I like Pinterest. Mostly I Pin things that look interesting to me. I've been wanting to try a home made laundry soap for awhile; so today I opened up a pin and gave the recipe a try.
I found most of the ingredients at my local super market but I could not find Zote laundry bar soap. One blogger said that she bought hers at K Mart, so I checked all the Kmart's close by (and some not so close). Nope... couldn't find it. I googled Zote and found out that it was made in Mexico. Aha....a Latin market or maybe the local Walmart (they have a large selection or Latin products)?
Woohoo..... lots of Zote in White and Pink colors at Walmart and it was cheap.
After reading many, many comments I decided to take the advice of others and purchased Oxi-Clean to add to the original recipe as recommended. A few commenters said that they needed Oxi-clean to get the clothes white. As I was mixing, I read the labels on the products and found that Oxi-Clean was very, very similar to Super Washing Soda. I only added half the amount of Oxi-Clean.
And here it is. It made a ton. I hope it works as I won't be using it up any time in the remotely near future. It filled a large 2-lb. tin that came filled with Garret Popcorn. I put some soap in a small jar to take to the Stone House. It sure is pretty and economical too.
I'll let you know how it works.
*Update: I love this soap. It smells wonderful (the Downy Untstoppables are responsible as well as the Zote). The Zote is clean smelling, unlike Fels-Naptha.
The Zote seems to clean the whites well, and the baking soda helps with the hard water. This is a winner at our house.
Woohoo..... lots of Zote in White and Pink colors at Walmart and it was cheap.
After reading many, many comments I decided to take the advice of others and purchased Oxi-Clean to add to the original recipe as recommended. A few commenters said that they needed Oxi-clean to get the clothes white. As I was mixing, I read the labels on the products and found that Oxi-Clean was very, very similar to Super Washing Soda. I only added half the amount of Oxi-Clean.
Homemade Laundry Soap
1-4 lb. 12 oz box of Borax
1- 4 lb. box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
1 box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 55 oz.
2 pink Zote bars, grated
1 small container of OxiClean or ½ of a 4-lb. box
1 bottle of Downy Unstoppables
Mix all in the food processor. Store in an airtight container.
2 Tablespoons per load usually does the job.
*Update: I love this soap. It smells wonderful (the Downy Untstoppables are responsible as well as the Zote). The Zote is clean smelling, unlike Fels-Naptha.
The Zote seems to clean the whites well, and the baking soda helps with the hard water. This is a winner at our house.
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Do you know if that works in HE washing machines?
ReplyDeleteI too just mixed up a batch, about a month ago with the same ingredients, except where you used the Zote bar I used a Fels-Naptha soap bar. So far I have been happy with the results and I love the smell!! I plan on filling an empty oxi-clean canister, with the soap mix, for sharing with our son at college!
ReplyDelete*Of special note* the little scoop in the oxi-clean was the perfect size (2T.)for adding the correct amount to a wash load!! Double Score!!!
Hi Lynette, Thanks for the tip about the scoop in the oxi-clean box. That's handy. The Zote is interchangable with the Fels-Naptha. Some bloggers said that the Fels-Naptha turned their clothes a bit yellow. Did you find that?
ReplyDeletePenny, It is supposed to work fine in HE machines. I have one and I'll let you know how it goes. So far, I love this soap.
Hi Bonnie..
ReplyDeleteIsn't it fun to find things on Pinterest to make, or bake, or craft? I love it.
I made the home-made laundry soap a few years back. I think the water in this county is so full of minerals... I just didn't have good luck with it.
Maybe we should get a water softener...hmmm..
Hope you are enjoying this week.
p.s. Oh, that Jenny Oaks Baker is such a cutie!!
I love her easy going nature...and her "Mom moments"... giving her kids chocolate drinks for breakfast, a.k.a Kirkland weight loss shakes.
She makes me laugh :)
Bonnie,
ReplyDeleteI've been making a laundry soap very similar to this recipe except I don't add the Oxiclean nor the Downy. I really don't like the smell of Fels Naptha (fussy nose of mine) so I grated up 3 bars of Ivory Soap. I do like the idea of pink flecks in the laundry soap though so I may have to take a sniff of the Zote and see if I like it. I think the laundry soap works great and I just add in a little Oxyclean or bleach to the machine if I need to really whiten my whites. I hope you give us a laundry report as you use it.
I love making laundry soap. I have moved to liquid soap now....I like it better, but it takes more effort to make. I have made my laundry soap for several years now. Drying outside in the sun is also the best whitener I know and at the perfect price.
ReplyDeleteHave to ask though where did you get that Cub's container w/ Wrigley Field on it. I love it and being a Chicagoan, well you know it may become a must have ;)
Interesting! What does it smell like?
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea. I am assuming that one of the reasons to make homemade soap is the cost factor. How much does it cost in comparison with the outrageous prices of commercial soap?
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the laundry soap recipe! I can't wait to try it...and I was wondering if one could use this in their HE machines. Good to know.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like so much fun Bonnie! Like Pom Pom, I'm wondering what it smells like?
ReplyDeleteIt seems that many people are making their own laundry detergent. It sounds like a good idea but I have to use unscented soups and that limits the possibilities.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bonnie for expressing your concern in ref to hurricane Sandy. Yes we hope for the best and think of one another.
ReplyDeleteChristy
Just bought Zote for my daughter to take to college for washables since going to coin launder is too expensive on a college budget..lol. When she brought it home, she had not used it, so I tried it on some stains. It has a nice Citronella oil smell, made from coconut and veg/animal oil I think. It leaves clothes soft, smelling nice and is easy on the hands. I like the color: bright pink. It even whitens without bleach: another +.
ReplyDeleteSafe for baby clothes and you can use it for bait to catch catfish!
It says it is safe to take camping: washes clothes, people and dishes! Easy to pack! {long shelf life}
I bought mine at Walgreen Pharmacy about a year ago.