sent a note telling them I was looking for Washing Soda, gave them my zip code and asked them if they could tell me what stores in my area carried it. It took a couple of weeks, but they did email me back with the names of several stores in the area.
I’ve also had readers say that washing soda is the exact same chemical compound as something used in swimming pools, and that they have purchased it at their pool supply stores, but I’m a little fuzzy on all those details. Readers, if you know about that, please weigh in!
So there are the laundry soap related questions I’ve been asked recently. Do you have any others?
If you are interested in seeing exactly how the laundry soap is made (and to see my smiling face), check out my Vlog: Making Laundry Detergent. You might also be interested in reading “Is Making Your Own Laundry Detergent Worth It?“.
Photos by Garden Hoe
Thanks, I am still planning to make my own. You have answered some of my questions.
I have used homemade laundry soap (powdered version using borax, washing soda and Fels-Naptha soap) in my HE front loader many times. It works just fine. 🙂
You can actually use this toll free number to (instantly) locate a store near you that sells washing soda. I was surprised to find a few different stores in my smallish town that sell it.
A & H toll free locator number is 1-800-524-1328
I can attest to it being ok in an HE machine. I’ve been using it this way for 1 1/2 years. Also, I’ll add that for those of us sensitive to scents, even grating the Fels Naptha is irritating to me. I ordered a case of the Kirk’s Castile unscented soap from the Kirk’s website. It works out to be around 1.25 a bar even with shipping. It works great for us as well, with no odor!
I save some cashing making laundry soap, but it’s even more worth it to me when I think about the big picture of chemicals, landfills, transportation, etc. For me, frugality is deeply intertwined with eco-friendly practices, so I much prefer to make my own laundry soap than to buy prepared which has a much much much huger pricetag on the environment. If we factor in what things cost our children’s planet as well as the store cost, making simple formulas at home is almost always the frugal choice! Thanks for the tips and follow-up.
Here in Georgia, you can find Washing Soda in the cleaning aisle at Kroger.
About the color fading, I haven’t had that problem, but I would suggest putting a healthy dose of vinegar in the first couple loads, because it is a mordant.
If you can’t find washing soda, you can purchase it online through a variety of sites. Just Google it. The only problem is that shipping doubles the price.
most regular grocery store will let you request products. I have worked for 3 different ones and they all have customer request books in the office. They just don’t promote it. we do try to get the item if it is requested though.
Denise-Glad we were all able to answer some of your questions.
Annie-Thanks for the answer on the HE. I figured that was the case, but I hate to state it without backup, KWIM?
Mercy-What a fantastic resource! Thanks for posting the phone number.
M-Mom-thanks for weighing in on the HE. Interesting about the Castile soap. Much more "green" that way too
Deb-so true. Its a savings over regular det, if you compare the cost to organic laundry det I'm sure it's even more of a cost savings, and beyond money it is just better for the environment (and most likely people-less chem & dyes)
Heather-Thanks! The cleaning aisle is where it should be if a store stocks it, but many stores don't carry it anymore. . .
Harper-I was thinking that about the vinegar. A good wash in vinegar when the clothes are new should help set the dye so that it doesnt come out in the future.
CES69-That's a great tip too! Might as well ask if they will stock it-worst that can happen is they will say no.
Hi! I’m new to this blog spot and find it enjoyable! I was wondering why you have a picture of oxi clean in your laundry soap picture if you don’t use it in your recipe? I do have a homemade laundry soap recipe made with oxi clean, but I was wondering do you have a recipe with it in, is that why it’s in your picture?
I have made the laundry soap and love it. I can’t find the washing soda so I use oxy clean instead. I use one half of the small container of oxy clean. Works well. Terri
I had been looking for washing soda for months. Finally someone mentioned on a forum that they bought it at Price Chopper. Now we don’t have one near us, but my mom often shops at one west of her town. So, I asked her to look and see if they had it. THEY DID!!! YEAH. and she got it for $2.99. I haven’t been to mom’s yet to get it, but will be going soon.
You can also try pool supply places to find washing soda. It is also called sodium carbonate (not bicarbonate – that’s baking soda).
Here in Central Alabama I found both the Fels Naptha (99 cents) and Arm and Hammer Wasing Soda ($2.29) at Publix.
It must be getting pretty popular because I had to go to a second one because the first one was out of washing soda and almost out of laundry soap.
We have a Dollar General here in town, I may try that for the brand you use next time.