Home Sweet Simple Home

laundry: water, wet and waste

Well, earlier I walked into my laundry room and found the pile of laundry on the floor sopping wet. I then found out the drawer for adding detergent/fabric softener was leaking- and leaking a LOT of water.
After a lot of wiggling, jiggling and general fussing, I left Mr. Steady with his tools and dug out the manual. And upon turning to the exact page we needed, I found that the little drawer has a hidden lock mechanism. All I had to do was reach in, push it down with my finger and Viola! It came out. Ah.
Mr. Steady was happy it was that easy and readily put his tools away. He then noted that my wonderful homemade laundry detergent had clogged up the works with a couple of big lumps that didn't dissolve.
FYI for the future- make sure the detergent is in no way shape or form- clumpy. I'm not giving up my homemade detergent- no way, no how. Not only is it cheap but it smells wonderful and I believe is helping with all of Sassafras's skin irritations (exema). I think I let the last batch cook a bit too long and then it set up too thick.
Anyhoo- now that I know how to get that do-hicky out, I won't have to worry about such matters because I can now clean the entire little drawer frequently and completely.
Ah, success.

What soap recipe are you using?

7:56 PM, 2007-Apr-2 .. Posted by mulberrylane

I'm curious as to the recipe you are using... are you using Crystal's laundry soap recipe? I just started using that, works fine for daily laundry, but doesn't hit Dh's grimy farm clothes at all. I need to make more as I'm almost out. I need a bucket though. Mine clumped up really firm and I had put it into 5 gallon jugs that had a small 2-3 inch opening... that was a bugger to get out. I told Dh I needed a bucket for next time and he said... don't buy one, I have enough... but the lid sounds tricky... I need a lid, to keep baby out, but Oh my... the trials of making soap. I love the savings though! I'd love to hear what recipe you are using if it is different, though... I'm not giving up on the soap, just yet...
Warmly, Melissa

Melissa-

8:00 PM, 2007-Apr-3 .. Posted by YPAmy5

Melissa- My recipe is a slight tweaking of Crystal's. The first time I made it- it was much more liquidy. This time it gelled too much. I think I added too much water the first time and probably not enough the next. I'll be trying again soon.
Also- my hubby works in a plastics factory and I find it cleans his clothes just fine. But you may need to use something more "substantial" for your hubby's clothes (I'm assuming you wash them separately).