How To Clean & Sanitize Your Washing Machine

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After I made my Homemade Laundry Detergent, I was washing all sorts of things to "try it out" and I still love it!!(that's was probably the only time I have ever done ALL the laundry and nothing else to wash! lol) It gets things really clean!
Well my husband was working on the cars here recently and he had some of his work rags that needed washed (he does throw the really nasty one away... he doesn't want to ruin the washer, or get grease on our clothes!) anyways after washing his rags there was a nice black ring in the washer (•̪●) so that was a perfect time to do a post on Cleaning the Washing Machine!

Ewww! Ring around the washer! Do you see the ring on the basket too?

Ewww  #2

I HAD to do something after seeing this in my washer! I couldn't let this go, sooooo.... I cleaned it.

What you need:
3 Cups Bleach
2 Cups White Distilled Vinegar
1/2 Cup of Homemade Laundry Detergent (optional)

Set your washer on longest wash cycle, fill washer with Hot water and 3 Cups of Bleach, once filled let it agitate for a minute, then turn it off and let it sit for 1 hour. Start washer after the hour is over (you can let it soak for longer if you would like) This is when I added the Laundry Detergent in mine. Let it run through the whole wash and rinse cycles until its done.
**(if you need to wipe it down, this would be the time)
Then...
On the longest wash cycle fill washer again with Hot water and add the 2 cups of vinegar,once full let it agitate for a minute then turn it off and let it sit for 1 hour. Again turn it back on and let it run through the wash and rinse cycles.

**If your washer is in bad shape you may have to do a little wiping down to get the extra grime off, between the bleach and vinegar cleaning.

While I was at it, during the bleach soaking, I detailed the rest of the machine with a toothbrush, a rag and a scrubby using the bleach water. I cleaned the front where all the knobs are and the inside lid where the lip is (that always gets dirt and dust in there!) also the rim around the basket. Pretty much where there was dirt and grime. I don't have any dispensers in my machine, but that would be a good time to clean them also. You might want to run some clean water through the dispensers after the bleach though.
My machine is all shiny clean now. I am confident that I have a clean washing machine, and not afraid to wash my whites!

You should have a clean and sanitized washer now. The bleach and vinegar will kill bacteria, it will clean soap scum, and if you have hard water, it helps break up any mineral deposits in your hoses and basket. It will also freshen any funky smells that you might have

That's it! Just clean..

Happy Washing! Ha!

Homemade Laundry Detergent (s)

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Liquid  Laundry Soap 
Concentrate Whipped Soap 
Powdered Laundry Soap

I've been waiting a long time to make this! I couldn't justify not using up my "store bought" detergent before I made this. I loved the smell of my Gain, but hopefully they will come out with the scented laundry crystals for the Original Gain too (maybe they already have?!?? ) Or I could just make my own dryer sheets! (light bulb! ...blog idea (•̮̮̃•̃) ) Anyway I finally ran out the other day and was looking forward to making some detergent. (funny huh!?) I never in my life wanted to do laundry so bad! Haha!
 We already had all the ingredients since I used them for other "homemade" things, but I was trying to be  being patient! 
I have used Fels-Naptha for years, but not for laundry... growing up if we got into poison ivy we were told to wash with the Fels-Naptha, and my husband seems to always get into poison ivy or poison sumac a couple times a year, so I have it on hand for that. And I've been using the Borax in my wash for about a year now, and was really impressed with the results of adding it in with my regular detergent, so I knew the homemade version would meet my expectations!

I actually have three recipes to share today, a liquid, a "whipped" version and a powder. I made the liquid formula and when I'm finished with that I would like to make the whipped version. I would also like to try it with the Zote soap, depending on the smell, just to see...I'm pretty sensitive to smells though.  

This is safe for all washers including the HE(High Efficiency), this actually does not make suds at all so don't keep adding detergent looking for suds because there wont be any... you'll just have really, really clean clothes!

**Liquid LaundrySoap

Here is what you need for the Liquid Soap:
I didn't want to make a full batch to make sure I was going to like it so I halved the ones I saw, it still made a bunch!

1/2 Cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (found in the Laundry Isle) (also its Not Baking Soda)
1/2 Cup of 20 Mule Team Borax
1/2 Bar of Fels- Naptha Laundry Soap grated (also found in the Laundry Isle)
1 Grater ( grated to any coarseness you would like)

This made about 3 gallons (I used a 5 gal bucket to mix it in)

I use about a half cup per wash load (which equals about a cap full on my handy dandy recycled laundry soap container)


Grate up  half of the Fels-Naptha soap add it to a medium size pan of water (about 6 cups of water)
slowly cook the grated soap until all is melted, stirring frequently, don't let it come to a boil.

 

Once it is melted then add the Borax and the Washing Soda

Stir until all the powder is dissolved, and its thoroughly blended....mix and stir over low heat until it starts to thicken. Remove from heat.

Pour into the bucket or container you will be mixing it in, let it sit over night or until it gels up. Once it gels up break up the soap with a spoon.

 I then added HOT water to the half way point on my 5 gal. bucket, stir, stir, stir... I actually used my hand and broke up (squeezed) any "chunks" when I felt it was broke up enough, My husband helped me pour the soap into my storage containers.
I used a old liquid laundry soap container and two 1 gal. milk jugs and filled them about half way (easier to shake them up)

Reused Laundry Soap Container

Before giving it a shake - separated 

 Do make sure you shake your soap before each load as it will separate.

After giving it a good shake

Idea's for storage containers:
~ This Beverage Dispenser from Walmart
~ Reuse Liquid Laundry Detergent containers
~ Empty gallon Vinegar Jug
~ Empty Kitty litter Container
~ Gallon Milk Jug

make sure that which ever container you use has a tight sealing lid

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** Concentrated Whipped Soap
credit for this recipe goes to- The White Silk Purse   

You only need to use One (1) Tablespoon per wash load! 
256 loads of laundry!!!

Picture from White Silk Purse

2 Bars Fels Naptha
2 cups 20 Mule Team Borax
2 Cups Arm & Hammer Washing Soda 
Grater
6 Cups of Hot Water 


Add the grated soap to 6 cups of water over med-low heat until soap is melted. Stir in Borax and Washing Soda stir until dissolved. Don't let this boil over!
Once it is mixed well pour into storage container(s) and add 4 more cups of hot water, stir to blend. Let mixture sit over night. It will separate in 2 layers, one firm one gel, that is normal. Cut up or stir  to break it up a bit. You will have to do this next step a little at a time.  Spoon mixture into blender or mixing bowl and on low speed start mixing and work your way up faster. Using a spatula scrape the sides down  a few times to get it all the way mixed. It will be really thick, like thick cool whip :) 
Spoon your newly whipped soap into the storage container your going to use. Continue blending with the rest of the soap until you've finished blending it all.

Idea's for Storage Containers:
~ A Container like this from Walmart would hold the concentrated mix, the recipe makes 10 cups in total (4 quarts)
~ 1 quart mason jars

make sure that which ever container you use has a tight sealing lid

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**Powdered Laundry Soap
1 Tablespoon Per Wash Load 

2 Bars Fels Naptha Soap
2 Cups of 20 Mule Team Borax
2 Cups of Super Washing Soap

To make the bar soap easier to grate(by hand), place your soap in the freezer, it makes a finer grated soap if you use a small grater. The finer you grate it the better it will disintegrate.  Or you can use your food processor to make it more into a "Powder" it will be closer to the store bought texture
After grating up bar soap,pour into your storage container along with the Borax and Washing Soda. Mix thoroughly 
If you have a really dirty load of laundry you might want to use 2 Tablespoons.
If you wash a load in cold water you might want to put the tablespoon in a little bit of hot water to disintegrate it first, then add it to the wash.
* See my updated version of this Here it has scent crystals! smells so MMMMm. I also used Zote, instead of Fels Naptha, so pretty

Idea's for Storage Containers:
~ Kitty Liter Container
~ This Container from Walmart
~ Large Plastic cereal containers
~ 4 Qt. ice cream container (this is what I use)

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Tips:
I would avoid soap with oils, they might leave a residue that could stain your clothes.
Baking Soda and Washing Soda are NOT the same.
You CAN use bleach
You CAN use bluing 

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All of these recipes are:
Safe for Septic Tanks- does not contain phosphates 
Safe for HE Washers - low to no suds

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If you like these recipes you might want to try my Homemade Dishwasher Detergent &Vinegar Rinsing Aid 


Have Idea's or Tips from your experiences? Please share in the comments section below or email me.
whitfieldshomeinthecountry(at)gmail.com