I have been using this laundry detergent for several months now. I've used Fels Naptha, 1-2-3 (a laundry soap I found in a Mexican grocery), and Zote. I haven't noticed a huge difference so I think I'll go with whatever's cheapest. However, I now have an obsession whereby I look in every store I visit to see if they have a laundry soap I haven't used yet and now have LOTS of bars of soap! I use 1 1/2 cups of the "goo" for an extra large load and add a scoopful of OxyClean-type stuff (found at the dollar store) for extra dirty or icky clothes. I haven't noticed any residue, but if you're worried about that, throw in a 1/2 to 1 cup vinegar with the final rinse water. That will cut any soap left in the clothes. I DO miss having a little fragrance, even though my daughters and I have sensitive skin (one with hand eczema). I have ordered some tea tree oil and some lavender essential oil from ebay and will add 10-15 drops to the recipe just to see if I notice a slight fragrance. Also, there are NO suds. That takes a little getting used to but the results are the same.

Each of my batches have a slightly different texture for some reason. I assume it's the soap I'm using. It makes no difference. Just stir it up so that if it separates, you're not just using water. If you want to put it into old laundry detergent bottles, just put a huge glop of it into the microwave and warm it up a little. That will make it a liquid again. Leave enough room in the detergent bottle so that you can shake it before using (and you WILL need to shake it or it won't come out of the bottle!) If I am doing a LOT of laundry in a day, I just put a glop in a quart glass measuring cup, heat it up and pour it from the measuring cup.

Oh yeah........the recipe I've been using is:

1 quart hot water
1/2 bar of Fels Naptha, or 1/3 bar (4 oz.) Zote, or 1-2-3
2 3/4 gallons hot water
1 cup washing soda
1 cup borax
4-5 gallon bucket

Again, I use a glass measuring cup for the 1 quart of water so that I can microwave it. I grate the soap and add it to the water in the measuring cup. I then microwave it for a couple of minutes and stir to make sure the soap is disolved. If not, back in the microwave! While that's in the microwave, I put the 11 quarts of hot water in the bucket and add the washing soda and borax. Stir this until it's disolved. When the soap mixture is finished, add it to the bucket. I use a strainer so that I don't get chunks, just in case. Stir it all up and wait. First it will have a texture of heavy cream and then, when you're not looking (a watched pot never boils, right?), it will turn into a gelatinous goo! It's a FUN goo, though (which is why a lot of men like to make it!) Sometimes the goo is thicker than others but that's OK. If you don't like the goo, heat it before you use it.

If any of you have used essential oils in your recipe, please let me know. I've never used them before so I don't know how much to add to the 3 gallons.

Cheers,
Laurel