There was a recipe for laundry detergent in an old thread. It uses baking soda, Borax and glycerin soap. The only glycerin soap that I could find says moisturizing white glycerin. The label says Natural, pure Glycerin soap with one third humectant moisrutizers, Enriched with coconut oil. Would the laundry detergent work with this? I think the moisturizers would not be good for the clothes. Opinions please. I really want to make the detergent, but I don't want to use something that will ruin my clothes. Any ideas? Thanks in advance for any help. Dian

-- Dian in TN (rhoffman@nctc.com), January 01, 2002

Answers

Doan, It is not baking soda, it is washing soda[there is a difference] As far as soap, I always use the fels naptha[you can find both these items in the washing soap isle] I have also used Ivory soap before and it worked also.

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), January 01, 2002.

There have been two different laundry recipes posted lately. One calls for washing soda, the other baking soda. Dian, that gylcerin soap would probably be okay but have you tried a search on the net for plain bulk glcerin soap? Here's a link to the baking soda recipe for anyone who may missed it.

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), January 01, 2002.

I apologize to Dian, I was thining it was the recipe I have been using. I will give this one a try and compare. Thanks for the link

-- tracy (murfette@stargate.net), January 01, 2002.

I have a question Bren, I have about 15 pounds of pure glycerin soap, but I'm trying to figure out how you combine the ingredients. I would have to grate my soap, and then, it won't combine with the other dry ingredients very well would it? The soap is not a dry soap. It's slightly moist. When ever I'd get my 2 tbs, it may not have much of the glycerin in it? Would there be a way to liquify it? Maybe melt the glycerin and add the other ingredients? It would solidify though when it cools, but, maybe then I could just cut a piece off? :-) Or, then grate that down, and use it like that? I can't seem to get very small pieces when I try to grate my glycerin. I guess that's the problem. I'll stop rambling now! Thanks, Diana

-- Diana (rock_hunter83@hotmail.com), January 01, 2002.

Hi, Diana! I think your soap will work fine for this recipe. When I made mine I grated the soap using the large holes on a box grater. I mixed everything in bucket with a lid. I was afraid everything wouldn't mix well so I sort of divided the recipe and put a little of all the ingredients in, mixed well, and added the rest. You really don't end up using a lot of the glycerin soap in the 2 tablespoons you use for washing. I think that the little bit of all the ingredients in the 2 tablespoons work together. I've been using this same batch from before my original post and haven't been disappointed yet! I hope I answered all your questions!

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), January 01, 2002.

For years I have been wondering about Borax. It certainly is handy, but where does it come from, and what does it take to get it? I saw a town on a map that was named Borax(in Eastern California maybe, but I'd have to look it up...) Does anyone have any info on "the Borax mines?" I have not been fully able to use it comfortably not knowing...

--Shannon in SW Wash

-- Shannon Meeker (bramblescratched@yahoo.com), January 01, 2002.

In another life, those moisturizers are called fabric softeners.

-- Soni (thomkilroy@hotmail.com), January 02, 2002.

Shannon, I have a copy of Debra Lynn Dadd's "Natural & Nontoxic". Borax is on her okay list. She says it is a mineral also called sodium borate. www.Purex.com might have some more info for you as would a search on the subject. I don't know about the mining process (a search could give you some info on that, too) but probably like all things mined it might not be very eco-friendly. I kind of weigh the "two evils" and pick the lesser - I would rather use the mined natural mineral than wash my laundry in potentially harmful (to me and the environment) substances.

-- Bren (wayoutfarm@skybest.com), January 02, 2002.

Diana, if you are making Bren's recipe and are concerned about mixing the soap in better, what you could also do after you grate the amount on the large box grater, is just further chop it up (closer to a powder) with a food processor (use the pulse button, don't leave it running), then stir it into the other ingredients.

Hope this helps.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), January 02, 2002.

Thanks all. I don't think this glycerin soap will powder though. It's kind of rubbery. I'll just grate it and mix. Thanks for the recipes! I never thought of making my own laundry soap. This ought to save quite a bit of money. I had ordered a big block of glycerin- 40lbs actually. I've sold some of it, and used some for myself, but this will put it to some good use. Thanks :-) Diana

-- Diana (rock_hunter83@hotmail.com), January 02, 2002.

I was so excited to see these answers. I have always thought that there must be an alternative to the EXPENSIVE laundry detergent I have to use do to skin problems. I am allergic to all perfumed and dyed detergents, therefore I have to use Tide-Free. It is very expensive. Thank you all

-- Deidre (willowfiona1@yahoo.com), January 06, 2002.

About Borax: According to Dr. Hulda Clark (pioneer in alternative medicine; she wrote "The Cure for All Diseases"), Borax is not a natural compound, so use sparingly on skin, but it is one of the most harmless. Check out: http://www.drclark.net/info/body.htm

-- Heather Nordstrom (snortstrom@yahoo.com), April 14, 2002.