I'm SO not sure if this is appropriate - but here goes! I was searching around, looking for ways to help save $$ and found a site (frugal something) that had a discussion on homemade laundry soap. The recipe was borax, washing soda and Fels Naptha soap (mixed with water...). I don't know if this is considered organic - and don't really want to get "spanked"...but I have to tell you I tried it! I made a batch over the weekend, and have used it, shared it with Mom, and DD.....it works VERY well...and costs about a penny a load. Now that the sun is out and the snow is gone, the clothes line is up...I say YEA! Anyone else tried this, or a version of...I'd like to hear comments?!

I've been reading about this lately. I've wondered about it too. I tried doing a search on Fels Naptha soap to see if I could figure out if it could be considered organic, and couldn't really find much info on it.

If nothing else, it's going to eliminate a lot of plastic bottles from laundry soap going to the landfill, right? And if it's about a penny a load, I may have to give it a try myself.

Now, if someone could tell me if those nubby dry balls work in place of dryer sheets, I'd be all set laundry wise.

Searching around a bit on the internet I found a bit of info on naptha. It seems to have an interesting history.
http://www.otal.umd.edu/~vg/msf95/ms25/p4-2.html

http://www.old-time.com/commercials/1930's/PandG%20Guiding%20Light.html

http://frugal.families.com/blog/fels-naptha-soap1

I remember my mother using Fels Naptha. It had a strong medicinal odor. Where does no buy it and if it is in bar form, wouldn't that be lots of work to save a few pennies? I remember it to be oily and for that reason was probably good for removing greese from cloghing. I don't think Fels Naptha would dissolve easily and there may be residue in the washing machine and clothing. Just thoughts.

I found all the items to make the soap (washing SODA, Borax and Fels Naptha at my local big box grocery store. The end product did not smell medicinal at all - just "clean" smelling. For 2 gallons (end product) you only use 1/3 of a bar of the FN, 1/2 C each of the soda and borax. As far as the grease issue, I remember my Grandma using it as a stain treater....and my Mom also kept a bar at the washer for hitting stains before going into the wash - so I "think" it works great on those greasy stains - but it is a great heads up Glorybe to see if there is any buildup. I literally sat down with my cheese grater and grated the whole bar (took about 10 minutes) while talking with DH, as it has the consistency of a semihard cheese - quit easy to grate....and I've packaged up the remaining portion of the grated soap for future soap making. I've got to check out the info that mountain cat posted....I'm hoping it is not scary! So far I'm pleased with the results - and I am looking forward to not spending the dollars on grocery store laundry soap in the near future (plus rescuing those plastic bottles from their demise in the landfill!).

Mornin' Diane
I've been making my own laundry soap for about 2 years. I use this same recipe, just tweak it a little bit. You don't need to use Fels Naptha - any soap will work. I've used Ivory, Zote, and my favorite (a little more expensive) Mrs. Meyer's lemon verbena soap. I was a dyed-in-the-wool Tide girl before making my own laundry soap, and I used to spend about $40 a month on laundry detergent. I now spend less than $5. I have saved a lot of money.

PS ~ I'm so cheap (have to be, we live on one income) that I make my own household cleaners. They work great and smell good, too. I can give you the recipes if you like.

Cheap Cheap Cheap-----me too

Please do share the recipes.

Diane, please let us know how you like it! I'd be very interested in trying it.

Thanks for the links Mountain Cat. I was thinking I'd heard years ago that Fels Naptha was a petroleum product, but just couldn't find the information when I was looking a couple weeks ago.

I like Aunt Honey's idea of using another soap for this recipe.

I've been thinking of making plain old lye soap like grandma did and just grating it. She used to just throw a lump in the wringer washer and use is that way, but that doesn't work with these new washing machines.

Diane Carol, will you share the recipe? This sounds really interesting at a penny a load. Thanks for posting.

I love the idea of NOT using a "petroleum" product in my soap. I think I will try Ivory, or another soap and see! Thanks for the hint! Here is the recipe that I got from a Frugal website....sorry I can't credit the site...I was just in digging around...and I lost track.

Recipe #1

3 Pints Water
1/3 Bar Fels Naptha Soap, Grated
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax
2 Gallon Bucket
1 Quart Hot Water
Hot Water

Mix Fels Naptha soap in a saucepan with 3 pints of water, and heat on low until dissolved. Stir in Washing Soda and Borax. Stir until thickened, and remove from heat. Add 1 Quart Hot Water to 2 Gallon Bucket. Add soap mixture, and mix well. Fill bucket with hot water, and mix well. Set aside for 24 hours, or until mixture thickens. Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load.

Has anyone used a recipe like this?

Second Recipe:
1 cup grated Fels Naptha Soap
1/2 cup Washing Soda (Arm and Hammer again)
1/2 cup Borax (20 mule team Borax)
2 Tablespoons Glycerin
2 cups water

Mix first three ingredients together, than add glycerin and water. Use 1/2 to 3/4 cup per load. This one works best in cold or warm water.


I always wash in cold water so I'm wondering if this is better than the other recipe.

Many years ago when my boys were young I would put the white socks on my hands and get out the Naptha soap and rub some on the wet socks and rub away. It did get the socks white. But I think I tried to disolve some in hot water then use it in the washer and it got my clothes clean but the faded. Has anyone else noticed thier clothes fading.I'm a Tide user and it is expensive, so if this works I'm willing to give it a try. But not if its going to fade the clothes.

Diane: I've tried this recipe using Ivory soap and it works okay, but just "okay", not great. I'd try Zote. It's a large, pink bar of soap in the laundry section. It works better and smells good, too.

ericah: I've never tried your recipe with the glycerin. What does the glycerin do?

bonniek: I've been using homemade laundry detergent for a couple of years now and I haven't noticed any fading - rest easy.

I'm not sure what it does. I've never tried it. I was just wondering since I wash in cold water, which one to try.