Homemade Laundry Soap: result & cost!

[Glutton4...]

My only complaint about it all, is that it sets, and goes really really gloopy, so you need to leave enough room in the storage container to be able to add warm water and shake it. Or maybe nuke it? Think sn*t...

[julesapple]

PMSL....

I just read that out to the BH. Who said ''Uurrghhhhh. I'm cleaning my clothes with sn*t" I said well, it's cheap snot. He said he thinks that's even worse....

[zazen999]

My only complaint about it all, is that it sets, and goes really really gloopy, so you need to leave enough room in the storage container to be able to add warm water and shake it. Or maybe nuke it? Think sn*t...

That's why it's called gloop.

[veggiechicken]

I'm going to try the dry mix - that'll look less like Sn*t and more like dandruff

[veggiechicken]

Jules - I see you haven't been able to buy Borax That was going to be challenge this week too . Where did you try? Its about £1.50 - £2 online but the P&P knocks the price up

[julesapple]

I've tried every supermarket, Boots, SuperDrug, two independent ironmongers, Poundland and 99p Store. I got my washing soda, castile soap and a handy huge box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda from 99p Stores. Stupidly, I tried H&B for borax but didn't think to look for rennet.

(Our H&B is just along from my MinL's shop. The BH insisted on going to see his folks (never a good idea) and having to go and be nice derailed my train of thought. Very cross-making, just like my MinL.)

I'm going out (again!) tomorrow to find rennet in a healthfood shop but I'm thinking I'll send for Borax sub from the 'Bay'. I must get the rennet because I've bought double cream on reduced and I must use it soon. I'm thinking the wee shop on our local high street might have VegeRen. There are also two stores which just might sell the Borax Sub. If not it'll be bicarb (A&H Baking Soda)

[veggiechicken]

Thanks! I have washing soda and soap - its only the borax that I need
According to this Dri-Pak mail order laundry and cleaning products John Lewis sell it!!
Surely they can't be the only ones!

[julesapple]

Just read the Gloop recipe in Zaz's post #22 - it doesn't use either Borax or bicarb....

"To make Laundry Gloop all you need is:
4 litres water
1 cup grated white un-perfumed soap or soap flakes
1 cup of washing soda crystals
Essential oils (optional)"

So I might have a go at that recipe just now. Going to soap up my food processor by grating my bars using that........ cba to do it by hand.

I saw that about John Lewis - which is why I thought of Waitrose. I'm not going all the way to Bristol, cheaper to send for some than fork out for diesel and parking!

[julesapple]

So this is my laundry gloop. Does it look right? I never expected separation? It isn't very gloopy (yet) but it does smell nice. I followed the recipe on Zaz's link, but added baking soda like G4 did. I don't think I'll add soda again - it leaves a powdery residue everywhere. I hope I made it right andn it hasn't separated because I added fragrance.

Some things to remember;

If using a food processor to grate your soap, and your soap is the colour of pale cheddar, do remember to warn cheese-hungry teenagers and/or cats who think they can help themselves......

Water boils at 100c. Soapy water boils much quicker. But at least the stove is clean & fresh.....

If you've used a wooden spoon to stir your gloop, never use this for food again. Or use it at your peril....

[Ananke]

Well done Jules.

Mine looks quite different from yours, it does separate but probably the exact oposite ratio to yours..... 2-3 inches of water at the bottom of a 2lt milk carton and the rest is creamy. shake it up and it's quite smooth, the odd gloop here and there.

I'll take a pic of mine tomorrow in the daylight, my house lights produce orange pictures :s

[Ananke]

My local pharmacy sell borax sub and i'm sure I seen it in Savers too.

[julesapple]

Savers? Really? That's the one place I forgot......I could kick myself, honestly. I didn't even think about it.

I thought the Gloop might thicken as it cooled. I can't give it a really good shake until I get some washers. Some wag has pinched the seals from my glass bottles, so I need to go to the home brew shop tomorrow.

Dying to try it out, along with white vinegar fabric conditioner, but I think I ought to wait until it's cool so that it's mixed up properly.

[julesapple]

Today I've done a whites wash and a dark load with the gloop. Everything came up clean, although hard to tell with dark stuff. It certainly smells lovely.

The white load was a patchwork quilt. It came up really clean. I was impressed!

Also, I didn't use fabric conditioner - I used 2 tablespoons of white vinegar in the conditioner dispenser compartment. The laundry didn't smell even slightly of vinegar! I had expected it (don't know quite why) to be hard and crunchy like it is after you've used a Calgon tablet. It wasn't everything felt very soft, even towels and teen socks.

Interestingly, my gloop is now crystal clear unless I shake it up.

[veggiechicken]

Did you use any essence to flavour it, Jules?

[Glutton4...]

I can't understand why it's clear - didn't it mix? What method did you use?