OK. This build is a long time coming. I have been wanting to try this recipe since 2007, but just never got around to it. I think I was still getting over a friend of min clowning me because I wanted to try this. Also, some of the bloggers claim that diy detergent destroys your machine. Since my machine is 12 years old, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t concerned. This weekend after I did my personal laundry (there are some things I don’t want soaking with my ‘good’ clothes and unmentionables). I washed dish towels, an oven mit, and 3 of the God’s white undershirts. I ran out of washing powder and was too lazy to go to the grocery for more Tide. So that was as good a time as ever. Plus I already had the ingredients…. From 2007!
Here is the recipe: ½ bar of shredded Zote, 1 cup of Borax, ½ cup of washing soda, ¼ cup of oxyclean all placed in an air tight container.
Other bloggers suggest using 1 Tables spoon. I used 2. I didn’t want to make the liquid versions. I don’t buy liquid washing soap in the 1st place. Why would I make it now? Of course I did the knowledge to all the products first. I have been looking for a vegetarian cleaning product. I don’t eat meat and I don’t think it’s cool to wear clothes that have been soaked in meat. Especially on my girl parts. That’s not saying Zote or Fels Naptha are vegetarian, but now I know it can be done. The interesting thing I learned was that Borax and washing soda essentially did the same thing. Washing soda is more severe, chemical version of borax. And where borax is quarried, washing soda is manufactured. They both soften hard water, they both remove organic stains, they both remove odor. So when I was playing with the proportions, I decided to use less soda and more borax. Also, washing soda is more difficult to find and more expensive. I don’t do online ordering of something I’m supposed to be able to find locally. I added oxyclean because it’s a brightner that I am familiar with.
Since I have given you the recipe and method, let me move on to the results… The mix worked on my non-garment laundry. I didn’t add bleach to the mix because my internet research said I shouldn’t mix bleach and washing soda. Plus I wanted to see how the powder worked all by itself. It seemed to work. BUT… I did wash the items in hot water. Let’s be mindful that hot water and agitation can clean clothes too. Here are some before and after pics….
Yesterday, the God decided to do his own laundry with the powder. He did whites with hot water. He was very invested in using the powder since he was the one who had to shred the soap, and there wasn’t anything else to use. Shredding the soap is really was a man’s job. That soap was HARD. Also, he has more whites than I do in his wardrobe. I don’t know when this started but I, for some reason, have dark everything with few whites. Dark towels, dark under things, even dark t-shirts. I own very little white. And I didn’t realize that until we moved in together. I would buy bleach maybe every 6 months? In the past I have had skin reactions to bleach cleaned items and used to use that bluing stuff. But when I moved to GA I couldn’t find it here; nor anyone that ever heard of it. But I digress… The God’s clothes looked clean and didn’t smell funky. Isn’t that really the bottom line of clean laundry?
There were a few negatives… The yellow under arm stains did not budge. At all. I really should investigate how to remove those. I don’t really have that problem since I don’t wear white shirts that much, but the God does. And if anybody sees his undershirts, I will be deemed a poor Earth. And he won’t throw them away, or let me do it. Another thing is the laundry doesn’t smell like anything. Not funk, but not fresh. I know I was used to the chemical sweetness of Tide but I’d like a little something something. Also, the dishtowels were rough. I didn’t use fabric softener either. I wanted to see how the powder worked in its purest state. But none of these negatives are deal breakers.
So the conclusion is, I recommend this and will continue using this mix until something bad happens. I do want to do some further experimentation… (1) I want to use it on my clothes to see if it messes with my eczema. (2) I want to make this using vegan soap. (3) I want to use all borax and no washing soda to make it greener and cheaper. (4) I need to see if it works in cold water and on dark clothes. And (5) I am ever hopeful that it doesn’t mess with my machine.
Feedback? Sheila?
Peace
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