Homemade cleaners, and soap

[mnjrutherford]

Yep, I'm with you OL! Thanks for suggesting switching out the borax with the baking soda in case of a reaction. I'll mix up small batches for testing to start out with to make sure it's working for them. I'm pretty confident this will work really well for us cause I can't imagine store bought being better.

Oh yea, are you storing in glass or plastic?

Another thing... we always use cold water so I'm thinking the liquid version would be better than the powder?

[bluelacedredhead]

Liquid would be better for cold water, Jo. I find that the grated pieces don't dissolve properly in cold water and make a interesting decoration on the window of my front loader, or on dark coloured shirts

I store my dry mixture in an old tin pail (painted inside) that my grandma used for soap flakes. It has a tight fitting lid. Obviously, that wouldn't do for the Liquid version.

Ozark, the Lavender sounds lovely. I've not used any additional scent. It smells so "clean" without it.

Another suggestion for you to save money and show that you care for the environment is to not use your electric or gas clothes dryer. I hang outdoors year round, but when rain or snow does not permit, I hang smaller articles on a folding rack in the bathtub and jeans, bathtowels, etcetera, on a retractable line in an out of the way area of the house. When we had a woodstove, I strung the retractable in front of it. Clothes dried in no time.

[bluelacedredhead]

Mar 19, 2010 10:29:37 GMT -5 mnjrutherford said:

I waved good bye to $40 at the website Blue! Thanks a lot!

I got the detergent kit and some of the castile and pumice soaps. Good to find those, we actually need them!

YW ;D Any time you need help spending money hunny, I'd be glad to help,

OzarkLady said she used a potato peeler...Got one of those Jo?

[ozarklady]

Don't laugh! I went to the local laundromat and got cleaning jugs out of the trash can ! They have a sink right there, so I scrubbed them right there. The owners arrived and promised to save some for me. Less in the landfills!

I am eagerly awaiting warmer weather. I have a wringer washer, set up outside. But, the last time that I rushed spring and used it when it was too cold outside, I ran my right hand through the wringer, and dummy that I sometimes am, I reversed it, instead of quick release. Broke it pretty nice! So, I was in a cast for 6 weeks and didn't get to do alot that I wanted to in the garden. Did you ever try to eat with only your left hand?

That being said, when it is warm enough, I will crank up the wringer and the clothes lines will be full again!

Did you know that vinegar is a great fabric softener? Often fabric is stiff, from detergent not getting all rinsed out!

I used the potato peeler, it worked good, then I just kind of crumbled them up a little more. It melted in about 5 minutes, and today, when I poured it into my recycled 'finds' I saw no lumps. It was very thick, so I filled a small bottle for heavy soils, then I added more water to get it more like store bought detergents. I thought that was good, 4 jugs including my stain fighter for $.81 and about 15 minutes of my time!

[mnjrutherford]

You bet your bippie I've got a potato peeler! That's one of the most essential items in my kitchen. I've got plenty of good clean milk cartons with twist on lids I can use for storage as well. I got plenty of glass as well. So I'm good to go however way with that. I used to have lavender oil, but I think I gave it away with my candle making stuff before we left California We still have candles and I'll do it again, but we gotta get the hives built up first and the garden has to come before the hives. But that's a whole nuther thread! We still use hand dipped tapers on birthday cakes though...

So, ladies, where do you suggest I toss my big bucks for some lavender oil?

[ozarklady]

I found it on the candle making aisle in Walmart for $2.00 for 2 ounces.
I have to find a hive, I have already arranged to get a swarm of bees (is that what ya call them?) this spring... Yikes, more to do's but then, I will be right there dipping candles with ya. And I used to make candles and molded them. We are busy folks, huh?
I got 2 beds planted today, in my spare time.

[bluelacedredhead]

Freebies are the Best!

I knew that Vinegar was a great fabric softener, but I didn't know that it would help the soapscumresidue. I don't use fabric softener. I guess I should start using vinegar, huh?! TY for bringing that to my attention.

Be careful with that Wringer washer. They are wonderful, but one without a safety needs an attentive mind to operate it.

I love the scent of honey in bath salts and soaps. I wonder if there is any way of adding the scent to laundry?

[ozarklady]

My wringer has a safety, I just was having a blond moment and wasn't paying attention. It only got my fingers, but as it kept pulling, it separated bone from joint.. ouch! Think about it, fingers are not as thick as waistbands! The safety would not let my whole hand enter it.

Have you ever used vinegar as a hair rinse? It is a bit drying, but it will remove all soap buildup and bring up the shine. My hair is dry, so I can't use vinegar very often.

Sometimes, when I wash windows, I get a film, and guess what vinegar and newspapers will cut it really fast. Just pour vinegar on your newspaper and wipe... cool huh?

[bluelacedredhead]

I only use vinegar for window cleaning. And to clean drains. It's great stuff!

[sandbar]

Ok, ladies ... I have several questions for you:

Do you just use vinegar straight as your fabric softener? How much do you put in? White/Apple?

Do you find your homemade laundry soaps get your clothes (especially the stubborn stains and whites) as clean as commercial products?

Do you use any commercial products to supplement your homemade soaps?

TIA.

[grunt]

Jo: My skin is very sensitive to any leftover soap residues, to the point where the laundry goes through once with soap, and once or twice more just to rinse out the residue. I wash me with Dove, because any of the other bar soaps end up peeling off small rolls of skin with the washcloth. For detergent, we steer clear of any of the "new and improved, stronger than ever" variety, and anything that has any scent added. And softener sheets, or laundry additives to do same, are not found on the premises. I have to wear 100% cotton shirts or Tshirts, or I itch all the time.

[cornishwoman]

Mar 19, 2010 22:30:19 GMT -5 sandbar said:

Ok, ladies ... I have several questions for you:

Do you just use vinegar straight as your fabric softener? How much do you put in? White/Apple?

Do you find your homemade laundry soaps get your clothes (especially the stubborn stains and whites) as clean as commercial products?

Do you use any commercial products to supplement your homemade soaps?

TIA.

Sandbar I use full strength vinegar as a softener in the washer,I add 1/4 cup to the compartment,I do add essential oil to the gallon vinegar jug but not always and I use the cheapest vinegar that I can find,in fact the brand you mentioned often is the cheapest.As for stains, well the only stains I have problems with are grease stains so a little soak in the detergent usually gets rid of that.I use a hot wash for whites and undergarments and sheets and a warm wash for clothes,then clothes that are recommended gentle or hand wash I usually do just that ,hand wash them.No I don't use any of the additive your speaking of, like stain lifters,theres lots of natural ways to get rid of stains just takes a little effort.

[JanetM]

If I might add in here. I use cheap white vinegar as much as I can get in the soften cup, full strength too. I spray Shout on any stains/grease and wash everything in cold water. I do cut back a little on the soap and use a store brand not the higher priced one.

[mnjrutherford]

Sounds like your skin is more delicate even than Mike and Robby's. We've been using liquid store detergent that is supposed to be hypoallergenic. I'm not sure I completely buy the line. Anyway, I'll be glad to move on to using something else more economical and earth friendly. I gotta do something to make up for the fact that I'm not yet willing to part ways with my electric dryer. I've hung a few to many sheets in my day... sort of like ironing anything. I ONLY iron when I'm sewing.

[ceara]

Big box stores charge way too much for essential oils. You can find better prices by purchasing from toiletry/soapmaking suppliers, like Snowdrift Farm in the USA.

I make bath/shower bar soap for the family to use. It's a very simple task. Just need an accurate digital scale, hand/stick blender and a recipe. There are literally thousands of recipes online. But you can learn to make your own recipes by following some mathematics and saponification tables.

Soapwort officinalis can also be made into a liquid soap. Just make a "tea" with the leaves or root, let cool, drain. Musuems use Soapwort to clean old textiles because it's gentle.

theherbgardener.blogspot.com/2010/03/how-to-make-organic-soap-using-soapwort.html

In my location I don't even see washing soda or borax at the stores. But you can convert baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to washing soda (sodium carbonate) by putting it into the oven. The heat causes it to change.

www.ehow.com/way_5393341_washing-soda-substitute.html

Ivory soap isn't really "pure" in my opinion. Because all commercial bar soap starts out with the fat and sodium hydroxide mixture, which converts the fatty acids in the oil/fat to turn into soap with a side of glycerin. Soap manufactures squeeze out the naturally occurring glycerin, then sell it to you in the form of lotions and creams after claiming that soap dries your skin. If memory is correct, most commercial bars use tallow (cow fat) and coconut oil, but on the ingredient label they print sodium tallowate or sodium cocoate. Soap is basically a salt, so those terms are for soap made from the fat listed.

Ivory "floats" because one time, long ago, a worker left on the mixing machine out of incompetence and went to lunch. When he returned, he noticed his mistake but did not toss the mixture. It ended up wrapped and sold. When customers started to ask for the floating soap, the employee had to fess up and explain what he did. Ivory soap is "whipped" to incorporate more air into the mix. That's the legend anyway. Not sure on the accuracy.

There is also a tree seed from around India that people call "soapnuts." Basically you put soapnuts into a jar with water, and shake. It foams right up. 2-3 "soapnuts" can go into a muslin bag into the washing machine. They say the nuts last 1-2 washes in hot water, and a lot more washes in cold water. So the nuts are reusuable. I only saw a video about it and have not tried it yet. Looks interesting anyway.

Can't get any more natural than that.

In a pinch, Birch leaves mixed with boiling water should produce a bit of suds too. Which is a good tip to remember when you're out camping. Birch leaf tea is also good in a bath to help with sore muscles.