http://www.bulkapothecary.com/

Here is where I found essential oil for $2-3 plus the same in shipping. -M

How-To: Turn A Bar of Soap Into Liquid Hand Soap
via CRAFT by Natalie Zee Drieu on 3/2/11

http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2011/03/how-to_turn_a_bar_of_soap_into.html

18 months without soap or shampoo: success!

http://www.boingboing.net/2011/01/05/18-months-without-so.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+boingboing%2FiBag+%28Boing+Boing%29

via Boing Boing

by Mark Frauenfelder on 1/5/11

This week Sean Bonner reported on his success in staying clean and odorless by showering with water and not using soap or shampoo. Sean was inspired by a blog post I linked to on a site called freetheanimal.com. It’s run by a fellow named Richard Nikoley, who self-experiments with various types of diet, nutrition, exercise, fitness, and health regimens, based on his research in evolutionary biology.

Here’s a little of what Richard has to say about his soap and shampoo free experiment 18 months after starting it:

120940358_4d0204e1c5_o.jpgWhat I’ve found over these 18 months is that I never even thought of the money I was saving. Hell, a decent sized bottle of shampoo and body wash would last me months anyway. Oh, and then there’s the travel size versions. No, what has made this experience oh so satisfying is that I don’t have to worry about any of that anymore — ever. Don’t have to buy it. Don’t have to carry it. Don’t ever run out of it. Don’t have to get it tossed in the dumpster by TSA goons.

So what it boils down to is that this has been such a tremendous experience on the pure grounds of liberation. Now, I can wash up anywhere, anytime there’s a shower, lake, river or stream at hand and feel completely normal about it, not as though it’s the best I can do because I don’t have a big bag of “personal hygiene” products immediately at hand.

A Most Successful Self-Experiment: Over 18 Months Soap and Shampoo Free

Photo

by Madaise. Cr

5 Ways To Get Great Smelling Laundry Without Softener
via Re-Nest
by Allison Verdoorn on 11/15/10

The weather has changed where I live and line drying laundry outside just isn’t an option any more. Usually we opt for natural unscented laundry but every once in a while, when we need to store off season clothing or sheets for a longer period of time, our laundry needs a little extra boost in the scent department. Click through the jump
to find 5 ideas for how to get your laundry smelling extra fresh without any of those chemical softeners. Read more at:

http://www.re-nest.com/re-nest/cleaning/5-ways-to-get-great-smelling-laundry-without-softener-132214

1 Lavender Water. Put some lavender water into a spray bottle and give your laundry a quick spritz before throwing it into the washer. Just enough scent will remain after drying to keep it smelling fresh for a long time. Don’t love lavender? Try your favorite essential oil, rose water would also smell very clean.

2 Citrus Oils. Mix one cup baking soda, one half cup borax with one cup white vinegar and 20 drops of lemon or orange citrus oil. Add this mixture to your bottle of laundry detergent and use as normal.

3 Peppermint Laundry Soap. Try Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap for clean and fresh smelling laundry without the all of the chemicals that usually come with a scented detergent.

4 Re-usable Lavender Dryer Bags. 3-4 use dryer bags are easy to toss in and make for nice smelling clothes. We’ve reviewed Trader Joe’s bags here.

5 Vanilla scented wool dryer balls. Using the wool dryer balls you already have add a small amount of vanilla essential oil before every other cycle to kick up the fresh scent.

Related Posts:
• 5 Homemade DIY Natural Fabric Softeners
• 10 Reasons to Line Dry Laundry

10 Homemade Laundry Soap Detergent Recipes

http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/

Here is a nice stack of different homemade laundry detergent recipes I’ve collected over the years. Do they work? Yes, I’ve had good luck with them.
Tipnuts Homemade Laundry Detergent
At the time I was using homemade detergent, we had a relative who was in trade school living with us. Every day he was mechanic grease from head to toe–the clothes cleaned up nice!

Making your own laundry detergent is a discipline and it’s not for everyone, but it definitely saves money–sometimes just costing pennies a load!

First Some Tips:

* For the bar soaps required in the recipes, you could try Fels-Naptha, Ivory soap, Sunlight bar soap, Kirk’s Hardwater Castile, and Zote. Don’t use heavily perfumed soaps.
* Washing Soda and Borax can normally be found in the laundry and cleaning aisles.
* Some people with really hard water or well water may have to adjust the recipes if the clothes look dingy.
* Although several of the recipes have the same ingredients, the measurements are different–some contain a higher soap to water ratio. Test and see which works best for your laundry needs.
* You can make huge pails of this at once, or smaller quantities. Also if you can get your hands on a few empty liquid laundry detergent bottles they work great for storing the detergent. Just make a big batch and pour in bottles, cap then use as needed–shake before use.
* Some of the recipes call for large amounts of water. Check with a local restaurant to see if they have any empty large pails from deep fryer oil–that’s how many restaurants buy the oil. See if you can have one or two of the pails after they’ve emptied it–just wash them out really well before using. They’re big, heavy plastic and very sturdy when stirring the soap and hot water.

10 Homemade Laundry Soap Detergent Recipes

Recipe #1

1 quart Water (boiling)
2 cups Bar soap (grated)
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda

* Add finely grated bar soap to the boiling water and stir until soap is melted. You can keep on low heat until soap is melted.
* Pour the soap water into a large, clean pail and add the Borax and Washing Soda. Stir well until all is dissolved.
* Add 2 gallons of water, stir until well mixed.
* Cover pail and use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry. Stir the soap each time you use it (will gel).

Recipe #2

Hot water
1 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1 Soap bar

* Grate the bar soap and add to a large saucepan with hot water. Stir over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
* Fill a 10 gallon pail half full of hot water. Add the melted soap, Borax and Washing soda, stir well until all powder is dissolved. Top the pail up with more hot water.
* Use 1 cup per load, stirring soap before each use (will gel).

Recipe #3

Hot water
1/2 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1/3 bar Soap (grated)

* In a large pot, heat 3 pints of water. Add the grated bar soap and stir until melted. Then add the washing soda and borax. Stir until powder is dissolved, then remove from heat.
* In a 2 gallon clean pail, pour 1 quart of hot water and add the heated soap mixture. Top pail with cold water and stir well.
* Use 1/2 cup per load, stirring soap before each use (will gel).

Powdered Laundry Detergent – Recipe #4

Picture of Cup Of Powdered Laundry Detergent – Tipnut.com
2 cups Fels Naptha Soap (finely grated – you could also try the other bar soaps listed at the top)
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax

* Mix well and store in an airtight plastic container.
* Use 2 tablespoons per full load.

Recipe #5

Hot water
1 bar (4.5 oz) Ivory Soap – grated
1 cup Washing Soda

* In a large saucepan add grated soap and enough hot water to cover. Heat over medium-low heat and stir until soap is melted.
* Fill a large pail with 2.5 gallons of hot water, add hot soap mixture. Stir until well mixed.
* Then add the washing soda, again stirring until well mixed.
* Set aside to cool.
* Use 1/2 cup per full load, stirring well before each use (will gel)

Recipe #6

2.5 gallons Water (hot)
1 Bar soap (grated)
3/4 cup Washing Soda
3/4 cup Borax
2 TBS Glycerin

* Melt bar soap over medium-low heat topped with water, stir until soap is melted.
* In a large pail, pour 2.5 gallons of hot water, add melted soap mixture, washing soda, borax and glycerin. Mix well.
* Use 1/2 cup per full load.

Recipe #7

2 cups Bar soap (grated)
2 cups Washing Soda
2 – 2.5 gallons hot water

* Melt grated soap in saucepan with water to cover. Heat over medium-low heat and stir until soap is dissolved.
* Pour hot water in large pail, add hot soap and washing soda. Stir very well.
* Use 1 cup per full load.

Recipe #8

2 gallons Water (hot)
1 bar Soap (grated)
2 cups Baking soda (yes baking soda this time–not washing soda)

* Melt grated soap in a saucepan with enough hot water to cover. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring frequently until soap is melted.
* In a large pail, pour 2 gallons hot water. Add melted soap, stir well.
* Then add the baking soda, stir well again.
* Use 1/2 cup per full load, 1 cup per very soiled load.

Powdered Laundry Detergent – Recipe #9

Picture of Cup Of Powdered Laundry Detergent – Tipnut.com
12 cups Borax
8 cups Baking Soda
8 cups Washing Soda
8 cups Bar soap (grated)

* Mix all ingredients well and store in a sealed tub.
* Use 1/8 cup of powder per full load.

Recipe #10 – (Powdered)

Picture of Cup Of Powdered Laundry Detergent – Tipnut.com
1 cup Vinegar (white)
1 cup Baking Soda
1 cup Washing Soda
1/4 cup liquid castile soap

* Mix well and store in sealed container.
* I find it easiest to pour the liquid soap into the bowl first, stirred in the washing soda, then baking soda, then added the vinegar in small batches at a time (the recipe foams up at first). The mixture is a thick paste at first that will break down into a heavy powdered detergent, just keep stirring. There may be some hard lumps, try to break them down when stirring (it really helps to make sure the baking soda isn’t clumpy when first adding). I used 1/2 cup per full load with great results.

Liquid Detergents Note

Soap will be lumpy, goopy and gel-like. This is normal. Just give it a good stir before using. Make sure soap is covered with a lid when not in use. You could also pour the homemade soap in old (and cleaned) laundry detergent bottles and shake well before each use.

*If you can’t find Fels-Naptha locally, you can buy it online (check Amazon).
Optional

You can add between 10 to 15 drops of essential oil (per 2 gallons) to your homemade laundry detergent. Add once the soap has cooled to room temperature. Stir well and cover.

Essential oil ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil

*Admin Update: clarified instructions for Recipe #10 and liquid detergent notes.
Frequently Asked Questions

I’ve created a new page full of questions and answers for making homemade detergent, you can visit it here: Homemade Laundry Detergent FAQ.

How to Make Liquid Soap This video shows you how to make a Coconut Oil Liquid Soap. This liquid soap can be used as a laundry and all-purpose soap.

Making liquid soap

Novice soap making with some Dr Bronners castile soap, Glycerine and Essential Oils. For more details, see www.therubbishdiet.blogspot.com
***************************************************

make your own liquid soap

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How To Make Your Own Anti-bacterial Soap
To see Dorothy make this DIY DIsh Soap, go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

1. 1 cup water

2. 3Tbls. Liquid Castile Soap

3. 1 tsp. Glycerin (optional)

4. 5-8 drops of any these Anti-bacterial Essential Oils or Combination of:

(Tea Tree, Lemon, Lavender, Geranium, or Rosemary EO’s-There are others but these are commonly used)

Add the soap to a measuring cup or into the container to be used.  Add in EO’s, then add the Glycerin if using.  Gently mix or stir together to combine.  Add in water and gently stir/mix to combine all ingredients.  You don’t want to stir, mix or shake too vigorously as it will create suds.  Now pour into a hand soap container to use.

If no Essential Oils on hand.  Use the above recipe but add in 1Tbl. Vinegar instead.  Vinegar is an anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and anti-fungal.  I use Braggs ACV but any vinegar you have will do.

From: Campaign for Safe Cosmetics <news@safecosmetics.org>

Date: Wed, Apr 14, 2010 at 7:59 AM
Subject: Pesticides in hand soap? Ask Walmart to wash its hands of triclosan

Pesticides in hand soap? Ask Walmart to wash its hands of triclosan

April 14, 2010

www.safecosmetics.org

Can Walmart Help Us Stop Triclosan Use in Hand Soap?

Ask Walmart to wash its hands of triclosan!

Perhaps you’ve seen (or yourself own) an antibacterial product – a facewash, deodorant or even a keychain? Have you ever wondered about the effectiveness of these products, or their impact on people, plants and animals?

Two years ago, Campaign for Safe Cosmetics supporters sent Walmart thousands of e-mails asking the retail giant to help stem the demand for products that contain triclosan, an antimicrobial chemical common in personal care products and cleaning products. One study found triclosan in an astounding 76 percent of liquid soaps on the market.

Well, it’s time for spring cleaning, and time to remind Walmart that it *still* has the mega-retailer power to address hazardous chemicals in consumer products. Ask Walmart to demand triclosan-free merchandise from its suppliers!

Why are we concerned about triclosan?

(1) It’s bad for health: Research shows that triclosan disrupts hormones. Exposure to hormone-disruptors can lead to early puberty, serious reproductive issues and breast cancer.

(2) It’s in our bodies, in soil and in wildlife: Like so many other chemicals in household items, triclosan doesn’t just stay in the products its used in: it’s been found in our bodies and in the breast milk of women using personal care products that contain the chemical. Triclosan has also been found in water, dolphins, earthworms and frogs.

(3) It isn’t more effective than regular soap, but it could lead to bacterial resistance: The CDC found no evidence that antibacterial soap is more beneficial than good old soap and water in reducing bacteria or the rate of disease. Scientists are concerned, however, that widespread use may lead to triclosan-resistant bacteria.

(4) Pesticides shouldn’t be on our skin or in our mouths: Triclosan is registered as a pesticide at the EPA, but it’s probably in your hand soap and might be in your toothpaste because cosmetics companies aren’t barred by the FDA from using ingredients linked to harm or that have never been assessed for adverse health effects.

Last week, however, the FDA said it would reassess the safety of triclosan

in light of new research. And consumers have an ally in Massachusetts Rep. Edward Markey, who has asked the FDA and manufacturers to take action on triclosan because of health concerns.These are really promising developments, but both will take time. Walmart, with its huge purchasing power, can make a difference more quickly. Please ask Walmart to lead the way in getting triclosan off its store shelves!

-Mia, Stacy, Lisa, Marisa and the Campaign Safe Cosmetics Team
P.S. Tomorrow is your last chance to vote in Prevention.com’s Picture of Health contest

! Your vote for Kristi Marsh – Campaign ally, mother of three, wife, daughter, friend and breast cancer survivor – could win $5,000 for the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. So get your vote on, and thanks!about us | contact us | unsubscribe|
- © copyright 2001-2010 Safe Cosmetics Action Network -

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