Frugal and Energy Efficient Living

laundry_queen

(8,646 posts)

10. I think that's where the Fels Naptha vs Dawn comes in

Thu Sep 19, 2013, 02:15 AM

Sep 2013

I had a front loader and was told not to use Dawn because of the bubbles but I still occasionally put in a few drops for greasy loads. So when I made my detergent, I used Sunlight laundry soap bars shredded (can't get Fels Naptha here in Canada). It worked okay, but I lived in a place with super hard water, so would have to add water softener for the detergent to work (by super hard, I mean most places with 'normal' water are a '5', hard water is a '10', very hard water was '15' and our town rated 20. My current town rates a 7.) I haven't tried it yet in my new place...I keep meaning to, I sure could use the savings! But yeah, the laundry soap generates less 'foam' than Dawn does, so I would think it's more suitable for HE washers.

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Homemade Laundry Soap [View all] Squinch Sep 2013 OP

Let us sing of Grandma's lye soap pscot Sep 2013 #1

"had an aversion to scrubbing their ears, Grandma scrubbed them with her lye soap Squinch Sep 2013 #2

I have seen this, sort of. Curmudgeoness Sep 2013 #3

I've seen those with the Fels Naptha too, but they do seem to complicated. Squinch Sep 2013 #4

How is it with HE washers? Melissa G Sep 2013 #5

That, I don't know. Maybe mix up a small batch and test it? Squinch Sep 2013 #7

Okay. Thanks. Anyone else here Melissa G Sep 2013 #9

Melissa, since this thread has gotten a little stale, you might miss this: downthread Cally just Squinch Sep 2013 #14

Thanks for letting me know! Melissa G Sep 2013 #15

I think that's where the Fels Naptha vs Dawn comes in laundry_queen Sep 2013 #10

Thanks! I'll try it! Melissa G Sep 2013 #11

I don't know about the liquid version, LeftyMom Dec 2013 #23

My wife.. sendero Dec 2013 #20

I do the fels-naptha one noamnety Sep 2013 #6

Right? Tide is priced like some kind of rare metal! Squinch Sep 2013 #8

It made me much more aware noamnety Sep 2013 #12

I make a simple powder detergent for HE cally Sep 2013 #13

Excellent! Melissa G Sep 2013 #16

So is washing soda different from washing powder? Kennah Oct 2013 #17

I just made a huge batch laundry_queen Dec 2013 #18

I'm interested to know how the dry works. Keep us posted! Squinch Dec 2013 #19

We use a similar concoction... sendero Dec 2013 #21

laundry queen..... sendero Dec 2013 #22

BTW Washing Soda is just soda ash. It's cheaper if you buy it at the pool supply shop. LeftyMom Dec 2013 #24

I didn't point it out because I didn't know it. Good to know. Squinch Dec 2013 #25

Thanks for the info! Kaleva Dec 2013 #26

Fantastic! IrishAyes Dec 2013 #27