Making your own laundry soap, cheap!

[problemchild]

Why the H+LL is laundry soap so expensive? As these gougers raise their prices I look for alternatives.

http://zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=39&t=48794

Total cost of this project? $2.25-$2.75 for 10 gallons which will be 180 loads of detergent.

[SickofSoCal]

That's a really nice writeup they did. Thanks for sharing.

[seanbo]

Thanks problemchild!

[Soades]

Thanks for the link. pics look like he's making an omelet.

[paradox]

Please don't use this for general purpose laundry detergent.

These days, laundry detergent uses a slew of enzymes for cleaning instead of phosphorous based soaps. The enzymes are made in big fermentation vats by genetically engineered fungus by biotech companies like Novozymes (http://www.novozymes.com/en/Pages/default.aspx). Using enzymes allows for the laundry to be cleaned in cold water (saving energy) and, more importantly, doesn't pollute the downstream water with phosphorous. They even put enzymes in there that helps preserve and restore cotton so that your clothes last longer.

Modern laundry detergents are an amazing product of bioengineering and are worth every penny.

[VegasND]

The kids are grown and gone so laundry soap isn't a large expense. We'll just stick with the convenience of store-bought.

[problemchild]

Problem is the rest of the world doesnt care and most americans dont care so one or two people using the 25 dollar per qt soap isnt going to make any difference. I use costco bucket soap now and it has no borg nano-particles in it as fas as I know. It does have a skull and crossbones on the back and states keep away from human flesh so Im doubting its safe for baby formula and treehuggers.

Ingredients

Soap (sodium tallowate*, sodium cocoate* (or) sodium palmate kernelate*, and sodium palmate*), water, talc, cocnut acid*, palm acid*, tallow acid*, PEG-6 methyl ether, glycerin, sorbitol, sodium chloride, pentasodium pentetate and/or tetrasodium etidronate, titatium dioxide, fragrance, Acid Orange (CI 20170), Acid yellow 73 (ci43350)

Please don't use this for general purpose laundry detergent.

These days, laundry detergent uses a slew of enzymes for cleaning instead of phosphorous based soaps. The enzymes are made in big fermentation vats by genetically engineered fungus by biotech companies like Novozymes (http://www.novozymes.com/en/Pages/default.aspx). Using enzymes allows for the laundry to be cleaned in cold water (saving energy) and, more importantly, doesn't pollute the downstream water with phosphorous. They even put enzymes in there that helps preserve and restore cotton so that your clothes last longer.

Modern laundry detergents are an amazing product of bioengineering and are worth every penny.

[bohoki]

i buy LA's totally awesome detergent from the dollar tree for (come on you know how much)

http://www.dollartree.com/cleaning-storage-hardware/laundry-supplies/Detergent-Fabric-Softener-Bleach/Awesome-Laundry-Detergent/212c311c385p294664/index.pro

[seanbo]

How much?????

[Chaparral]

IIRC, the washing soda is sodium carbonate and Home Depot used to sell that in the pool supply section.

I dunno how that borax would do with a grey water system tho. Boron is toxic to a lot of plants, including things like almonds and apricots. I'll stick with the biodegradable stuff while the Jandy valve is open.

[ZenDaddy]

I've used this recipe. In fact I have a bucket full in my LR right now. It is ok for very light duty, but as soon as you get a childs pee soaked bed or heavily soiled clothes, you end up double washing and defeating the purpose or just reaching for the Tide. It doesn't come even vaguely close to performing like modern detergents. It is nice to know that I have the makings for thousands of loads in an emergency though.

[problemchild]

I've used this recipe. In fact I have a bucket full in my LR right now. It is ok for very light duty, but as soon as you get a childs pee soaked bed or heavily soiled clothes, you end up double washing and defeating the purpose or just reaching for the Tide. It doesn't come even vaguely close to performing like modern detergents. It is nice to know that I have the makings for thousands of loads in an emergency though.

Thanks for the review you Earth killer you.