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| I write my recipe on the top of my canister - so that it's super-easy to refill, and I don't have to get a book out each time I run out. |
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| I write instructions on the front of my canister, so that I don't forget how much to use. |
This is the recipe I use. I don't always use it - sometimes I find a great sale on the regular stuff - but this recipe is there in my repertoire for when I want it.
It's very simple!
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| This is the Castile Soap I use. It has a very nice scent, or is available unscented & is inexpensive. Any Vegan Castile Bar will work. |
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| I cut the bar in fourths with a big knife (keeping my fingers above the blade so it won't slip & cut me) |
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| I grate the soap in a small rotary grater with the biggest-holed attachment. This saves my knuckles from the box grater, and also is a LOT easier. |
Homemade Vegan Laundry Powder
Combine in a large container:
1 Bar Grated Vegan Castile Soap (I use Kirk's - it's locally made, Vegan, and inexpensive! And they've recently introduced an unscented bar if you prefer that.)
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax
That's it!
I use two tablespoons per load. This much is even effective for smelly summer clothes. It should be dissolved in warm water, but then if you wish to fill the washer the rest of the way with cold water after dissolving, you can.
It really helps to have a scoop of the proper size in the container, so that you're not tempted to use too much. (Notice that the commercial powders often tell you to use a small amount, but provide a HUGE scoop with a little fill line near the bottom of the scoop. This is to encourage you to over-use & waste their product, so they make more money) Too much detergent can actually make your clothes dirtier - because excess detergent re-deposits on the clothes, and its stickiness attracts dirt.
This is being shared on Penny Pinching Party, Real Food, Allergy Free, Fabulously Frugal Thursday, Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Hearts for Home, Simple Lives Thursday, Gluten Free Fridays Healthy Vegan Fridays, Living Big on Less Money, Strangers & Pilgrims Herbal Link Up, Plucky's Second Thought, In & Out of the Kitchen, Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Tips & Tricks Tuesday, Making your Home Sing Monday, Anti-Procrastination Tuesday, Teach Me Tuesdays, Creative Home & Garden
Looks like a good recipe! I make the liquid, but have seem several recipes for the powder. I may have to give it a whirl.
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by, Angela!
DeleteI've seen the liquid recipes, but the powder is so easy to make, and works so well, I've never tried the liquid. Hope you like this one : )
Would this work in the dishwasher too do you think?
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteThanks for stopping by, Angela!
DeleteTHIS one won't work in the dishwasher because it has actual soap in it. Sorry. There are dishwasher formulations out there, but unfortunately, this isn't one of them.
Our old dishwasher didn't work no matter what we used - and we JUST got a new one, so I haven't been able to give the natural ones a scientific try yet.
Great recipe for homemade soap. I have never hear of Kirks before, but will look into it. Thanks so much for sharing this at the Living Big on Less Money series. I look forward to seeing what you bring next week!
ReplyDeletewe use Kirk's for shower gel/shampoo. Melt it with a gallon of water, some coconut oil to super-fat (change the pH) and essential oil. I never thought of using it for my laundry soap. Cool!
ReplyDeleteRae Evans:)
Thanks for dropping by, Rae - sounds like fascinating way to make shampoo! : )
Deletewhat is washing soda and where do you get it....
ReplyDeleteThanks for asking - I'm sure you're not the only one with this question, and I should have explained in my original post.
DeleteWashing soda is available in the Laundry Aisle of most American Grocery stores (I've never found a store that didn't carry it, and I've been to many U.S. states). It is usually tucked away on either the top or bottom shelf, by the Borax and Fels Naphtha Soap - products that many people use with Washing Soda for various applications. (Groceries commonly put their frugal choices away from eye level). It is a chemical relative of Baking Soda, and is packaged for sale by the same companies that package Baking Soda (I would say "manufactured" but I think God makes it!) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_carbonate , In fact, you can turn Baking Soda into Washing Soda by baking it, as this blogger demonstrates. http://www.pennilessparenting.com/2011/01/homemade-washing-soda.html
Hope that helps! : )
Wow, what a neat idea!
ReplyDeleteThanks again for joining the Link Up this week!
Thanks so much for visiting & for hosting a great blog hop : )
DeleteI use my own laundry soap too, but I have no idea if it's vegan. Thanks so much for sharing with us!
ReplyDeleteYou make a really good point, Kristin! I should have covered this in my post! The thing that makes many of these formulations non-vegan is the fact that most bar soaps are made from animal fat (tallow or lard). Since this uses a vegan soap, it is vegan.
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