Laundry detergent not in a bottle

[Tammy]

Here’s something that’s working well for us and the environment - laundry detergent sheets that come in a box, in place of laundry detergent that’s liquid or powder. The powder never worked well for me as I use cold water and it doesn’t always dissolve completely.

It was a total of about $20 for two boxes. Each box has 57 sheets. I tear the sheet in half because half of the sheet does well with one load of laundry. So the cost is 20 for 228 loads of laundry. This will last us about 18 months.

It dissolves immediately in the water. These are on Amazon. No more plastic laundry bottles to throw out.

It was the most affordable one without fragrance. I can’t tolerate a lot of fragrances.


Hopefully this link works:

https://www.amazon.com/ECOSNextTM-Liquidless-Laundry-Detergent-Squares/dp/B082P82QPP?pd_rd_w=kmB78&pf_rd_p=4eebd874-436f-4f05-a794-09646834b2dd&pf_rd_r=E35W7X4VABK27YH2ZCJ2&pd_rd_r=e7d50043-cd5b-429c-bd54-20ed49800416&pd_rd_wg=govEN&pd_rd_i=B082P82QPP&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_m_rp_75_sc

[catherine]

I've seen those advertised! Glad to get a good review!

[iris lilies]

Hunh, interesting.

I am annoyed with having to buy liquid detergent because it’s next to impossible to find powdered detergent anymore at my grocery store. I pay a lot of money for water, not. Don’t like that. And I knew if I posted something here you all would all be jumping on me about why I don’t make my own powdered laundry detergent but I don’t want to.

[frugal-one]

[QUOTE=Tammy;370661]Here’s something that’s working well for us and the environment - laundry detergent sheets that come in a box, in place of laundry detergent that’s liquid or powder. The powder never worked well for me as I use cold water and it doesn’t always dissolve completely.

It was a total of about $20 for two boxes. Each box has 57 sheets. I tear the sheet in half because half of the sheet does well with one load of laundry. So the cost is 20 for 228 loads of laundry. This will last us about 18 months.

It dissolves immediately in the water. These are on Amazon. No more plastic laundry bottles to throw out.

It was the most affordable one without fragrance. I can’t tolerate a lot of fragrances.

----------------

You don't do much laundry?? That seems very expensive to me.

[catherine]

9 cents a load doesn't sound expensive to me.

I could probably do half a sheet, too, as I have a small stackable.

[Tammy]

We do about 3 loads a week. $20 for 18 months of detergent doesn’t seem expensive to me.

[frugal-one]

We do about 3 loads a week. $20 for 18 months of detergent doesn’t seem expensive to me.

I don't know how you get by with just 3 loads a week. We have whites, towels, sheets, delicates plus heavier (jeans, pants) and sometimes blankets, etc. There are 2 of us and we do about 6-8 loads per week. Interesting how lives vary.

[razz]

I was not aware of this detergent option. I have been making my own with Sunlight bar, washing soda and borax as it seemed ridiculous to be hauling large containers of water with some detergent added never mind the cost of plastic and transport. While I have a supply of the ingredients now, the washing soda is hard to find.
Wonder how long it will take consumers to switch - Walmart to make it readily available in their stores which seems to be the usual route to marketing changes?

[catherine]

I don't know how you get by with just 3 loads a week. We have whites, towels, sheets, delicates plus heavier (jeans, pants) and sometimes blankets, etc. There are 2 of us and we do about 6-8 loads per week. Interesting how lives vary.

I'm like Tammy--I do about 3-4 loads a week. Whites, regular clothes, and towels. Occasionally something big. But we don't wash towels every time we use them. Most of the time, the towels are clean after you get out of the shower. I also get a couple of wearings out of my clothes, especially in the winter when I'm inside most of the time.

[razz]

My sister and I had this very conversation recently. She does 7 loads a week for two people and dries all in the dryer. It all makes rational sense to her.

I, single person, do a load of linens including towels, sheets etc plus one regular load of everything else weekly and one gentle load every other week. Dog's bed covering gets done every couple of months. That is it.
I wear my tops twice in winter, once in summer and have a variety but nothing bulky so making up a full load governs how often I do a load. I focus on not wasting water and energy as a simple liver. I air dry everything except fleecy winter bed sheets.

It is funny how different our choices may be.

[pinkytoe]

Interesting product. I might try them. It irks me that detergent is now in plastic bottles. I was told that many stores in hispanic markets still stock powdered detergent in a cardboard box.

[frugal-one]

I'm like Tammy--I do about 3-4 loads a week. Whites, regular clothes, and towels. Occasionally something big. But we don't wash towels every time we use them. Most of the time, the towels are clean after you get out of the shower. I also get a couple of wearings out of my clothes, especially in the winter when I'm inside most of the time.


Same here. We only do full loads too. We separate the delicates from the heavier. Maybe we are bigger than you and it takes up more washer space????? I don't get it.

[Rogar]

I have wondered lately if during winter when a person isn't doing outdoor work or home projects if there is really a need for detergent at all. Or at least much of the time. I don't know of a way to test the idea, but I only use small amounts of detergent in the winter. I do like the idea of detergent sheets. I'm at about 3 loads a week and usually wash jeans separately and line dry weather permitting. Everything else is washed in cold water and not separated and I've not noticed any issues with whites getting dingy. But hey, I'm a guy.

[Tammy]

I don't know how you get by with just 3 loads a week. We have whites, towels, sheets, delicates plus heavier (jeans, pants) and sometimes blankets, etc. There are 2 of us and we do about 6-8 loads per week. Interesting how lives vary.

We don’t wear jeans. Or delicates. All of our clothing is Cotten poly blend washable type. We have almost no whites and those we do get washed with everything. Cold water and colors don’t run but most of our clothing is darker anyway. We don’t dress up. Casual all the time. Towels get thrown in with clothing. Sheets washed separately but only 1-2 times a month. I guess that would be extra loads. and throw rugs washed alone, a few times a year. And blankets separate also, but only every month or longer between washes. We wear things a few times before washing except for socks and underwear.

[ToomuchStuff]

I am just wondering if you could do something similar to the laundry companies and predesolve your powdered detergent in water, before pouring it in the machine?

[Teacher Terry]

I actually don’t know how much laundry I do. I wash our sheets every 2 weeks. We use towels more than once. I wash the dog beds and bedding in their crate monthly as well as throw rugs. Even with downsizing my clothes I can go a month before having to wash them. These detergent sheets sound great. Plus they make a fragrance free.

[Tradd]

For those who make their own, I’ve been reading that it can cause your clothes to be gray and not that good for washing machines. Maybe the front end loaders?

[jp1]

For two of us we do 3-4 loads per week. When I was single I did two loads once every two weeks. I think we're using more detergent since moving because the water here is a lot harder than it was in the city so it takes more detergent per load. I'm intrigued by the sheets of detergent, but recently I got 3 safeway receipt coupons for half off any detergent so we now have 3 ginormous bottles of detergent that I got for $9.99 apiece so it'll be quite a while before we need more.

[razz]

For those who make their own, I’ve been reading that it can cause your clothes to be gray and not that good for washing machines. Maybe the front end loaders?

I bought the most basic top-loading agitator-based Kenmore laundry set over six years ago when I moved. It works well, colours stay fresh and most whites stay white. It seems that the fabric itself might be contributing to the graying. Maybe hanging my laundry in the sun helps as well. There is little in my life to complicate my laundry practices.

Several friends tell that their fancy front-load bulky systems fail at five years just past warranty and repairs are cost-prohibitive.
Appliances in general seem to be built with obsolescence in the design from what I am hearing lately. For years, my freezer, fridge, stove and laundry lasted for decades. Of course, they were basic in design and didn't have the computerized technology with extra features that people seem to want these days.

Thinking back over six years ago as I was looking for the new appliances, I was impressed with the elaborate appearance of all the appliances, the new features and I was tempted, I confess. It was like going to a new car show and seeing all the elaborate sparkling features displayed under bright lights. Then I walked by the simple laundry set that I eventually bought and it was as though, the lights suddenly were all turned off and I saw what I really needed. After that, any temptation was gone and I felt that I had awakened up from a hypnotic trance. Anyone else have that happen?

[SteveinMN]

For those who make their own, I’ve been reading that it can cause your clothes to be gray and not that good for washing machines. Maybe the front end loaders?
I bought the most basic top-loading agitator-based Kenmore laundry set over six years ago when I moved. [snip]
DW makes the detergent we use. Apparently there are as many recipes for it as there are for beef stew. Neither one of us could say that this detergent makes our clothes gray. My hunch is that it does something to our towels, because, over time, they get pretty useless for soaking up water. But we've bought some pretty crummy towels over the past years so maybe the detergent is not to blame.

We're cruising along with the low-end Frigidaire front-loaders I bought 15+ years ago. (The same boxes were sold as Kenmores and GEs). Conventional wisdom said they weren't supposed to last more than ten years, so we've been on borrowed time for a while. They make a little more noise than they used to, but they're still going strong. They'll die before we replace them.


Several friends tell that their fancy front-load bulky systems fail at five years just past warranty and repairs are cost-prohibitive.
Appliances in general seem to be built with obsolescence in the design from what I am hearing lately. For years, my freezer, fridge, stove and laundry lasted for decades. Of course, they were basic in design and didn't have the computerized technology with extra features that people seem to want these days.

We've been advised, as we replace appliances, that every one we replace will not last as long as the existing item did. We buy fairly simple appliances. The refrigerator does not offer ice or water in the door (in fact, we disconnected the ice maker since we'd rather have the freezer space than the ice). I wanted the simplest box I could find because spending $3,000 (as our kids did) for a box that will last just ten years seems ridiculous to me. Even the furnace guys told us to not expect from the new furnace the 20-odd years we got from the old one. Manufacturers have stopped over-engineering and over-building appliances and almost all of them are far more efficient (in use) than they were; that and the constant struggle to maintain profit margins have reduced appliance life by years (sometimes even decades).

Fortunately cars last much longer than they used to...

[frugal-one]

razz... same here. I don’t want all the bells and whistles. I go for the most basic appliance as well. Less to go wrong?

[KayLR]

Do you have an HE washer? I find that even with liquid detergent, I have to find the sweet spot where it does not leave white splotches of undissolved blecch in my HE washer.

[Tammy]

Ive read that most of us could use 1/10 the amount of detergent and our clothing would be fine and our machines would last longer. Very few of us truly dirty clothing -think of construction workers and pig farmers. Most of us just want to wash out lingering sweat odors.

I think even i launder my clothing way too often. I get about 3 days out of pants and shirt. I’ve read of people who shake their clothing outdoors (a lot of things are dust and skin cells which can be shaken out) and then they hang the clothing to air overnight. They get a few dozen uses before laundering.

[CathyA]

One of the questions/answers on Amazon said it was made in China. :(

[Tammy]

I guess I don’t care anymore where things are made. It does increase the environmental impact of transport. I wonder if liquid laundry detergents are made in China.

[JaneV2.0]

I've been using Nettie's Laundry soda for awhile. It seems to work, but I haven't washed any particularly dirty loads with it.

[happystuff]

Was just reading up about how to use dish soap as a laundry soap. Ingredients are pretty much the same (still need to read lists and compare), but the amount that should be used is WAY less dish soap than laundry soap - only 1-3 teaspoons of dish soap per load. Couple of sources were quick to point out that too much sudsing can actually damage some washing machines. Interesting alternative.

[razz]

Was just reading up about how to use dish soap as a laundry soap. Ingredients are pretty much the same (still need to read lists and compare), but the amount that should be used is WAY less dish soap than laundry soap - only 1-3 teaspoons of dish soap per load. Couple of sources were quick to point out that too much sudsing can actually damage some washing machines. Interesting alternative.

That is interesting to think about. Do you have any links that you felt were extra informative?

[happystuff]

That is interesting to think about. Do you have any links that you felt were extra informative?

Not really. I just did a google search and started clicking on stuff. It became rather repetitive so no one source stood out.

[Chicken lady]

I started using tru earth strips early in the summer. Very happy with them - they work well in my he washer for everything - delicates, baby clothes, towel, diapers, filthy barn laundry...

you can order them directly from tru earth and they are made in Canada.

I do not get anything from the company for promoting them, although they did send me a surprise free gift with my first order.

[razz]

Thanks CL. This does sound like a great idea. I stopped buying the plastic jugs of water with a little detergent mixed in as they were heavy, awkward and a waste of resources. I had switched back to making my own from a grated Sunlight bar, some borax and washing soda.

Their website: https://www.tru.earth/About-Us

[Simone]

Thanks, Chicken Lady. Will consider switching to these strips.

[BikingLady]

I have tried every detergent out there I believe, remember soap nuts, making my own, nellie's, liquid, powder, pods, the sheets, assorted brands. I seem to have some sort of laundry addiction being a love/hate relationship.

[Tybee]

We just keep making our own and feeling happy about how much money we have since we started (2007, I think.) I switch the soaps I grate to make it interesting, how the fragrance changes.

[catherine]

We just keep making our own and feeling happy about how much money we have since we started (2007, I think.) I switch the soaps I grate to make it interesting, how the fragrance changes.

Can you remind me of your recipe? And how much do you figure you save? For context, I use either Arm & Hammer or Tide. I calculated the cost-per-load on the 92fl.oz bottle (64 loads) and if the bottle is on sale it's .20 a load. Honestly, though, I feel like it must be more than that for me, because I have a small stackable but I still use 3/4 of a cap for each load, and I feel like I'm always going out and buying detergent. I probably do 6 loads a week. Maybe it takes me 2.5 months to buy another bottle, but it doesn't seem that way.

Do you have any way to compute cost per load using your DIY detergent? Just curious.

[Tybee]

Can you remind me of your recipe? And how much do you figure you save? For context, I use either Arm & Hammer or Tide. I calculated the cost-per-load on the 92fl.oz bottle (64 loads) and if the bottle is on sale it's .20 a load. Honestly, though, I feel like it must be more than that for me, because I have a small stackable but I still use 3/4 of a cap for each load, and I feel like I'm always going out and buying detergent. I probably do 6 loads a week. Maybe it takes me 2.5 months to buy another bottle, but it doesn't seem that way.

Do you have any way to compute cost per load using your DIY detergent? Just curious.

We use the Duggars liquid soap recipe.

I just looked this up about quantity, and discovered that someone did the math:

" The recipe makes a total of 10 gallons of soap, translating into a total of 180 loads of laundry in a top-load machine and 640 loads in a front-load machine. When made, the soap is concentrated, requiring dilution prior to use. Concentrated soap can be stored indefinitely."

We figured that it takes about $2.25 to make the 10 gallon recipe--you use a 5 gallon plastic bucket and then you treat what you have made as concentrate. We have a top load machine.

So it seems much, much cheaper. Plus you are not buying any plastic once you have your 5 gallon bucket, and you make the soap in the bucket when you are out of soap.

I buy a box of borax and a box of washing soda, and they last a couple of years. The expensive part is the bar of soap.

The Duggars are allegedly horrible people, but it's a good laundry soap.

And I know, no one wants to go to the trouble of making the soap (I have heard you all), but we find it very satisfying and frugal.

[razz]

Tybee may have a somewhat different recipe to suit her family's needs and more pricing info.

I grate 1 bar of Sunlight soap in the food processor, add 1 1/3 cup each of Borax and washing soda. Each load uses 1-2 tbsp of the mixture using cold softened water depending on size of load. I do 5 loads every two weeks with one additional for dog's linen every couple of months when he gets bathed.

I made a batch on Jan 15 with the idea after this discussion on SLF to see how long this batch of mix will actually last.

You do more loads with more people and a smaller washer so unless laundry is very soiled, you may only need a rounded tbsp each time.

Walmart.com today shows 55oz of Arm and Hammer washing soda is $4.12; 65 oz of 20 Mule Borax is $4.47 and a 5.5 oz of Fels Natha is $.97 with a larger pkgs much more expensive for some reason.
The real consideration is if you are prepared to create the mix. I do because I am annoyed with handling bulky jugs of plain water with a little added detergent, disposing of the jugs which can be recycled, the transportation costs to deliver these jugs and I have the time to make it. I don't use laundry softener either but simply white vinegar.

BTW, I have no concerns about changes in colour, cleanliness, etc.

[Tybee]

razz, keep us posted--I may do the same, as we just made a new load--we could try to keep track of how many loads we get out of it.

[nswef]

Has any one had the problem of washcloths and towels becoming water repellent. I've used Mrs. Myers for a good while. Our water is not softened so I add baking soda with a vinegar rinse. The washcloths are useless. I've soaked them in ammonia, bleach, oxyclean, baking soda, vinegar and nothing seems to bring them back to absorbency . So, I used tide for one soak...it may help. I've looked on diaper websites.

[SteveinMN]

Has any one had the problem of washcloths and towels becoming water repellent.
Not water repellent, but definitely less absorbent. DW (who makes our detergent and does the laundry) has noticed that every washcloth and towel that's been washed for a while has become less absorbent. She blames our moderately-hard water. I'm not so sure myself. We have towels we recently "inherited" from MiL which are wonderfully absorbent; it'll be interesting to see how long they stay that way.

[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-laundry-detergent-soap/

[Tradd]

I guess I don’t care anymore where things are made. It does increase the environmental impact of transport. I wonder if liquid laundry detergents are made in China.

Tide, at least, is made in the US.

[Tradd]

I searched “tide less plastic” on Amazon and came up with this. Eco box version. Claims to uses 60% less plastic.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072M3HHMX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_CBEYK00NCT9WBKMJ7MK6

[iris lilies]

We probably do 4 loads a week. That is an estimate. DH works hard and has a change of clothes every day that must be washed. His clothes are bulky so that’s 1-2 loads right there.

At the moment we have a very clean dog. I mean this dog does not make any messes: barely sheds, never pees in the house, doesnt slobber., So we have limited “dog laundry. “Every couple of weeks I take off blankets from the furniture and wash them. While he is clean, he still gets dog dirt on furniture and makes it grimy so the furniture protection keeps furniture from getting dirty.

[Tradd]

I do 4-5 loads a week. I don’t have a lot of clothes. I sweat a lot due to menopause hot flashes. My diving drysuit undergarments get sweat soaked as well. I need something that cleans well. And I love the Tide scent. I’ll try the Tide eco box the next time I order from Amazon.

[Teacher Terry]

I use Tide free and clear because of my allergies and asthma. Many detergents make my skin itchy. Every 3-4 weeks I do 3-4 loads of laundry. It will be one load less once my son leaves because I do the towels and sheets for both of us. Maltese are fussy little creatures so not much extra laundry except for their doggie beds and a couch cover in case they puke on it.

[happystuff]

For my own clothes, it is once a week. I've started using the homemade detergent and so far, so good.