Diaper Swappers

gamecaco4 · 09-10-2006, 07:08 AM

A good friend of mine gave this recipe to me a week or so ago. Shes been using it for years because she has horribly sensitive skin. These are both great for baby detergent, too. She says she pays about $4 a month on detergent and softener for 4 people per month.

Detergent:
One bar of fels naptha grated.
2 cups of washing soda
2 cups of borax.
Mix together and voila! One large Tbls. does one load of wash.

There is some fragrance in the fels naptha however it is miniscule and rinses completely out in the rinse cycle.

Softener:
One gallon size jug of white vinegar (has to be white) Favorite essential oil (optional)
If you use the essential oil you'll need about two teaspoons. Add directly into vinegar. Shake to mix. Add vinegar mix to Downy ball as you would fabric softener. It will work fine without EO too. There will be no vinegar smell left on clothes don't worry.

I actually have used vinegar as a softener (w/o the EO because I didnt have any on hand) and was surprised that there wasnt a vinegar-y scent.

Maybe this is all wayyyy old, but I had never heard of these recipes before. I plan to use them when I finally run out of the stash I have sitting in my garage or when the baby arrives...whichever comes first.

KnottyLDSMama · 09-10-2006, 10:55 AM

I make my own to only I do it a bit differently.

I grate the Fels Naptha, then melt it. Add 2 cups of washig soda plus any essential oils. Add enough hot water to make 5 gallons (I actually usually cut it in half and make 2 1/2 at a time). When it cools, it makes a gel. I use aprox. 1 cup per load.

~Stephanie~ · 09-10-2006, 01:01 PM

I make mine about the same as Tiffani. I've been using it for over a year now. I love it!

Quiverfillin · 09-10-2006, 02:58 PM

How does this work on dipes?

gamecaco4 · 09-10-2006, 03:00 PM

A gel, huh? Is it pourable?

If it is something I can put in a pourable container, Ill just keep one or two of my bigger detergent bottles.

KnottyLDSMama · 09-10-2006, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quiverfillin

How does this work on dipes?

Fels Naptha is a soap and not recommended for diapers.

And as for pourability... (Is that even a word? lol) I have it in a huge salsa container, and I find that it is semi-pourable. The gel will kind of break off somewhat, but then other times you get a huge piece of gel that won't break and you end up using too much. (No clue if that made sense to anyone but me). lol

yaka111 · 09-10-2006, 03:31 PM

AWESOME! I am going to try it..however, what is Fels Naptha, where would i buy it?

Milkshake Momma · 09-14-2006, 11:03 PM

I'd like to try this too. I make my own wipes and was talking about making fab softener, but had no clue where to start with that! I am also wanting to know where to find this soap Fels Naptha.

sharebear2u · 10-02-2006, 08:24 AM

Fels Naptha is a bar laundry soap. It has been around a LONG time. My mom remembers her mom using it, etc. It is usually by the laundry pre-treaters in the soap isle. Mine is packaged in a wrapper and has an oldfashioned picture in green and red on it. They sell it at most places that have laundry soap. If you had an oldfashioned mom or grandma, you might remember the bumpy washboards that they would get wet, rub a bar of soap on and then scrub the clothes on in a laundry tub. Well, mine used Felsnaptha for it.

I have abar but have only used it to pretreat stains. I might have to try one of these recipes!!

Milkshake Momma · 10-02-2006, 08:58 AM

Thanks so much. I think I "recongnize" what you are describing. ...off to make my clothes clean!

09-10-2006, 07:08 AM	#1
gamecaco4 Registered Users Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 44 Ratings: 3 Feedback: 100%	Homemade detergent and fabric softener A good friend of mine gave this recipe to me a week or so ago. Shes been using it for years because she has horribly sensitive skin. These are both great for baby detergent, too. She says she pays about $4 a month on detergent and softener for 4 people per month. Detergent: One bar of fels naptha grated. 2 cups of washing soda 2 cups of borax. Mix together and voila! One large Tbls. does one load of wash. There is some fragrance in the fels naptha however it is miniscule and rinses completely out in the rinse cycle. Softener: One gallon size jug of white vinegar (has to be white) Favorite essential oil (optional) If you use the essential oil you'll need about two teaspoons. Add directly into vinegar. Shake to mix. Add vinegar mix to Downy ball as you would fabric softener. It will work fine without EO too. There will be no vinegar smell left on clothes don't worry. I actually have used vinegar as a softener (w/o the EO because I didnt have any on hand) and was surprised that there wasnt a vinegar-y scent. Maybe this is all wayyyy old, but I had never heard of these recipes before. I plan to use them when I finally run out of the stash I have sitting in my garage or when the baby arrives...whichever comes first.

09-10-2006, 10:55 AM	#2
KnottyLDSMama Peachy with a side of keen, that would be me Formerly: Moonprysm Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 5,964 Ratings: 82 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Homemade detergent and fabric softener I make my own to only I do it a bit differently. I grate the Fels Naptha, then melt it. Add 2 cups of washig soda plus any essential oils. Add enough hot water to make 5 gallons (I actually usually cut it in half and make 2 1/2 at a time). When it cools, it makes a gel. I use aprox. 1 cup per load. __________________ Tiffani head-covering skirt-wearing Christian Helpmeet to Wes 11/16/02, WAHM to Xander 4/5/06, Jaime 1/20/09, and Baby Boy #3 11/15/10

09-10-2006, 01:01 PM	#3
~Stephanie~ Registered Users Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 628 Ratings: 15 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Homemade detergent and fabric softener I make mine about the same as Tiffani. I've been using it for over a year now. I love it! __________________ ~Stephanie~ Mommy to Cameron (8) Isabel (6) Parker (4) and Wyatt just turned 1! Expecting baby #5 on October 17th, 2008.

09-10-2006, 02:58 PM	#4
Quiverfillin Registered Users Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 1,321 Ratings: 113 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Homemade detergent and fabric softener How does this work on dipes? __________________ Sharmista ~ Mom of 4 blessings!

09-10-2006, 03:00 PM	#5
gamecaco4 Registered Users Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 44 Ratings: 3 Feedback: 100%	Re: Homemade detergent and fabric softener A gel, huh? Is it pourable? If it is something I can put in a pourable container, Ill just keep one or two of my bigger detergent bottles.