I also make my own laundry soap. I love it! it uses a laundry soap bar that I grate and melt. Borax and Washing Soda(not the same as baking soda). It makes 10 gallons. I make it about once a year. Arm and hammer website sells the washing soda for cheap. You can also buy it at Ace hardware stores. Borax is sold in grocery stores in the laundry aisle.
Hunter 5-1/2yr
Raelynn 4 yr 1 mo
Fischer 2yr 8mo
Baby #4 due July 19,2011
FLAMINGPANTIES
Posts: 7003
9/9/10 8:27 A
I make my own detergent because I am cheap and was tired of buying it.
For the one that was wondering where to find Borax. It is in the laundry aisle of your grocery store or department store. I don't know why you wouldn't have access to it in the UK. Also try looking for it online at Amazon or UK equivalent.
Courtney (28)
Camryn Shayne (6lbs 4oz 19in) and Logan Ryan (4lbs 12oz 18in) 9/7/04 (born via C/S at 37 weeks) RIP Logan
Holdyn Ryan (12/12/08 VBAC-NCB 8lbs 23 and 3/4 in)
I understand that having hard vs. soft water can make a big difference in whether a given natural laundry detergent will work for you.
I also make my own laundry detergent - using a recipe similar to the one posted below. I too have sensitive skin, and it's never given me any problems.
Ecover and Green Mountain worked well for us, but at $13-$15 a jug, it was worth trying the homemade recipe. It's soooo cheap, and it doesn't take much time or effort.
CAITLINK
Posts: 514
6/11/10 11:14 P
I just started cloth diapering and am using rockin green. It's working great! No stinkies at all!
BRYTANY09
Posts: 4
6/9/10 1:48 P
I use country save on our clothes and on Lia's cloth diapers. I find it works really well. I add vinegar if I need to really take odors out.
I use Rockin Green for our diapers and Country Save for our regular clothing. Both work well...
MAYRA_G1
Posts: 3
5/28/10 9:33 P
I use Melapower. Works amazing! I love that I don't even have to use that much, 1 oz is more than enough! Great on the economy. :)
SEPTEMBER09MOM
Posts: 42
5/28/10 1:02 A
Charlie's Soap works for us... Some pieces need to soak longer, so I leave them overnight, and then wash in the morning. For heavily soiled underarm shirt area, I spray a little OxyClean :)
Anyone tried Rockin' Green detergent?
I just have to be careful, since we use cloth diapers. :)
Mommy to a baby girl born at home in September '09 [Hypnobabies waterbirth]
We use Mountain Green, free and clear or baby. It's the only detergent I have found that is natural, works and doesn't make my son break out in a rash.
~Amy~
Anderson, 2 yrs old
Reagan, born at home Dec 2010
MOMWANNABE2011 BabyPoints:1016
Posts: 7
1/12/10 8:59 P
I switched to ALL free and clear (dye free fragrance free) and just plain baking soda. Baking soda got out many more stains than the bleach I once used. I tried Sun and Earth detergent, but my clothes were still dingy and smelled or armpit after washing.
GUERILLA
Posts: 2798
12/5/09 6:55 A
I'm using liquid soapnuts at the moment and I'm fairly satisfied. It mostly does a good job of getting rid of the stains, but it doesn't leave a nice, fresh smell, so I add a natural fragrance instead of a softener and if I hang the clothes out to dry right away, they smell fine.
I remember when I washed with regular detergent, I could leave the clothes in the washing machine for the entire night and take them out in the morning smelling of detergent perfume (I wouldn't call that smell fresh and clean anymore though, I've come to hate it).
For stuff that can be washed at higher temperatures and for whites, I add some natural oxygen bleach and that really does a great job of removing stains and smells. Doesn't work under 50°C though and I wash most of my things on 40...
Jana
--
Tandem breastfeeding, co-sleeping, cloth diapering, baby wearing momma. :)
MOMMY_HAS_FOUR
Posts: 20853
12/1/09 4:47 P
I really like the Method brand - I've tried 7th Gen and find I have to wash things twice to get them remotely clean
Leah - Mommy to Owen(Jan 23,2006)
Charlotte (Oct 7, 2008)
and Reece, (March 2, 2010)
I'm proud to be a three time babyfitting,breastfeeding,babywearingand co-sleeping mama
Hello baby #4!
KASIAA
Posts: 1
12/1/09 2:02 P
I have been using Biokleen for three years now and love it! It washes up great in cold, warm and hot water. I do use a stain remover to pretreat, but might switch to a paste of baking soda and dish detergent that I hear good things about. My stain remover is one of the last chemical potions that I use in the house, so it would be nice to find a natural alternative.
PHAEDRA05
Posts: 4587
10/13/09 3:19 P
I really like biokleen.
AMYKRU01
Posts: 6
10/12/09 2:20 P
I use the Melaleuca brand and it works great. For the armpit stuff rubbing in some baking soda w/ the laundry soap prior to washing works really well - I'm a sweater too. I have also heard good things about soap nuts but haven't tried them.
MGYGDL
Posts: 2708
10/11/09 11:05 P
I have tried 7th generation, and I can say i did like the baby version of it. As for the regular one for adult clothes not so much. My husband perspirates a lot but, doesn't stink believe it or not, and the armpit from his shirts would come out from the dryer smelling funny, not nasty but just not clean.
Tried Ecover and the same result, gave Charlie's soap a chance and OMG it doesn't work at all!! I mean it gets DS' cloth diapers clean but as far as clothes nope, some of DS bibs are still stained, they were fresh stains from that same day they got dirty and the soap didn't even remove the yogurt.
Now that I find it hard to find the 7th generation baby detergent, I have ordered Babyganics, hopefully it does a good job on keeping my kids clothes clean w/o irritation. Julian has very sensitive skin.
What works for you ladies?
BTW, the one detergent I found out to work with DH's shirts was Arm & Hammer Free.
Still cosleeping,100% EBF, babywearing, cloth diapering and LOVING IT!!!
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