Laundry detergent not in a bottle

[razz]

I have facecloths that are washed every week after one use and I have not noticed any change in absorbency. I do not use a fabric softener which I believe coats the fibres impairing absorbency but not sure of that.

[Teacher Terry]

I hate fabric softeners and dryer sheets.

[rosarugosa]

I have facecloths that are washed every week after one use and I have not noticed any change in absorbency. I do not use a fabric softener which I believe coats the fibres impairing absorbency but not sure of that.

It's my understanding that fabric softener shouldn't be used on towels because it will make them less absorbent.

[SteveinMN]

It's my understanding that fabric softener shouldn't be used on towels because it will make them less absorbent.

Mine, too.

[catherine]

So, I looked up all the ingredients for DIY laundry detergent on Amazon, and whether you buy them separately or as a "kit" it's around $28 for 4 bars of Fels-Naptha, 3.5 lbs of washing soda and 4 lbs. of Borax.

Then I read in the reviews that you can get everything much cheaper locally, so sure enough, if I buy the same stuff at my local supermarket it comes to half as much--around $15. So I'm going to buy that today as I'm out of my regular detergent.

One of the reviewers on Amazon says that this quantity lasts him a year. That would be a big savings for me. And it's better for the environment with no plastic packaging.

Thank you for your input on this, Tybee & razz.

[happystuff]

So, I looked up all the ingredients for DIY laundry detergent on Amazon, and whether you buy them separately or as a "kit" it's around $28 for 4 bars of Fels-Naptha, 3.5 lbs of washing soda and 4 lbs. of Borax.

Then I read in the reviews that you can get everything much cheaper locally, so sure enough, if I buy the same stuff at my local supermarket it comes to half as much--around $15. So I'm going to buy that today as I'm out of my regular detergent.

One of the reviewers on Amazon says that this quantity lasts him a year. That would be a big savings for me. And it's better for the environment with no plastic packaging.

Thank you for your input on this, Tybee & razz.

I used to make this when my kids were young and money was very tight. I'm thinking I may go back to this for the environmental reasons - i.e. less plastic, etc.

[Tybee]

Catherine, I think you will be so happy you did this! Yeah, the kit is a real rip off. I will say that instead of Fels Naptha, I use a bar of Yardley lavender soap, and it seems to work very well and smells faintly of lavender.

[catherine]

I love the smell of lavender! I'll give that a try!

[ToomuchStuff]

I am going to ask where did you all see the receipe? I wonder, because one thing I read (and lost when that computer died, and took its most recent bookmarks), said just to use your favorite soap?

[razz]

TMS, here is the recipe I use. I make mine with my food processor to mix to a finer blend.
https://www.diynatural.com/homemade-...etergent-soap/