Little tidbits of my life

Homemade Laundry Detergent...what went wrong???

HELP!!! 

I finally made some homemade laundry detergent, but something tells me I did something wrong...

Shouldn't it be really smooth?  There are big clumps of gel-like substance, but seem too hard to be the right consistency, and then it's all just kinda floating in a not quite water-like base.   I used the following recipe:

3 pints water; 1/3 bar Fels Naptha Soap grated; 1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda NOT baking soda; 1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax; 2 Gallon bucket to mix it in; 1 Quart Hot Water; Hot Water

Mix the grated Fels Naptha soap in a saucepan with 3 pints hot water and heat on low until dissolved.  Stir in Arm & Hammer Washing Soda and 20 Mule Team Borax.  Stir until completely dissolved and remove from heat.  Add 1 Quart  Hot Water to 2 gallon Bucket.  Add soap mixture and mix well.  Fill bucket with hot water and mix well.  Set aside for 24 hours, or until mixture thickens.  Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load.

I followed the directions exactly...so what do you think based on your experience and how yours looks when completed?  What did I do wrong???

BTW, www.soapsgonebuy.com has a kit of all ingredients for $24.95...I figured it was a good deal b/c I didnt have to go anywhere and it was hand-delivered to my living room!  I havent done the math yet to see how many batches I could make w/the kit, but at this rate, it's probably a good thing I have so much!

Thanks!

Teresa

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07:16, Thursday, March 27, 2008 .. Posted by LivingSimple

Hi Teresa--I used the exact same recipe and mine is not smooth, it will have some small lumps...what I would do is take a wire wisk and stir it really fast and that will help break up some of those lumps...Also make sure all of the soap has melted before adding your soda and borax...

~Kris

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08:17, Thursday, March 27, 2008 .. Posted by glenda

Some recipes do turn out like yours has. I do not use the liquid form i use the powder form as it just works better for me..
Here is the recipe that i use. We love it and well it has worked great for some time..

Homemade Laundry Powder

1 bar of graded soap (zote, ivory, felnapa, or homemade soap)

2 cups washing soda

2 cups borax

1 cup baking soda ( I like to add this to mine)

Mix and store in a reuseable container. We use for a large load 1/4 cup I start my washer and place my laundry detergent inside my washer then add the clothes as the water is filling up..

Now i also use vinegar in my washer. I have one of those fabric softener ball things and i fill it up to the line with white vingegar pull the tab and place in washer. It softens the clothes and also cleans the washer lines out..

Hope this helps
glenda`

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09:58, Thursday, March 27, 2008 .. Posted by seventhheaven

Mine always looks like this. Sometimes gels more than others.. I found my recipe on thefamilyhomestead.com, It seems very similar to yours. Mine works evertime. Once it was very liquid for some reason and it still worked the same.

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10:03, Thursday, March 27, 2008 .. Posted by Kitty

That is what mine usually looks like too. I use it anyway right or wrong, it cleans, LOL.......Kitty

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08:42, Friday, March 28, 2008 .. Posted by jennickless

Teresa,

I also use the same recipe. Mine too has lumps at first. Over time it gels up more. As of late I have used my own bar soap and I have the same results.

Jennifer

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12:12, Friday, March 28, 2008 .. Posted by southernbelle

It will by gloppy but it's fine. It won't look like the store brands. Just scoop it up and add to the washload. : )

hi

03:28, Friday, March 28, 2008 .. Posted by TheGoodLife

Did you let all the soap melt in water on stove top?

Mine is a smooth mixture - no lumps.

What you could do is return it to the pot & heat & stir until lump free.

Add back into container - add more water if you feel it needs it.

But if I was you I would use it as & put it in a bowl - add hot water, mix then add to washing.

Love Leanne

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12:29, Sunday, March 30, 2008 .. Posted by heritagehill

Mine is just like yours. I saved a bottle from store bought. I fill it with the homemade soap and then I just shake it good before each use. That seems to work fine.
Marilyn

Hi

01:44, Sunday, March 30, 2008 .. Posted by Belle

It looks okay. When I make mine, I put all the water (I use hot) in the five-gallon bucket after I put in the Borax and Washing Soda. I leave just enough room in my bucket to put in the melted fels-naptha and to rinse my pot with a little water.
Belle