Homemade laundry detergent

boredandundecided

Hi :hello:was hoping someone whose made this can help me.

I made the biggest batch of homemade laundry detergent last night :T (very simple and enough to last the next 6 months I think) but it smells a little dare I say "soapy" :exclamati. I know you can add some essential oils but was wondering whether anyone had done this and what they added and what the best one would be. I don't want to add say tea tree and it smells awful. I do like tea tree but not sure I will want my washing to smell of it.:think:

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks

building_with_lego

Did you make Gloop? How exciting!
Can you use the essential oils in the softener drawer rather than the detergent? Then you can chop and change according to need- chamomile smells wonderful on your sheets for example... Tea tree would work if you put it in *with* the detergent, I used to use it when washing nappies and they never smelt of teatree by the end of the cycle. Good luck!

sassyblue

HI bored... you might get a better response getting this moved to the Old Style board....

I'll watch with interest though, might have a go at this myself!

boredandundecided

Thank you for your responses. Yes it's gloop, he he..

It made me feel sick making it as the smell of grating the soap was so strong but I have ten tonne of it now and very excited about using it. I think I will invest in a couple of different ones then and use them when I need them per cycle that why like you say I can chop and change then. Saying that I was too eager and just used it without any oils this morning and it smelt absolutely fine when finished. Even my Mum who turned her nose up at me doing this said oh they actually smell fine! :j

I have a slight obsession with watching 19 kids and counting on the home and health channel and this is where I first saw it. If they can make it last a few months with 19 kids and 8-11 loads of laundry a day I may get a years worth out of this little batch! :rotfl:

Thanks again xx

boredandundecided

Hi,
Just wanted to post again regarding the soap and let you know i'm still using it and to be honest not noticed any difference to using my £8 a bottle stuff :eek:. It's fine on all my washing including my 3 year olds grubby clothes :j. I have to still invest in some oils but very happy with it so far :T

xx

msb5262

Hi OP,
I love using lavender essential oil. Smells blissful and helps you to relax and sleep.
HTH
MsB

midnightraven3

lavender essential oil should be used with caution if any males will be wearing the clothes its washed in
it has an unwanted side effect on males,
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article1313072.ece

i have made homemade laundry gel for over 20 years, i would never used lavender in anything my son or hubby would be wearing or using, just in case

msb5262

midnightraven3 wrote: »

lavender essential oil should be used with caution if any males will be wearing the clothes its washed in
it has an unwanted side effect on males,
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/health/article1313072.ece

i have made homemade laundry gel for over 20 years, i would never used lavender in anything my son or hubby would be wearing or using, just in case

Thanks for this but if you look at the article, it says that the oil would have to penetrate the skin in significant quantities for there to be any problem.

"The chances of receiving significant enough doses to cause hormone imbalance through the skin are unlikely"

I was advised by my health visitor to use lavender oil with a carrier oil for baby massage when my first son was born, and since then I've used lavender liberally around the house. I have used about 10 drops of lavender oil per vat of gloop for ages and my two sons don't appear to be developing anything untoward!


MsB