Always Learning: Powdered Laundry Soap and Dishwasher Detergent

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Powdered Laundry Soap and Dishwasher Detergent

We've been using this laundry powder for years and love it! If you are washing your clothes in cold water, heat up a cup of hot water to dissolve the powder in first before putting it into the washing machine.

1 box Borax

1 4lb. box of baking soda

1 box of Washing Soda

3 bars Fels-Naptha Soap or Ivory or Dr. Bonner's Soap

5 1/2 cups Oxyclean

Grate the soap finely in a food processor. Mix in a bit of the washing soda to prevent the soap from getting sticky. Combine all the ingredients in a 5 gallon bucket and stir well.

Use 1 to 2 Tablespoons per load. It comes out to about 3 cents a load. It does a great job and even works in cold water with whites and darks!

I bought the Fels-Naptha here. Some women have told me they can get it cheaper at Walmart or Ace Hardware. Our Walmart carries all of the supplies. You can also use Dr. Bonner's Bar Soap which I have been using lately and love it!

Also, if you can't find Washing Soda, I read that you just have to spread baking soda on a cookie sheet and bake it at 350 degrees for 30 minutes and you'll have washing soda.

I just put it in a glass container and leave it on my dryer with a Tablespoon in it all ready to go. Make sure you keep it sealed or it may start clumping up. It smells wonderful!

Amazing Dishwasher Detergent

This stuff makes your dishes come out of the dishwasher sparkling clean! I realize the Dawn and OxiClean may not be completely environmentally friendly but you use such a small amount in every load so I am sure it is much better than Cascade!

Mix together ~

1 teaspoon OxiClean
1/2 teaspoon Dawn
Put it into Dishwasher Dispenser

Put 1/2 cup of vinegar on the top shelf.

That's it and your dishes will come out so clean!

Comments (36)

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Lauren · 683 weeks ago

The detergent I make is just Borax, washing soda and fels naptha. I have been pretty happy with it so far. Does adding baking soda and oxi clean up the clean factor of the detergent?

1 reply · active 683 weeks ago

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Danielle · 683 weeks ago

Maybe this will actually clean our clothes. So many of the Borax, fels naptha, and washing soda recipes never got our clothes clean. So we'd go back to Tide or Gain.

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Suzanne · 683 weeks ago

Hi Lori,
I make mine without the oxi, but what I do use are organic essential oils. I will make a batch and use lavender, orange or even peppermint oil. Then I put a softener in that is basically a cup or so of vinegar with a bit of the same oil. I just mix it and keep in mason jars. Smells heavenly:-)

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Jaime · 683 weeks ago

What if you have a front loading washing machine? I thought it had to be HE and liquid detergent?

1 reply · active 683 weeks ago

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Jacqueline · 683 weeks ago

Lori, I must have been commenting that I was looking into maca. I am ordering Navitas Naturals raw powder from Vitacost today. here is what I have been reading : http://www.ahealthya.com/womenshealth.htm Have a blessed day, friend!

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Jacqueline · 683 weeks ago

What a neat post! I am going to have to do this after my Nellie's runs out! I am paying about 10 cents/load with it since they sell me wholesale by the case. It has similar ingredients! TY!

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Diane · 683 weeks ago

Hi Lori,
I also make your laundry soap but get my fels naptha bars at Walmart for $.96 a bar. I have found that to be the best price so far. My husband and I have been making this recipe for young couples at our church as a ministry to help them strectch their budget. I also use a home made liquid recipe for the drier and dishwasher too.
Blessings,
Diane
crane411@comcast.net

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Kendra · 683 weeks ago

I have carpal tunnel syndrome in my wrists (from playing flute for 25 yrs), so grating soap is hard for me. A friend gave me this recipe two years ago: 2 lbs baking soda, 3/4 C washing soda, 1/2 C liquid castile soap (I use Dr. Bronner's), 2 C warm water, 30 drops essential oil (optional). It turns out kind of pasty, but it works amazingly well. The castile doesn't give it enough scent for me, so I match the essential oil to the castile that I'm using (I have peppermint right now). I use 1/8 C per load.

1 reply · active 673 weeks ago

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Mrs.B · 683 weeks ago

I have wanted to do this for so long...still haven't done it. This version looks great.

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Melissa · 683 weeks ago

I'm curious, if the washing soda is just baking soda that has been baked, do I really need to add it?

1 reply · active 683 weeks ago

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Amy · 682 weeks ago

I get Zote for 59 or 69 cents each. It is plant based. Easy to find at Big Lots or Dollar stores.

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Vicki · 682 weeks ago

I use a similar recipe but without the oxyclean. I, too noticed that my whites weren't as clean looking as I get with regular commercial detergent. So it seems like a good idea to try this. By the way, I recently heard that the Dollar Tree has something similar to oxyclean and much cheaper. It comes in a smaller container, but the price per ounce is better.

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CBP · 682 weeks ago

I just tried the oxi version and it seems to be doing a fine job. I have well water and sometimes some soaps just don't do the trick.

I'm glad you gave the "large" recipe -- saved me from doing the math!!

1 reply · active 682 weeks ago

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Jeanette Haygood · 682 weeks ago

Here's a tip for those trying to grate the bars of soap, especially if you need a very fine grind for an HE machine. You can use a food processor or a Salad Shooter to grate your soap initially . To get the grated soap even finer mix with some of the dry ingredients and run it through the food processor again. The first time I made laundry soap I was not making as large an amount as this recipe but if you don't mind taking a little extra time to process this much soap you will be very happy with the outcome I think.

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Kathy · 682 weeks ago

Sounds like you had the same revelation as me. I recently blogged about the switch from homemade liquid laundry detergent to this same recipe. Like it lots better too. So easy to make and lasts forever.

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Hannah · 682 weeks ago

I recently made a batch of liquid detergent and I love it. Once I go through my batches, I wanted to try the powedered kind. Thank you for sharing!

Stopping by from Hearts 4 Home Link up

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Maria · 682 weeks ago

I've been using the powdered soap for a few years. LOVE the large recipe. I am seeing a Christmas gift idea in my future. :) Thanks.

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Heidi Rowe Partin · 682 weeks ago

Oxiclean has just come out with a "new and improved" concentrated powder to replace the tub. You might want to warn people in your recipe or they might put in too much.

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Karen S. · 681 weeks ago

I actually sprinkle baking soda on my carpet at times....before I vacuume it up! Great stuff!

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Denise · 681 weeks ago

Wow! Honestly, I never heard of mixing up your own formula for laundry soap. You're a much more industrious woman than I could ever be!

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becky · 681 weeks ago

I want to try this It seems I can never get y clothes very clean

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allie · 681 weeks ago

Can this be used on a HE machine?Old machine just died.......

1 reply · active 673 weeks ago

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JDaniel4's Mom · 681 weeks ago

This looks like a great way to clean your clothes.

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Lavender Cottage · 681 weeks ago

Well, I'd like to say I learned something new today from your post, thanks for sharing your recipe for powdered laundry soap. It is so expensive to buy at the grocery store.

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Judie · 681 weeks ago

When I was a little girl, my grandmother used to whip up Ivory Flakes into a froth and put them on the Christmas tree as snow!!!

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