Homemade Powdered Laundry Detergent with Scent Crystals

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So I bought some Zote Laundry Soap a couple weeks ago and have been waiting to make some powdered detergent till my Whipped Detergent was gone. I  used the Fels-Naptha Soap in my Liquid & Whipped Laundry Detergents, and that does smell good, and works really well too,  but after the clothes are washed and dried they don't have a scent. I like a good smelling shirt. :) That's why I made the Dryer Sheets , but I wanted to try the scent crystals in the Powdered Detergent. I used the Blue Bottle which is "Fresh Spring Waters" I would like to try the  Lavender Blossom but my hubby needs to smell that one first to see if its okay by him! Wouldn't that be so pretty though? Pink, Purple, & White!!! Even the Purex Crystals for Baby smells good...

Here is what you need:

2 Bars of Zote, or Fels-Naptha (You can use any bar soap you like, I've seen some recipes  with Dove, Ivory etc. (but I wouldn't use any that had oils in them, just my opinion)
2 Cups of Borax
2 Cups of Super Washing Soda
1 1/2 Cups of Purex Scent Crystals (you can use more or less to your liking) Updated  6/29/13 (see Edit below) I used my Gain Scent Crystals...I used the whole bottle. :)
1 Cup of Baking Soda (optional) (I didn't add this in, but have seen it added to other recipes)

I cut my Zote with a knife (its kinda soft-ish) into small cubes and put it into my little food processor  along with some of the borax or washing soda so it wouldn't stick to the blades so much.  I just did a little at a time so as not to burn up the motor. I also put the scent crystals in the processor too, it kinda chopped those up as well. If you don't have a food processor you can put your bars of soap in the freezer and use a small grater. Freezing the soap makes the grating a little easier and makes it into smaller flakes.

You only need 1 or 2 Tablespoons Per load! If its a really dirty load, you probably want to use 2. This detergent dissolves in cold water just fine. Its safe in HE machines, as this doesnt suds up at all, so don't add more thinking you'll get suds ;)

Edit 6-29-2013
I made a new batch with the Gain Scent Crystals ♥♥ Love the smell!! I missed my Gain....

Homemade Laundry Detergent with Gain Scent Crystals

Homemade Laundry Detergent with Gain Scent Crystals

Homemade Laundry Detergent with Gain Scent Crystals

Happy Laundry Day! I just know you love doing Laundry!  ツ  

Homemade "Whipped" Laundry Detergent

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I liked the Liquid  Laundry Detergent (← link) version that I made, but really wanted to try the "whipped" version! I have been using it for a little over a month now and I have to say, I truly do like this!! 
Its really hard (for some people) to get used to the fact that you only need 1 tablespoon, per load!! Really! And it does get the clothes clean because its super concentrated!!
I do use about a tablespoon and a half for my hubby's work clothes (he gets them super dirty!) and I have been adding anywhere from 1/2 cup to a 1 full cup of vinegar to help get the smell out (×̯×)  whew! hehehe
I also use the vinegar in our everyday clothes too, it helps with static and softens them to!
I  use my "Homemade Dryer Sheets"(← link) for the smelly good part  ツ 
I do use bleach, in with the whites along with this laundry soap, its safe to use  together. Its also safe for HE washers as it does not suds up, at all...

This is what you need:
2 Bars of Fels-Naptha Laundry Soap (or any two of your choice)
2 Cups of 20 Mule Team Borax
2 Cups of Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda (*not Baking Soda!)
10 Cups Total of Hot Water, Divided (6 & 4) 
Cheese Grater

Grate up the 2 bars of Fels Naptha - this requires a little bit of a workout lol ... you'll see what I mean ( and be careful of your fingers!) 

Add 6 Cups of Hot Water, on Med-Low heat stir until all the soap is dissolved.

Stir in the 2 Cups of Borax and the 2 Cups of Super Washing Soda. Continue stirring over Med-Low heat until all the powder in dissolved. Make sure it doesn't boil over. (I heard it was a mess!) I made sure to keep close watch, because I didn't want to clean up a huge mess! 

Once its all dissolved, add 4 more Cups of Hot Water, stir well and turn heat off and let set over night. It will start firming up as it cools. 

I just left it in the same pan over night.
Being that I am a impatient person, I kept going back and stirring it up (as well as did everyone else in the house lol) My daughter kept commenting on how much it looked like mashed potatoes, I told her, "sure, go ahead and take a bite" (for all those times she needed her mouth washed out with soap and never got it (¬_¬)  haha!) But she is old enough to know better and not to eat it! So if you have young ones, keep it up out of reach, where they can't get to it because it truly does look like mashed potatoes! That is, until its whipped then it looks like some sort of frosting!

Yummy Mashed Potatoes...NOT!
BEFORE Whipping

This was so thick, I couldn't use my tiny little food processor to whip it, nor my blender! (believe me, I tried!) And I don't have a electric hand mixer anymore.  If you have a stand mixer that would probably work, but I don't have one of those either ¯\(°_o)/¯

I had to get the big gun out!! (My hubbies idea)

Used my hubby's cordless drill and his paint mixer
  Hand model - Chelsea  ツ 

I used my husbands cordless drill and his paint mixer to whip it up (good thing he takes care of his stuff and cleans it properly after each use!) It worked PERFECT!

After whipping, I transferred it to my handy dandy 5 quart ice cream bucket. It fit perfectly in there, with a lil room to spare. Its easy to get a scoop of detergent out also! It would most likely fit in the 4 quart ice cream bucket too, if that is all you have!

5 qt. Ice Cream Bucket...with room to spare!

1 level Tablespoon scoop is all it takes

I use my fingers to get it out of the scoop and squish it between my fingers to break it up a bit, and rinse my hand and the scoop in the water. What chunks remain, will dissolve. I haven't tried just plopping the whole scoop of soap in to see if that breaks up and dissolves, I'll have to try that to see... 

Squishhhhh  ;)

That's it! Fill the tub as usual with clothes, and they come out clean!

Have Fun!

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

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent & Vinegar Rinsing Aid

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I  have been wanting to make this for awhile but I waited until my store bought detergent was gone, and I did a lot of research on it first!  Well yesterday I went and purchase everything that I needed, I used the last of my Cascade. (finally) ;)
I always like to save money anywhere I can, and this seems like one way to do it... I do a load of dishes probably every other day, maybe every three days, this homemade dishwasher detergent will last forever!! And the cost savings is going to be great!!
I do, however rinse my dishes before they go in the dishwasher, I have to, since I don't run it daily. I would hate to have to rewash everything (and waste water) because of stuck on food! 
Some of you may have to do some adjusting on the salt, either a little more, or a little less...depending on how hard or soft your water is. 
BTW Salt also acts as a scouring agent to scrub your dishes.

Substitutes: 
Washing Soda - Baking Soda (doesn't work as well, so I've heard)
Kosher Salt     - Epsom Salt 
Citric Acid       - LemiShine, or Fruit Fresh or Lemon flavored Unsweetened 
                       Kool-Aid...*note* Kool-Aid will stain your dishwasher!
Borax             - No Substitute 

Here is what you need:
1 Cup of Borax
1 Cup of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
1/2 Cup of Kosher Salt
1/2 Cup of Citric Acid (can be found in the canning isle or at Amazon)
White Vinegar
6 to 8 drops of Dawn Dish Soap per dispenser (see edit below)

**edit 5-24-2012 ~ I'm pretty sure I saw the "Finish" brand dishwasher soap that had some Dawn in it for "grease fighting action" lol ....so that gave me an idea (light bulb) I tried putting some Dawn in the pre-wash dispenser AND in the main wash dispenser...I used anywhere from 6-8 drops per dispenser. I just add the drops after I put the powder in each dispenser. It works great!! It didn't suds up to much, and my dishes are really clean. I'm not sure I would use anymore than that, maybe experiment and add one more drop to each dispenser... I'm going to try.

** Edit 6-13-2012 ~ 9 drops in each dispenser...there is a little suds,but not to much,I think I'll stop here, before I'm sorry :) It works good,my dishes are clean!
** Edit #2 on 6-13-2012 ~ I also noticed that the Borax? does not mix well with aluminum, I have a cheese cutter that has a aluminum handle that looked a little corroded,so I'll be washing that by hand. But it also did it with regular store bought dishwasher soap also.

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until well blended. Store in Air Tight container, in a cool dry place. (I will not be putting mine under the sink lol )
You can double or triple this recipe if you like.


Just a word of warning, this does tend to clump because of the Citric Acid, with that being said I am adding my Citric Acid when I run the dishwasher.

Tips to Avoid Clumping:
* Add 1/2 teaspoon Citric Acid separately to each dishwasher load. (This is what I'm doing, and I'm splitting it between the pre-wash and the main wash dispensers)

1/2 teaspoon added separately to dishwasher 

* Put some White Rice in panty hose (knee high's) tie a knot,cut off the majority of the "tail", and store in the container with the detergent.

* Add a couple Silica Gel Packets to the Detergent Container (This is what I wanted to do, but of coarse I couldn't find any when I needed them!) 
You can find these usually in Vitamin bottles, or in a shoe box etc., you know they are everywhere...except when you need them!!

Wash Dispenser/ Pre-Wash Dispenser:
Add 1 rounded Tablespoon, divided between the  pre-wash dispenser and the main wash dispenser. You can add a little more if you like, but I think less is more in this case. 

Rinse Dispenser:
* Add White Vinegar to the fill line in the Rinse Aid Dispenser (this should last about a month with regular use.(In the past I have added a drop or two of blue food coloring to the vinegar, if you have a viewing indicator window on the dispenser, it makes it easier to see how full it is I don't have one anymore. :(

* Also I add 1/2 Cup  to the bottom of the dishwasher before each load, it helps clean the dishes AND the dishwasher. And your dishes come out crystal clear! If you have hard water it helps with the lime build up on the heating element, and every where else inside the dishwasher for that matter!

I am happy with the results, I didn't have spots and my dishes came out with some bling ;) lol  Even my plastic cups came out with shine! 

Look at that shine! ;)

This is safe for any type of  dishwasher, including Stainless Steel Interior  Dishwasher's.

Now I can't wait to make my own Laundry Detergent....coming soon

 6-13-2012 ~ Link to Homemade Laundry Detergent(s)  :)