Powder laundry soap

[LynnCaroline]

Hello! I'm new to this forum and to soapmaking. I have successfully made one batch of shower soap and now I'm hooked! My next task is to make powder laundry soap. I have a recipe that calls for grated soap, borax, washing soda and baking soda. I'm planning to make my own soap for grating. I recently bought the TIDE type FO from sweetcakes and I was wondering if I can add it at trace? Or will it stain clothes? Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Healinya]

You won't know unless you try lol.. I lke sweetcakes tho, you should be ok... get their customer service number and call them and ask.. They should be able to ease your mind. I've made laundry soap a few times, never a discolor from the fo.

 

[Desert Karen]

Hello! I'm new to this forum and to soapmaking. I have successfully made one batch of shower soap and now I'm hooked! My next task is to make powder laundry soap. I have a recipe that calls for grated soap, borax, washing soda and baking soda. I'm planning to make my own soap for grating. I recently bought the TIDE type FO from sweetcakes and I was wondering if I can add it at trace? Or will it stain clothes? Any help would be appreciated!

I will be making my first batch of laundry POWDER this week as well. I just have to get my borax at another store. Wal Mart didn't carry it. I have a neighbor show me hers a few weeks ago. She is very sensitive to scents, but her powder smelled ok to me. She grated a bar of Fels Naptha for her powder. I'd like to pick the brains of "youz guyz" before I proceed. Neighbors FN soap was very, VERY finely grated. Can I grate mine a bit more course and not have it stain my clothing? She showed me that amount she uses in the washer. It was literally 1/8 oz. I'm not sensitive, so can I use more?

I'm also about to make dish washing soap. I know not to expect bubbles, but can I add something to the recipe that will add bubbles? The recipe has in it, grated soap, vinegar, baking soda, and washing soda. :crazy:

 

[kdaniels8811]

I just made another batch of laundry powder and you need a teaspoon only added to the bottom of the washer before you put the clothes in. This gives it a chance to dissolve. Honest, you do not need more. If the clothes are really dirty - like hubbys greasy work clothes - I double the amount but a single teaspoon works for everything else. So gentle on clothes and environment.

I use FO's and they do not cause any stain at all. I like Oatmeal/milk/honey fragrance for my laundry detergent. The scent does not stick to the clothes, though. I used a 0% superfat recipe with lard and it works fine but traces very quickly. Which is fine, I am grating it anyway. I just use a standard cheese grater - the larger holes - and it works well. Good luck! I have converted several friends to this soap, even my lint trap in the dryer does not get so much lint in it as before. This is great stuff. And cheap!

 

[melstan775]

@Lynn - Do you need to make paste out of your recipe? The recipe you're describing sounds like laundry powder and doesn't need to be melted down. You just use it like dry detergent. If it's a liquid recipe, care to share it?

I use Kirk's pure coco castille instead of Fels Naptha. Can't stand the smell of Fel's. It's like Pine Sol to me. I use two tablespoons in a full load, I find one tablespoon doesn't leave my clothes smelling as fresh. I use a full quarter cup in big loads like sheets and towels. Powder laundry detergent is great, but if you have hard water, you still have to use a decent amount or you won't have enough power to get past the mineral content of hard water.

And yes, I think you can use a larger grate with the Fels, it is a laundry bar and was designed to be scrubbed right onto clothing to remove stains. Just be aware it won't dissolve as quickly. If you don't want to hand grate it, stick it in the food processor.