Stopped Making Laundry Soap

I have a secret confession, I am cheap. Yep, call it what you want: frugal, penny pincher, worried about the almighty dollar or any other name summed up my desire to save money. Maybe it stemed from the checking account low on funds to the fear of death as a bag lady. These thoughts drove how money was/is spent.

Three years ago I discovered homemade laundry soap. The ingredients and process was simple. Grate one bar of soap, one cup of washing soda (not baking soda) and one cup of Borox. Mix, add an essential oil if the mood struck and viola! Add one to two tablespoons, depending on dirt level, to the washing machine. Homemade laundry soap was easy, cheap and effective. The trifecta of success. There was even a blog post about it and other homemade cleaners. 

Bryan and I had a deal early in our marriage. He could watch hours of sports in front of the television if he managed an afternoon of laundry. He was content to watch an afternoon of college sports/golf/professional football on whatever channel that had a ball moving. He used the homemade laundry soap and had a store-bought bottle as a back-up. Things were going well in laundry scene. Everyone was happy.

Unfortunately, this laundry dream came to a screeching halt last week. For the past few weeks we noticed a mildew/sewer smell from our sump pit. Our house's overhead sewers feed into a cement lined pit with a dirt bottom. Every time the washing machine emptied the smell got stronger and lingered longer. A plumber confirmed we did not have a leak in the sewer line. Our washing machine emptied into the pit and the smell came from the laundry water. 

We figured the solution was two fold since an injector pump was out of the question. First, the pit needs a cement bottom and homemade laundry soap is out. After just a few short days with a traditional laundry soap the smell was noticeably diminished and our laundry sink was cleaner. Before, the sink had a black film that needed to be scrubbed with bleach every few months. I was able to rinse off the film with hot water and a sponge this afternoon. Success!

A very wise mom, Veronica R, explained homemade laundry soap lacks the necessary enzymes to break down stains, dirt and odors. Traditional laundry soap had the necessary enzymes plus water softeners to dissolve the film built-up. Who knew?

I am proud to say my house has been "laundry stink free" for over a week and Bryan commands the laundry mission. My cooking disasters are another matter. Even the neighborhood raccoons stay far clear from the kitchen vent.

Which brand of laundry soap do you use? Why?

Sharon, The Mayor