Cleaning > LaundryDecember 02, 2008

Using Less Laundry Soap

Is there anyone out there who uses one third of the recommended amount of liquid Tide for a large load? Are your clothes generally coming out clean? Your feedback is appreciated.

Mary from Chicago

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Answers

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By
01/06/2009

You must never wash your whites along with dark clothes. Most of you probably know this. If you do mix them, no brand of soap will make the whites look clean. I use liquid TIDE. I have used it for 40 years. I use CHEER for dark clothes. I appreciate all of your tips on how to save on detergent. I plan on trying them.

RE: Using Less Laundry Soap

By
12/27/2008

Check your store brand detergent. I swear by Tide, but I'm almost sure our store brand (Hannaford's) is the same thing (and I've tried all the cheap brands). Best of all it's only $2.99 a bottle.

I use 1/2 the amount and add baking soda (by the way, this only works with liquid detergent). I also add 1 Tbsp Oxyclean or Borax. I use vinegar in a Downey ball as a fabric softener. You won't need a dryer sheet. I'm very picky about laundry and this is the best method I've used.

By jk (Guest Post) 12/18/2008

If the water feels slippery (after adding the soap/detergent), then you have enough! Been doing this for years and my clothes are clean and there's not a buildup of soap in my clothes.

By jk (Guest Post) 12/18/2008

If the washer water feels slippery (after adding the soap/detergent), then you have added enough! Been doing this and using less for years and my clothes are clean and there's not a buildup of soap in my clothes.

By
12/05/2008

Another good alternative is to use baking soda (or half baking soda and half liquid soap)... I use it with liquid soap and it cuts down our liquid use. The baking soda really cleans the laundry, too (and removes stubborn stains). You can buy baking soda at a dollar store (and it's usually "2 for $1.00"). Hope this helps!

By
12/05/2008

By the way that detergent cup you use to dispense your soap. if you keep rinsing that cup after you dispense you aloted amount of detergent. you will find there is still more of that detergent stuck on there.
I sometimes rinse my cup 5 or 6 times and spread that water all over the wash.
Oh and that empty detergent containor may still have a wash or two left in it. keep using it until no suds rise out of it.
Oh I have found I can use less of any detergent and still get my wash clean. i buy whatever is on sale.
I do pretreat with a bar of Fels laundy soap and use hot water on hard stains.

My biggest problem is what to do with all those plastic soap jugs after they are empty.
Washday is never a funday except when your done
Mr Thrifty

By
12/04/2008

After years of trying to save with cheaper brands, I now use only Liquid Tide. I use about 1/2 the amount of the Tide that is recommended. It stills does a great job. I use to try to do the less dirty stuff with cheaper brands of detergent - like I did the towels & sheets with the cheap stuff. I find that they were not as clean or bright, they sometimes faded, & didn't smell as good. The Tide is worth the $, & I agree, use it sparingly.

By
12/03/2008

I sometimes get a bottle of SUN at the dollar store & pour it into my Tide bottle, it works great. Just always remember if something is so dirty to wash it separately from things that aren't.

I have an old white diaper pail with a lock on lid leftover from when my son was tiny that I use specifically to soak dirty white socks or dishtowels.
When I am ready for it I dump the whole thing into the washer & add the water & soap as usual.

By
12/03/2008

I use VERY, VERY little " CHEER" and I have not ONCE notices a difference in my clothes, they look as bright and clean and fresh as they ever did. Unless they are REALLY FILTHY, use the smaller amount..
Try it, i think you will be very happy

By PaulaH (Guest Post) 12/02/2008

I have recently stumbled across a recipe for laundry soap. It is sure easy and it works great...Not to mention it comes out to about 3 cents a load!! Here it is:

1 bar Fels Naptha soap, grated (comes out to about 2 cups)
You can find this in the grocery store laundry aisle. S.O. grates it on our cheese grater.
1 c Borax
Comes from the grocery store laundry aisle and some hardware stores.
1 c Washing Soda

My sister can find this at her nice grocery store but we had to order online. Others report that they found it in little grocery stores or Mexican markets.
1/4 c OxyClean (not necessary, but we add it)
Mix it all together into a bumpy, granular mix. Don't worry about stuff getting correctly dispersed, even if it doesn't quite look like it does.

Use 1T for a light load
Use 2T for a large or dirty load (It's true! Only 2 Tablespoons per load!)
Good Luck!

12/02/2008

I use 1/2 the recommended amount, and add 1/2 cup of borax to each load. Have had good results so far.

Related

Archives

Here are archived discussions related to this page.

When doing laundry, only use 1/4-1/2 of the amount of laundry soap the box calls for. It cleans clothes just as well and makes the laundry soap last twice as long.

By Susan from Giddings, TX


RE: Using Laundry Soap

I also do this. I recently learned you can add baking soda to detergent to make it stretch. I now add a box of baking soda to a box of detergent. Works great. (07/16/2008)

By lfsm1963

RE: Using Laundry Soap

Also according to my husband, the appliance tech, the less soap the less build-up you will experience and keep maintenance costs down. (07/16/2008)

By DEBRADJ.

RE: Using Less Laundry Soap

I also use about half of the recommended amount of soap. I have soft water, and find that this is enough, unless one has particularly dirty clothes, such as heavily soiled work clothes.(07/17/2008)

By louel53


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