When I found the recipe for homemade laundry soap several month back, the recipe called for Fels Naptha, or Zote (pronounced zoe-tay?) soap. I sent Louie for the ingredients, and he only could find the Fels Naptha, so that is what he got. Today while Louie and I were in Save-A-Lot, we found the Zote soap. The bar is twice as big! I wanted to try it, so I bought several… (like EIGHT bars…talk about trust!)
I thought I was going to burn up my food processor! The soap is a lot softer than the Fels Naptha, and my food processor slowed down almost immediately, and started complaining! All the soap was packed underneath the blade and stuck there. None came out the ‘chute’!
I ran downstairs and got my cheese grater/shredder. Whew! Glad I didn’t donate that when I started using the food processor.
Mixing the stickier soap with the dry ingredients by hand was a little more complicated, but I got it all whipped together in my Presto Mini Max and I even added some Downy Unstopables In-wash Scent crystals.
Since the Zote bar was twice as big, I only used one bar with the same measurements for the other ingredients. With Fels Naptha, I would have used two bars.
I just made four batches of laundry soap using Fels Naptha last night, so I guess I shouldn’t run out of laundry soap for a very long time! I’m anxious to see how the two soaps compare. I know I am very happy with the way the Fels Naptha mix cleans. (Click the bar of soap to see a short video about Fels-Naptha).
I’ll let you know what I think. I have a load of laundry to do tomorrow, so I’ll try the Zote mix. I have a lot of fun making laundry soap, and I get great satisfaction knowing I am saving so much money, and helping the environment. 
Have a great evening and a wonderful Sunday. Don’t forget to
tonight!
I have been considering this. Laundry detergent is ridiculously expensive! My daughter has been making her own for quite some time for their family of seven.
ReplyDeleteMy husband's job is grating the soap because I always grate my knuckles! LOL I like Zote soap because of the all-natural ingredients. You'll have to let us know how it compares!
ReplyDeleteMy mother in law makes her own but uses fels. Can't wait to hear the results.
ReplyDeleteI have not made my own detergent since I moved! I have got to get my act together!!! lol Can't wait to hear which you like the best!
ReplyDeleteI use a recipe with both kinds of bars, Lou. It makes it look like confetti! I grate by hand, but I was told to store the unused bars in a drying spot (like the top of your water heater, or above your stove) so they would become hard. Since I started making our own detergent about 4 years ago, I have never turned back to purchasing!
ReplyDelete:-}pokey
Should make my own laundry soap. Can it be used in an high efficiency washer? How much would you use in a regular washer?
ReplyDeleteI can remember my grandmother rubbing FelsNaptha on Grandpa's shirt collars and cuffs.
Random, but I thought the pressure bar on my Pfaff was stuck. J looked at it this afternoon, and pointed out a switch I'd never seen before. The switch was set in the lock position. How did I not know about that switch in the all the years (twenty?)I've used that machine? Thank goodness for another set of eyes!
Hi Michelle,
ReplyDeleteMy grandma always made her own soap and it was awesome! I'm so impressed that you make yours too!
Let me know how your new formula works!
and btw, I'm totally digging my little scrap bag/pincushion! Thank you!
I want to do this - I keep forgetting to buy the ingredients! Make sure you let us know how much you use and which you like best! Have a wonderful week!!
ReplyDeleteOnly A load of laundry to do? I usually have 2 loads to do, about 2 hours AFTER I've done laundry. I won some laundry soap last year, and I'm on the last box. Oh well.
ReplyDeleteI've been making mine with Fels Naptha, because that's the only soap bar I've had access too. Guess I'll start looking for the Zote so I can compare the differences. (Love the $$ savings, and our clothes are cleaner.)
ReplyDeleteI just grate mine by hand with my box grater.
I read that if you cut up the zote soap in chunks and microwave it, it will swell and change to a whitish color (microwave in 30 second increments) then stick in the freezer to cool down and when it's cooled rub it between your hands and it turns into a powder. Or use a food processor
ReplyDeleteI read that if you cut up the zote soap in chunks and microwave it, it will swell and change to a whitish color (microwave in 30 second increments) then stick in the freezer to cool down and when it's cooled rub it between your hands and it turns into a powder. Or use a food processor
ReplyDeleteI read that if you cut up the zote soap in chunks and microwave it, it will swell and change to a whitish color (microwave in 30 second increments) then stick in the freezer to cool down and when it's cooled rub it between your hands and it turns into a powder. Or use a food processor
ReplyDeleteI would like to know how Pokey's soap with both FN and Zote works.
ReplyDeleteI have used the FN for over a year because I couldn't find the Zote. I did just buy 2 bars and made my fist batch with Zote, but when I dissolved it.. it didn't seem to harden into a gel consistency like the FN laundry soap does?? Not sure why...
I got my bar of zote at family dollar. It was less than $2! So excited to try it.
ReplyDeleteI have always used fels but I got zote from family dollar for 1.56 and it's three times the size! So excited.
ReplyDelete