Dissolving powdered laundry soap?

GreenGardener

I'm planning to make my own laundry detergent, and I'd like to do a dry mix with Dr. Bronner's bar soap, Borax & washing soda.  It would save space in my already small laundry room if I didn't use a liquid version.

Do any of you have trouble getting the powder to dissolve in a washer set to cold or warm?

 

CDMay2006

The only time it's been a problem is when i used the way cheap, old washers in an appt laundry room.  It was usually fine, though, if i added the detergent to the basin before adding the laundry (even on cold) and sprinkled it around a little instead of just dumping it in.

GreenGardener

Great, thanks!

PurposelyVague

I only use powder and I mostly use cold or warm washes and don't have any problems with commercial detergents dissolving.

Critter015

For my homemade soap I just grated the bar of soap and didn't put it through a food processor like people recommend so the little soap curls do take a little longer to dissolve.  I always add the soap first and let the washer fill up with a few inches of warm water before adding the clothes.  If I am washing with cold water I just start out with the warm and then switch it to cold right before adding the clothes.  I have only had problems with soap residue in loads that I wash on the delicate cycle on cold (probably because of my horrible washer), so I started dissolving the soap in a cup of warm water before adding it in those loads.