Laundry detergent
 

What is your fave brand/recipe for laundry detergent?

Re: Laundry detergent
 

I love my laundry balls.

https://www.amazon.com/Reusable-Non-...70_&dpSrc=srch

I still use Oxi Clean for whites and lights. But this is what I use for "detergent."

Re: Laundry detergent
 

Excelsior is one we like.

I just did a trial of Meliora and it worked reasonably well also.

Prior to our new fancy washer, I used BioKleen.

---------- Post added at 04:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:03 PM ----------

Do you know if they work well with HARD water?

Re: Laundry detergent
 

I have hard water. Calcium carbonate, which is known as temporary hardness (white dust precipitates when I boil water, stays dissolved when I add vinegar). I have always used vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser and I still do.

I love my laundry balls.

Re: Laundry detergent
 

I've been nervous to add vinegar in the new washer. It's a front loading HE washer. :think

Re: Laundry detergent
 

I ordered a different kind of laundry ball recently and it has a scent. Like the way baby aspirin used to smell like artificial orange :( Was told it would dissipate after a few washes but a blanket I washed with it smells like it. So no scent in these? I like 7th Generation detergent for dishes and was considering trying it for laundry but would like to use those balls!

---------- Post added at 12:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:35 AM ----------

I use vinegar in fabric softener cup too

Re: Laundry detergent
 

I have a Samsung front loader. Washers are designed to hold up under germicidal bleach (strong base) and fabric softener (acid). Lots of people don't realize that fabric softener is acidic. That's part of how it works. Vinegar is acidic without the extra stuff. Vinegar will help prolong the life of your machine by reducing buildup, too.

Re: Laundry detergent
 

I had no idea fabric is acidic!

I used to put vinegar in a Downy ball, but I quit one day, not knowing if it did anything.

---------- Post added at 09:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:43 PM ----------

Scent wise, I love these.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005K...TpL&ref=plSrch

Re: Laundry detergent
 

I use Charlie’s Soap (per someone’s recommendation here), along with the same brand’s hard water softener powder stuff.

I also like Seventh Generation.

If I want stuff scented, I put a couple drops of EO on my wool dryer ball.


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Re: Laundry detergent
 

I also use Charlie's Soap, but those laundry balls are intriguing.

Do you really need to put them in the sun for 2-3 hours a day to keep them fresh? Some reviewers complained about clothes smelling musty once they were wet due to not enough sun exposure. :think

Re: Laundry detergent
 

I can't remember the specific directions but it's definitely not every day. IIRC it was one sunny afternoon every 2 weeks. We have more laundry than an average, 4-person household so I try to do one afternoon a week. I will often put the balls out when I go to bed (in summer) and then get them at some point in the morning. Then they get regular morning sun. In winter, though, we can go a long time without a bright sunny day. I just give them sun when I can. Mine do not get smelly. I've thought about getting a second set just because we have grey winters and lots of laundry.

I am fanatical about keeping my washing machine aired out, though, too. The door is always open when not in use and I remove the laundry drawer for extra air circulation. And I use distilled vinegar in the fabric softener dispenser in every load to reduce mineral build-up. I use Kleenite about twice a month.

Re: Laundry detergent
 

can it be sunlight thru a window or has to be outside?

Re: Laundry detergent
 

I think it has to be direct sunlight. I'm guessing a window would be better than nothing, though. I put mine outside. I think even an open window would be better than through glass.

According to this, they are even starting to make washing machines that come with these little balls already installed. https://household-tips.thefuntimesgu...laundry-balls/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYp8R_CuMl0

Re: Laundry detergent
 

Ok. What am I missing? These are agitator balls that require no soap? :scratch I read the description and am just :jawdrop so cool

Re: Laundry detergent
 

No other detergent required but I do add oxy clean to my whites and lights, just like I did when I used detergent. I also add baking soda to loads with fitness wear. I instruct my teen to add baking soda to every load, too. (which I also did with regular detergent.)

They generate their own hydrogen peroxide like reaction in the water, they absorb odors and stains. They last for 1,000 loads.

I first heard about them from SamRose, for those of you who remember her. I know her in person and she is not only extremely frugal, she is someone who WILL get her money back if a product doesn't work. :lol So, when I found out she was still loving hers a year after purchase, I bought some.

I had formerly been a longtime user of Charlie's Soap.. Still like that as a detergent but I love my laundry balls.

I think I've had mine almost a year. Not sure. Maybe longer.

Re: Laundry detergent
 

So,I recently tried Biokleen and it has made our laundry almost smell petro chemicalish. I cant figure it out because it is supposed to be petroleum free. Maybe it has kind of stripped it out of clothes with polyester? And it makes the rest smell like it? :scratch

Re: Laundry detergent
 

Hmmm, I'm not sure. :think We use Biokeen Cold Water Laundry Liquid and have used it for years and years.

The laundry balls sound neat!

Re: Laundry detergent
 

I need to investigate the laundry balls more....Amazon.com doesn't ship to Canada but perhaps I can drive down to the US and pick them up. Psychologically, it is hard for me not to at soap to laundry. It doesn't feel clean if I miss that step....however, the idea of avoiding the chemicals and being more frugal has be very interested. Thanks for sharing!

Re: Laundry detergent
 

There are several brands of similar laundry balls on Amazon.ca that have good reviews.

... I'm following, because they look super cool!

Re: Laundry detergent
 

I am loving Hex anti Stink!

Ever since we switched to natural deodorants 7 years ago I have not been able to get out laundry to smell right!! It didn't smell bad (most of the time :shifty) but It didn't smell the way I wanted it to.

I have a theory that since our deodorant is coconut oil based (Schmidt's and Primal something) and not glycerine based like normal deodorants, that our detergent needs to have enzymes in it to eat up the oils in the fiber of our shirts. Hex anti Stink with enzymes works!! First time in years it is never sour and the armpits smell perfect (not rancid deodorant and breast milk smell :sick).

Re: Laundry detergent
 

That sounds so good! My shirts made with technical fabric, whatever the fabric is my running shirts are made from, well, it's so hard to get them to smell fresh!

It looks like that have spray stuff, too, to put on things you can't wash in the washing machine. I wonder if I could use it on my son's taekwondo gear. It smells so bad. :shifty
https://hexperformance.com/new-hex-anti-stink-spray/

Re: Laundry detergent
 

have you tried a full cup of baking soda in the wash (in addition to whatever else you use) and vinegar in the rinse?

Going to look at that Hex stuff . . . might be nice just to have on hand.

Re: Laundry detergent
 

Is it apple cider vinegar you use or just regular white vinegar? I seem to remember using apple cider vinegar with ds1's cloth diapers forever ago. :scratch

Re: Laundry detergent
 

Distilled white.

Re: Laundry detergent
 

I haven't tried that! Thanks! :tu

Re: Laundry detergent
 

My favorite brand is Trader Joe's lavender.

Re: Laundry detergent
 

Wow. I am ordering those laundry balls! (Well, the Beron brand because cheaper, hope I don't regret the change haha.) And good thing they're easy to use. :giggle (I still have unused soap nuts in my cupboard that I got years ago. :shifty)
I'm thinking I'll put them in a laundry bag and hang them on the line alongside my washing every time?

Re: Laundry detergent
 

I'm going to try these!

Re: Laundry detergent
 

I just ordered laundry balls and they were packaged w wool dryer balls for 23.99 :rockon

We have such good water quality that I’m hopeful we won’t need but a dash of oxyclean. We have a ton of delicates these days (not me my girls) so I’m making sure kids realize can’t be used w delicates or w gymnastics Leo’s but I’m still excited :tu

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Mine say something about soaking in water for one hour before use. Lisa, did yours say something like that? If so, does it mean every time you use it or just the first time?

Re: Laundry detergent
 

I never soaked mine. :shrug

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I went and read my box and it didn’t say to soak first . Tried this tonight for 2 loads. So far, so good :rockon

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I have them in my Amazon cart. :)

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How do I air these laundry balls in the sun when it’s dreary weather? Any tricks? I have a light box! :think :help

So far I really like these :rockon even my stinky towels are fresh :woohoo

2 stinky tween/teen bodies and all fresh laundry :tu

Re: Laundry detergent
 

I used to make the Duggar’s homemade laundry soap recipe. But then LO got a terrible diaper rash and we found out it didn’t have strong enough enzymes to get rid of stuff so we ended up back with the original Sunlight powder. I like it and it’s fairly cheap. Only thing I’ve noticed is dhs yeast flared up again and wondering if it’s to do with using that, although we’ve used it a yr or so now.

Re: Laundry detergent
 

There's enough light on a cloudy day.

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I had them out a few hour today. It was dry but not bright !!

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I ordered a plastic housed one from Amazon - think it was a Beron brand and it smells like baby aspirin :( Like chemical orange smell

Re: Laundry detergent
 

Sooo my laundry balls got ruined. The brand isn’t in stock right now on amazon. Anyone have a good brand to suggest?

Re: Laundry detergent
 

https://www.grove.co/catalog/product...3-pack/?v=1624


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