Homemade laundry soap question

madladybride

Hello all,

I've made my own soap before, but now I'm just having a brain fart. Many recipes call for 1/3 bar of Fels Naptha. I'm switching to Kirk's Castile Soap instead. Should I be using a whole bar of it or 1/3? (I've read in some recipes if you are subbing Dr. Bronner's, then you would use a whole bar).

 

Thanks!

Megan

CDMay2006

I think the fels naptha is a bigger bar, so you would use less of it, but i'm not sure (haven't made it yet; supplies are patiently waiting until the quarter is over!).  Here's the recipe i'm planning to use; it measures by grated volume, but i'm guessing it's about 1 bar:  http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2010/05/on-the-laundry-line.html

madladybride

I measured the grated soap (it was grated with my old food processor) and it came out to 3.5 cups. However, it was not finely grated...

CDMay2006

Hmm, well i don't know.  Hopefully one of the veteran makers of laundry soap are around!

belovedbride07

I have not heard of using more soap if it is castile vs. Fels Naptha.  I've made three batches of soap, all using 1/3 of a bar of Dr. Bronner's as a direct substitute for Fels Naptha, and they turned out fine.

Good luck!  I've used three different recipes, and the first turned out watery, and the second two kind of "chunky" (it gelled, but only in, for lack of a better description, chunks).  I think I cooked it for too long the last two times.  :-/

halston345

I have heard of using different amounts, but I think that is because of the size of bar.  The recipe I use is 2 parts grated soap to 1 part washing soda and 1 part borax.  I believe adding baking soda is only necessary if you have hard water....not positive on that though.