Saturday, December 3, 2011

I’m on a Mission

I’ve been having problems with my bath towels smelling……….not good.  I knew my front load washer was the culprit.  It has been the strangest experience.  My washer didn’t smell; the towels didn’t smell when I got them out of the washer to put in the dryer.  They didn’t smell until we got them wet again, (i.e. when we were using them to dry off).  I was beginning to think I was losing my mind a little.  It seems a lot of other people have had the same problem.  I’ve read about it on the internet.   I can’t be positive, but I think my problem started after I had been using liquid detergent in my machine for a few months.  Before that, I had always used powder.

So I have been on a quest to remedy this problem. First I ran baking soda and vinegar through the machine.  It seemed to do the trick for awhile, then the smell was back.  So periodically, I would put some baking soda in with the towels before washing.  That helped a lot.

I found a recipe for homemade laundry detergent online.  I bought some of the ingredients, but never followed through and made it.  I found a second recipe that sounded better to me.  I mixed it up and have been using it for almost 3 weeks.  My towels are great Smile.  The true test of its cleaning power was a pair of very dirty white socks; they came out bright white with one washing!!

This is my current mission…………….to tell EVERYONE I know about this wonderful detergent.  Here is the recipe.

1 large box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda  (when I say large, it is about the same size as the next item listed)

1 box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda

1 box of Mule Team Borax

3 BARS of Fels Naptha laundry soap

1 tub OxyClean. (I used the store brand. It’s half the price)

I FOUND ALL THE INGREDIENTS IN THE LAUNDRY SOAP AISLE AT WALMART.

You have to grate the Fels Naptha with a cheese grater or food processor, then mix all the ingredients together.  I used a trash bag inside of a trash can to get it all mixed.  This makes a LARGE amount of soap.

Peanuts Nativity 042

I bought this storage jar at Walmart for $10.  I took the picture with the Shout to show you the size.  The small scoop sitting on top of the Shout can came from the Oxyclean tub. YOU CAN DO A FULL LOAD OF LAUNDRY WITH 2 SCOOPS!!!!  From what I have read, I should be able to get a YEAR’S worth of laundry from this batch of soap (if I quit giving away samples of it for my friends to try Smile).

The ingredients cost around $14.50.  You can’t beat that.

I’ve also learned that you can put white vinegar in your fabric softener dispenser and forgo fabric softener all together.  I use the vinegar once in awhile, but I still use fabric softener sheets in the dryer.

Hope you try it and save a ton of $$$!!!

It is safe for front load and top load machines.

I know this hasn’t been riveting reading, but I hope it helps someone.

Thanks for reading and Happy Washing (and saving $$)

6 comments:

Kelley said...

I have made this detergent too! It is wonderful!

MarshaMarshaMarsha said...

Once that mildew smell gets in the towels, the only way I can get rid of it is washing with a little bleach and some hot water.

When you use vinegar instead of fabric softener, does it smell? I don't use dryer sheets but the liquid fabric softener in the washing machine.

I love those jars! My friend buys the biggest ones they carry for her sugar... they go through A LOT of sweet tea! :)

Dana said...

Sounds great. I can't wait to try it. Thanks for sharing Becky.

Jessica said...

I've been wanting to ry making this too! Glad to hear it works!

Kelley said...

Merry Christmas!

Mona said...

You crack me up!!