Laundry SOAP (not detergent)

peachypear

Does anyone use laundry soap instead of detergent? I?ve been recommended to try it since my daughter may be reacting to our hypo-allergenic detergent, but I can?t find anything in the laundry aisle that specifically says it is soap. Someone suggested that I grate bar soap, but I prefer to hear it from someone with personal experience before experimenting?

Also, I?ve seen recipes for homemade laundry cleaners with borax and washing soda. Does anyone know if these are okay for extremely sensitive skin?

TIA

Alisha_A

The problem is that soap and detergent are used interchangably. I think all laundry products are called detergent, because that's the norm.

I use Ecos, and while its labeled detergent, its actually a soap.

http://www.ecos.com/ecosliquid.html#spec

And FYI on the diff:

http://www.clearwatersoapworks.com/site/1501105/page/588981

 

sillygoosegirl

I'm not sure I could tell you the difference between soap and detergent, even after skimming the wikipedia article and a couple years of Chemistry.  But anyway, I make my own laundry soap.  It's one bar of hand soap (I use ivory), 1 cup of washing soda, and 1/2 cup of borax.  Regular soap is ly and fat.  It's good at removing oil and grease.  Washing soda is very similar chemically to baking soda, and I would not expect it to be a problem for sensitive skin.  Sometimes I do use baking soda instead of washing soda in my laundry, and honestly it seems to work just as well.  Considering that you can eat it, baking soda may be a better choice for sensitive skin.  I haven't the faintest idea what borax is, but I know a lot of people use less or leave it out entirely for delicate clothes, so you might want to leave it out for delicate skin too.

I just throw all three ingredients in my food processor after cutting the bar of soap into a few pieces.  I use around a tablespoon of the powder per load. Grating bar soap is also pretty easy, but not quite so easy as the food processor method.  

troopersmom21

My Dh has extremely senstive skin as well and has done well with the borax, washing soda, and fels naptha soap.

GRKaters

We use Charlie's Soap.

http://charliesoap.com/

 

emyinpink

We also use Charlie's Soap. Get it from Amazon.

GRKaters

emyinpink:

We also use Charlie's Soap. Get it from Amazon.

WHY have I never done that?! Thanks for the tip.