I just made my first batch of laundry soap (fels naptha, washing soda, borax combo). After sitting for 24 hours, it didn't gel up like it should have. Instead, it serparated into liquid with a waxy, 1 inch top (kinda looks like how fat rises on soup when refrigerated). What did I do wrong? Can it be fixed by re-heating the batch? I thought I followed the directions exactly.
Ok, I fixed the batch, and now it's gelled nicely (I re-heated the whole batch and stired it every hour or so until it cooled). Here's the recipe:
1/3 bar fels naptha laundry soap - grated
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup borax
Put fels naptha into a pan and add about 6 cups water. Heat, stiring constantly, until soap is melted. Stir in washing soda and borax. Continue stirring until dissolved. Fill a 2 gallon bucket with hot tap water. Add soap mixture and stir well to combine. As it cools it will turn into a gel. Use 1/2 cup per load of laundry.
I have some more specific intructions for it. The first time I made it it came out a little too watery and lumpy. After practice I have it down and it is a nice gel consistency.
Liquid Laundry Detergent
3 Pints Water
1/3 Bar Fels Naptha or Ivory Soap, Grated
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax
Bucket
4 Quarts + 1 Pint Boiling/Hot Water
optional: 15 drops Lavender Essential Oil (or whatever EO you prefer)
optional: 10 drops Tea Tree Oil
Mix Fels Naptha soap in a saucepan with 3 pints of water, and heat until dissolved. Stir in Washing Soda and Borax. Stir until thickened, and remove from heat. Add 1 quart hot water to bucket. Add soap mixture, and mix well. Add another 2 quarts boiling hot water and 1 additional quart plus 1 pint hot water and mix well. Set aside for 24 hours, or until mixture thickens. Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load.
I use cloth diapers on my two boys so I have a lot of laundry. I make up the detergent two batches at a time in a 5 gallon bucket. I love this stuff!
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I made 5 gallons using a recipe from TikTok. Because of the quantity and frequency of our laundry, I diverted a little. I used one full bar of fels naphtha, 2 cups borax, 2 cups of washing powder and added essential oil for fragrance.
Also added 1/2 cup laundry sanitizer, and 1/2 cup of softener. I'm having the same separating issues. Is there anything I can do in the main bucket before I put it in the smaller use container?As a general rule, most DIY laundry soap/detergents recipes are left in flaked/granular consistency and an appropriate amount measured for each load. This type seems to be the most popular.
However, since you already have 5 gallons mixed, you may have a problem dividing this into smaller containers.
There are so many 'great' DIY soap recipes on TikTok it would be difficult to locate the one you used.
Did you shred the Fels Naphtha?
Did you use the exact products the recipe called for?
Did you follow the instructions exactly as stated?
Did the recipe call for one gallon and you made five?
Did your recipe call for using boiling water to dissolve the soap?
Sorry, but any one of these answers could be why you're having this problem as most DIY recipes have to follow the original instructions exactly.
Smaller quantities of liquid are always better because liquid DIY detergents usually always have to be stirred/shaken before measuring the amount to use.
Hopefully, another member will have more useful suggestions but maybe next time you could make your mix and not add any liquid until you're ready to make a gallon.
I started making natural laundry detergent in my home, but when I put it in the gallons it separated. What is the cause?
Paul
That's normal. You just shake it before using.
I made laundry soap, but when I put it in the bucket it separated how can I fix it?
I think giving it a solid shake will do the trick.
REHEAT AND STIR WELL.YOU MAY HAVE TO DO IT A COUPLE OF TIMES.
this may be just inherent in the product because fo the different viscosity and density of the materials used - just like with oil and vinegar they will always separate nd you always have to mix it beforehand, unless you purchase/add a binding agent
this is a very interesting post discussing the perils of 'home made laundry soap' naturesnurtureblog.com/
Use glycerin only a table spoon to a gallon. Shake well
I am looking for DIY hacks to keep homemade liquid laundry soap from separating.
You have to gently shake the detergent before each use, as it does separate.
Keep it in a bottle with a good lid and shake it...I have not found a recipe yet that does not separate. It does not hurt anything. I look at the shaking part as exercise :)
Try adding a squirt of dishwashing liquid. I read somewhere that it helps with splitting.
I used to have the issue of my homemade liquid splitting and I use the borax washing soda and soap recipe.
I tried extra blending with a hand blender and also used a jug blender but it still split after a few hours.
I did a trial... about a cup of the liquid and about a teaspoon of dish soap mixed in a small jar checking for 2 days and it worked perfectly...no splitting.
I now add a squirt to each 2lt bottle I use to store and have not had any splitting what so ever.
I have not added it to the main pot... only added after, when separating into smaller bottles. I still shake prior to use as it does tend to get a bit thick at the top but it evens out.
