Welcome to General Chat - GAW Community Area
This General Chat area started off as a place for people to talk about things that are off topic, however it has quickly evolved into a community and has become an intergral part of the GAW experience for many of us.
Based on it's evolving needs and plenty of user feedback, we are trying to bring some order and institute some rules. Please make sure you read these rules and participate in the spirit of this community.
Rules for General Chat
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Be respectful to each other. This is of utmost importance, and comments may be removed if deemed not respectful.
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Avoid long drawn out arguments. This should be a place to relax, not to waste your time needlessly.
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Personal anecdotes, puzzles, cute pics/clips - everything welcome
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Please do not spam at the top level. If you have a lot to post each day, try and post them all together in one top level comment
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Try keep things light. If you are bringing in deep stuff, try not to go overboard.
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Things that are clearly on-topic for this board should be posted as a separate post and not here (except if you are new and still getting the feel of this place)
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If you find people violating these rules, deport them rather than start a argument here.
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Feel free to give feedback as these rules are expected to keep evoloving
In short, imagine this thread to be a local community hall where we all gather and chat daily. Please be respectful to others in the same way
Does anyone make homemade laundry detergent? We bought Borax, Arm and Hammer washing powder, and Zote, as we couldn't find Fels-Naptha. Our washer won't fill with the lid open, so I will have to figure out the best time to put it in the machine so it works better. It is a little more work, but fewer chemicals is fine with me.
https://bootsandhooveshomestead.com/diy-natural-laundry-detergent/
I’ve been using this one. I like it. Sheets seem brighter and towels cleaner. The only thing is I’ve noticed is sometimes it doesn’t dissolve completely. You have to use warm or hot water most of the time. I use vinegar when things need softened. It’s really easy to make and doesn’t involve bar soaps. I’m almost out and trying a different recipe next time. I will keep you updated.
I'm using detergent sheets. Love them
Thanks!! I always use hot water. I don't mind doing laundry now. ;)
I do. I put it in before the clothes. That what my brand of washer recommends. Works fine. Also I use half fels naptha and half ivory as I think it makes my clothes softer. I haven't tried zote. Another thing I've been reading is to use sals suds in the recipe. I have yet to try that but always room for improvement.
Dumb question, thinking of trying this- do you shave both bars into the tub, 1:1? And about how much total, for a medium tub?
I make the liquid soap. I use half a bar of naptha and half a bar if ivory. That makes 5 gallons.
Thanks!
I’ve never tried this, but my skin is very sensitive. I only use tide. I wait till it’s on sale before I purchase it.
My washer works the same way and I hate it. I just stuck something in the lock area so it thinks the lid is down when it is not.
It is annoying for sure!
We stumbled across fels naphtha in Walmart, of all places. I grabbed a bar just to see what it has now, as surely it couldn't still contain naphthalene, right? Right, it doesn't, but still looks like a decent cleansing agent.
We started stocking up on anything scent-free as it came on sale, but I noticed the powder stuff just isn't on the shelves any more. Borax showed up and I grabbed two little boxes, and baking soda large bags from the pool supplies section. We pick up essential oils when we can catch them on special too. (Got dragged into a bin store, and got very surprised; found oils and elderberry syrup...)
We didn't find F-N at Walmart at all. We had to get Zote. I will keep an eye out for all that stuff now.
I've never heard of Zote until this thread, will look into it. Also, not sure how things are in your area, of your comfort zone, but sometimes Hispanic markets will have old school things. They definitely have lies of herbs and spices cheaper than gringo marts...
Great idea!!! There are a lot of those around here.