Washing Machine Powder

[cookie1]

I bought the ingredients today so hope to be making this tomorrow.

[Rowyfo]

Ditto for me cookie! Except I am posting today... so I bought it last night and will be making it soon

I made the soap myself... so I know there are no nasties in it, and I have heaps of ugly cut bits, so it wouldn't be a waste at all.

I'll see how I go

[Rowyfo]

Also, also... did anybody weigh the soap, how much would it weigh? Is 2 cups when it's grated, or powdered, or... well you get the idea

[faffa_70]

I just used 2¹/₂ bars of velvet

[Rowyfo]

I ended up using 200g of mixed soap... some pure soap, some leftover unscented soap I made, and some citrus scented soap I made. Washed towels with it today... seemed to go pretty well. I will see how they feel when they are folded.

[Rowyfo]

All towels are nice and soft I don't normally use fabric softener on them and they feel a lot different today.

I also washed my microfibre cloths... I hope I didn't wreck those, as they recommend no fabric softener.

(I use a front loader and 30^oC water)

[cookie1]

Rowyfo, how much did you use in your front loader please?  I've already killed one front loader and am terrified I will kill another.

[faffa_70]

Cookie, I use about one heaped tablespoon to 1¹/₂ heaped tablespoons depending on the load in my front loader. I think it is pretty safe for the front loaders as it doesn't appear to suds up like normal detergent. Much the same as the goo doesn't. Must be something to do with the velvet soap I think.

[judydawn]

Has anyone worked out the cost of all the ingredients for the powder and how many washes you would get from one batch please?  The goo is really cheap but I suspect the powder is going to be more expensive.

[Rowyfo]

I eyeballed my powder, I suppose it would be about the same volume as a ping pong (table tennis) ball.

Costs were:

Borax - 3.49/500g (used about 125g or 25%) - 87 cents
Soda - 2.99/1kg (used about 200g or 20%) - 60 cents
Soap: mine was handmade... Coles laundry soap is 62 cents a bar = 1.55 for 2.5 bars

= 3.02 per batch of powder, about 4 cups full. Might be anywhere from 16 to 25 washes? 12 cents to 19 cents a wash.

Hopefully someone already figured out the goo, because I don't have the receipts or patience to look ingredients up

[cookie1]

Thank you both.

[Chelsea (Thermie Groupie)]

I wondered about the cost too Judy.  I finally found some borax and it cost me $4.50 for 500g.  I also couldn't get homebrand soap from my local Woolworths (and wasn't going to Coles just to get it) so I bought the velvet brand which is quite expensive.  I'm looking forward to trying the powder though as the goo isn't working well with my boys clothes and I'm sick of scrubbing and rewashing.

[judydawn]

Thanks Rowyfo, I did keep a record of the goo costs but I think I threw it out.  I'm running low on goo at the moment and to get somewhere where I can source the gear needed for the powder is a bit out of my way and will mean a special trip but I would like to try it to compare it with the goo.

[Rowyfo]

For the record - Coles had the washing soda but not Borax, Woolworths had both. I didn't look at soap. I was lucky enough to be shopping in a centre where they were about 50m apart.

[JaneeZee]

Well I have just made my second batch - 7 weeks after the first.  Like I said we only do about 4 loads a week - although doing more recently as it is busy season for DH & with me working full time - so I am happy with that!