Trying to get the "perfect" powder soap for washin

[barman]

Hi!

I found there's another thread for a liquid soap recipe for laundry, with very positive comments from the users who tried it.

I'm interested in developing my own recipe for (natural) soap for washing machines. I'm interested in powder soap, so I focus on grating soap bars.

I know detergents have the reputation of being more powerful than soap, and I wish to get a soap as efficient as possible. Perhaps I won't be able to rival detergents, but at least I wish to get as close as possible.

Of course I don't expect to achieve it with my first try... instead I expect this will be a sort of try and error process.

Have you read any useful stuff about this? Any article or book?

What could be a good way of perfecting a formula? Would it be a good idea to compare the results of my soap against detergent? If affirmative, how would you do this comparison? Two cloths with the same dirt? Or how?

Maybe these questions may sound stupid, but I'd like to develop a good recipe that can be used as a very good substitute for detergent.

 

[ToniD]

I did read an article last month that I found informative, but sorry, I don't have a clue where it is. I googled soap vs detergent, if I remember correctly, and read several sites.

Two things I would note. (saying this, I do use my soap for washing and like it, so don't take this as a negative)

I don't think that the any problems with using soap is because it does not clean as well as detergent, but that in itself soap can leave a residue on clothing. That is why most recipes will mix with borax and washing soda. So I personally just use cheap oils (tallow or lard with some coconut. I've used soy, but it went rancid) because I feel like they do the job.

When I was making powdered mix, my problem was different grain sizes/ weight did not mix well. No matter how evenly I stirred it in, I would end up with an uneven mix of borax/soap with settling. Now I am doing a paste sorta texture that stays incorporated more evenly.

Anyway, good luck in your search.

 

[barman]

Thanks a lot, TonyD.

If anybody has read books or articles with a reasonably deep study of using soap in washing machines, or what things to consider when designing a soap recipe for laundry, please tell the source!!

TIA!

 

[carebear]

be aware that using a non-commercial surfactant in your washing machine will likely void the warranty.

 

[barman]

be aware that using a non-commercial surfactant in your washing machine will likely void the warranty.

This is really interesting, I didn't think of it. Btw, if I purchase powder soap (natural soap) from a vendor that makes powder soap for washing machines, would it also void the warranty? I know of some businesses that sell natural soap for washing machines...

 

[carebear]

Don't know.

 

[Fragola]

be aware that using a non-commercial surfactant in your washing machine will likely void the warranty.

I don't think this is how warranties work.

Instead, if your detergent (commercial or otherwise) damages the machine, that voids your warranty. Except that for a commercial detergent, you can sue the producer.

 

[green soap]

I would be interested in this information too, either as liquid or powder laundry soap. We are working on a grey water system, so detergents are not suitable.

I make liquid soap using KOH, we add a little borax to the wash but we are not really happy with the outcome. We have not tried using vinegar during the the rinse yet, maybe this will help.

 

[carebear]

be aware that using a non-commercial surfactant in your washing machine will likely void the warranty.

I don't think this is how warranties work.

Instead, if your detergent (commercial or otherwise) damages the machine, that voids your warranty. Except that for a commercial detergent, you can sue the producer.

Think? Or know?


ITEMS EXCLUDED FROM WARRANTY
"Damage resulting from accident, alteration, misuse, abuse, fire, flood, acts of God, improper installation, installation not in accordance
with electrical or plumbing codes, or use of products not approved by Maytag."
http://www.maytag.com/digitalassets/MHW ... nty_EN.pdf
http://www.maytag.com/digitalassets/MVW ... nty_EN.pdf

(and if you have an HE machine, the ONLY products they recommend are HE detergents).

And yes, they can blame a slew of things on the detergent, even if it's not really the detergent's fault. Plus using soap can cause unreasonable buildup of scale and soap scum, etc. even with a vinegar rinse.

 

[green soap]

[ Plus using soap can cause unreasonable buildup of scale and soap scum, etc. even with a vinegar rinse.

Does this happen even with liquid soap which is formulated at a lye (KOH) excess (and neutralized with borax) ?

 

[carebear]

the joy of detergents is that they don't cause soap scum; unfortunately both bar and liquid soaps can lead to it.

 

[Kleine Teufel]

I've been using a liquid version with borax and washing soda and haven't had any issues, not even in the HE. The people I've spoken to haven't had issues with it on HE machines either. Important thing to note is that you need to use less (just like you use less detergent). As for cleaning power, I haven't noticed any difference, but I use oxyclean on possible stains. A friend of mine has sworn that my stuff is the best in the entire world (beating out commercial detergents) for cleaning. She claims to have had stained childrens' clothes that have been washed numerous times to no avail, but they came out with one wash with my homemade detergent. My kids don't have stained up clothes either, however, mine could simply be because I believe that Oxyclean (or Sunlight knock off) is simply powdered gold for laundry.

 

[FOhoarder]

I have been using my own powdered soap for about a year now and at one point I ran out and was forced to buy commercial detergent and saw a difference right away. I quickly made a batch of my lard and lye laundry soap and all was well again. I only use a TBS per load and add it to my water before the clothes and it dissolves completely. I hope that little amount isn't building up to where my washer will break! I don't want to stop using it! :cry:

 

[Fragola]

Think? Or know?

Know that warranties I have bumped into aren't like that.

Think that I don't know all possible warranties and/or applicable laws. Obviously every product user needs to check what applies to them.

And yes, they can blame a slew of things on the detergent, even if it's not really the detergent's fault.

Do you know this to be often the case ?

"Damage resulting from accident, alteration, misuse, abuse, fire, flood, acts of God, improper installation, installation not in accordance
with electrical or plumbing codes, or use of products not approved by Maytag."

Precisely the point I made, if you read carefully.

This is how I see things: I don't expect somebody else to pay for my mistake which has directly or indirectly damaged the product.

I'm worried less about warranty and more about damage to the machine.

Does soap always cause heavy scum buildup ?

And another thing I've been wondered: can't you simply use washing soda, maybe mixed with some borax ? I'm thinking that it is called washing soda, because it's used for washing.

 

[carebear]

YOu can do whatever you want.

 

[ToniD]

And another thing I've been wondered: can't you simply use washing soda, maybe mixed with some borax ? I'm thinking that it is called washing soda, because it's used for washing.

[/quote]

Arm and hammer calls it a laundry booster, but does not recommend it for washing alone for laundry.