Homemade Laundry Soap Advice

This is for anyone out there who makes their own laundry soap with the borax, washing soda, and grated soap: Have any of you used this with children's clothes, especially those with eczema? Also, does it rinse well? After time, do your clothes stay bright? Does it gum up your washer?

I'd love to hear from you before I attempt this.

Thanks,
Lee from Canada

Answers:

A pediatrician once told me it makes not a whole lot of difference what you wash with. The important part is the rinsing. He told me to rinse my children's clothing twice. He said, rinse, rinse, rinse. lol.. I used Dreft. I'm not sure if the company is still in business. Stay away from Ivory soap. Its too hard to rinse out. It leaves a film.
(04/19/2006)

By Carol from Wyoming, PA (Guest Post)

I have a child with multiple allergies, including contact dermatitis (eczema). The best and most effective laundry detergent that I found was President's Choice (Canadian Store Brand) Phosphate Free, unscented. The perfumes in soaps can be very irritating to eczema.

To make sure that the soap is entirely gone, use plain white vinegar in the rinse cycle, just pretend that it is fabric softener. There is something about the chemical makeup of vinegar that will eliminate any excess soap in your clothes, and it does soften them. (There is no smell afterward, either.)

Hope it helps.
(04/19/2006)

By Anne Marie (Guest Post)

Try using just a few tablespoons of regular laundry detergent. It is amazing how a little goes a long way. Let the clothes agitate a few minutes and add a few more tablespoons if desired.

This is a lot easier and better in my opinion than the homemade soap.
(04/19/2006)

By AmyM (Guest Post)

I make my own powder, and have with the grated bar soap (I use Pure & Natural, because it was around the house!) The key is to not overdue it! And rinse. My son is allergic to the "mountain fresh" and possibly the bleach alternative, plus my DH has a skin condition I cannot pronounce or spell, but common among hispanic ancestry (after puberty.) So I am very cautious about what I use. I use 1 Tablespoon for a medium or light dirty load. I use 2 Tbl. for Large or heavy dirty (blood, urine, you name it!) and I have not had any problems with stains.

The washing soda is the key to that. If you want an easier alternative, and cost effective and safer, go to the Shaklee website and try Shaklee Basic L perfume free. I do not have a member id, but believe me, once you try it, and see how well it performs, you'll love it! And if it doesn't work for you, you get your money back. Stores will not do that for you!
(04/19/2006)

By Kelly

Forgot to mention, mine rinses clean, because I also use the baking soda/vinegar rinse as well. My husband has not had a flare up and the baby and big boy have great looking skin!
(04/19/2006)

By Kelly

My son has allergies and eczema, and i make my own laundry soap (zote soap, borax and washing soda) and we have not had any problems with him breaking out from it. i also have not noticed it causing a problem with my washing machine or fading of my clothes.

(04/20/2006)

By kimberly

foil for static cling in dryer (previous post) This will not harm your dryer? How long does it usually last? My ventilation system is MESSED UP, so it takes 90 minutes to dry a normal load on high, regardless of the fabric!
(04/20/2006)

By Kelly