Laundry Detergent - Northfield,OH

I like Seventh Generation. It's not the least expensive, but I find that I don't need to use as much to generate the same results. I've also used BabyGanics, which you don't need as much of that either. Try using a higher concentrate detergent. No point in spending less money if you need more. Do you have Big Lots near you? I've never seen Seventh Generation there before, but I've gotten great deals on other quality cleaning products there.

My MIL swears by the Aldi Brand. She says it's just as good as Tide.

I love Tide. It's the only brand I buy, mostly because when I find something I like, I don't want to spend $20 trying something I might not like.

You could try using half of what the bottle says you should use. I have heard many people who repair washing machines say that you really only need to use half. Many times when a machine needs repair, it's because the user used too much soap.

K.:

Sorry - laundry detergent isn't something I "skimp" on. I've got a recipe to make my own - Fels Naptha bars, Borax and Arm & Hammer Washing Soda. I've NOT tried it yet. Sorry. The only reason I haven't - I have one son who still has sensitive skin - slowly outgrowing it - but think the Borax might be a tad too strong for him right now. I cannot use TIDE myself. Grew up on TIDE and hated it. Gives my son a head to toe rash if we use it. And I know that TIDE can be cheaper than other products...my mom still swears by TIDE! LOL!!

I use the All Free & Clear. I buy the large container at Costco. I can't tell you how many loads I do per container - but I do laundry 2x per week. It lasts me 6 to 8 weeks. I don't use the full cap-full and make sure I have a full load when I do laundry.

If I were you and were serious about saving money? I would get all my bills together and get a budget in place. Then I would:
* prepare weekly meal menus
* use coupons
* shop off the weekly sales fliers/circulars to buy ONLY what I needed
* call my cable/internet company and see if there is a way to save money on my bill - if it's something I DO NOT NEED - i.e. cable? I would cancel my subscription (check first to see what the early termination fees are).
* refinance my mortgage - see if I can get a lower interest rate and say 15 years instead of 30
* sell my cars and purchase only what I could afford - preferably with cash only.
* stop buying "brand new" clothes and start looking at consignment shops and Goodwill - even the Salvation Army - and get "new to me" things while still helping other people.
* call my electric, gas and water companies to see if they have a "flat rate" service so I know EXACTLY what my bill will be each month and budget off that.

There are sooo many other ways to cut back on money/expenditures....in my opinion? Laundry detergent isn't a "deal breaker" for me. I would look to other areas FIRST and stick with what I know - then I'm NOT wasting money.

I've made my own for over 3 years now.

1 box 20 Mule Team Borax
1 box Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda
3 bars Fels Naptha Soap, chopped and then blended up in your food processor or blender.

Mix well. Use 1T dry detergent for regular loads, 2T for very soiled loads. Works and smells great.

You can also make your own dishwasher detergent by mixing equal parts Borax and washing soda. 2T in the dispenser is all you need.

I am very picky about laundry detergent. I love Seventh Generation and Mela-power.

Seventh Generation and Method are in the Grocery stores here !!!

On occasion, I will get All that is scent free, perfume free and dye free.
Tide contains 1,4 dioxane and fiberglass. It is a hard habit to break because it smells gd and it has been on the shelves for years and years...and for some reason...we trust some of the brand names. I won't use Tide, Ivory Snow, Gain and Purex are reported to have toxic chemicals in them! This should not be surprising. It's all about the profit that the brand names make...not the chemicals they contain.

I will only use Seventh Generation, Mela Power & Method because they are free of 1,4 dioxane. I wash clothes mostly after 8pm in my HE washing machine. That saves electricity costs.

I went to a seminar a few yrs ago about chemicals in cosmetics and cleaners...You have to be very careful ! I use vinegar and water to clean...

Plus, too, remember that all of the "chemicals" that we are using go into the water supply, etc...

I use hardly any of name brand products. Back in the 70's all this "junk" became very popular.

I will seek out sales on chemical free laundry detergent, deod, dish soap, laundry detergent...and esp bar soap which is rubbed directly on the skin !

Friend makes her own, but I buy Seventh Generation. Many times it is as cheap or cheaper than Tide and I like it as much or better. Growing up we used Era. You may also be able to "boost" your detergent with a little white vinegar in the load. Especially for smellier loads.

For other cost saving tips, try looking at this list: http://bargainbabe.com/draft-10-things-you-should-always-...

And always look at price per quantity. Sometimes cheap isn't really that cheap when you look at how much it is per gallon.

I make my own. Not sure what recipe you used, but the one I use is:

Borax (20 mule Team Borax--it's a box in the laundry aisle)
Arm & Hammer Washing Powder (also a box in the laundry aisle)
Fels Naptha soap (bar, on the laundry aisle)

You grate the bar of soap, and mix it in with a 1.5 cups of EACH the borax and the washing powder. You can also add a scoop or two of Oxyclean or just plain baking soda.

Use 1-2 TB per load.

I use this and plain white vinegar (for the fabric softener) to do all our laundry. It works well and is a lot less expensive per load than any pre-made laundry soap (liquid or powder).

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ETA
And yes, turn the a/c up. We used to keep ours at 74 or 75. This year it has been at 78 all summer and it makes a big difference in the electric bill.

We use Mela Power. It is concentrated so it does as much laundry as 3 bottles of regular detergent (because it doesn't contain all the water). Cost wise it is less than say Tide (which is what we used to use), it works, and because you are creating less waste it is more eco-friendly. Additionally, it's easier on your clothes and doesn't contain the chemicals that most contain.

I will say it is not a "bargain brand" in that it isn't a "save money" option (although it is a little cheaper than the name brands it is not less than the dollar store brands).

I don't skimp on laundry detergent and things like that.

I use All HE. It is usually on special somewhere for less than $5 a bottle. I stock up when I see a deal on it. I've found it at big lots ( large container less than $9)

I have about 8 bottles in my stash now. It takes forever to use 1 bottle with my HE washer.

Good luck!

I use Arm and Hammer. It comes in several scents and is very economical. There are often two-for-one sales and it comes in those giant pour-spout containers. Give it a try. Also, I think powder is cheaper than liquid. I wouldn't know because I haven't used powder in YEARS! :)

Turn your air conditioner up a few degrees.

Inflate the tires on your car.

Eat leftovers.

Eat PB&J.

Coupon.

Any of these things will save you more money and cause less headache. Just buy whatever cheap detergent. You can use white vinegar as fabric softener.

ETA: use LIQID in your washing machine, and POWDER in your dishwasher --advice per our plumber!

To me "inexpensive" means works well without pretreaters or boosters, smells good, and is convenient.
For me, that's Tide Ocean Mist pods.
Pre-measured, so there's no waste.
Smells fresh, but not overpowering.
No need for soaking or ore-treating with other products.
I'm pretty loyal to Tide.
I suspect that Tandil at ALDI is Tide!

I love the Sam's eco friendly laundry detergent. It is only $13.00 for the really big size. It has organic lavender in it to give it a light fresh scent. And it is HE friendly.

My girlfriend makes her own.. says it works better than anythhing she has ever used. and the soap ingrediants were $10.0 and made a ton..

4 cups hot tap water
I bar Fels-Naptha soap*
1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (not baking soda)*
1/2 cup Borax*

Grate the bar of soap (or use a potato peeler to sliver soap) and add to saucepan with hot tap water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

Fill a five (5) gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda, and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.

Stir and fill a used, clean laundry soap dispenser half full with the soap mixture, fill the rest of the way with water. Shake before each use (soap will gel).

Use 5/8 cup per load for top loading machines (180 loads), 1/4 cup per load for front loading machines (640 loads). Makes 10 gallons.

Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per two (2) gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Try lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil or linen.

I buy the big bag of Foca at Sam's. It's cheap and works fine on our clothes, including the scrubs my daughter wears to work at the vet's office. .

We use Country Save. The sticker price can seem like a lot ($14-15 a box,) but it lasts for months. I LOVE it. I feel it cleans as good as any detergent I've used. We've used it for years, even for cloth diapers. I buy ours from Sprouts, but you can check the website to see other locations, or order online.
http://www.countrysave.com/powder_laundry_detergent.php

**Oh, it's HE compatible.

I alternate between Era and Wisk. Our local grocery and Drug Mart have great sales on these all the time and sometimes there are coupons from the paper to use on top of that. I think they work well. I have tried even less expensive brands and agree that they don't work.

I split the bottle almost as soon as I bring it home. Half goes into an old bottle with water added and then I add water to the newly purchased bottle. It works fine.
We also use oxyclean or vinegar with some loads.

I think although not healthy, Tide works really well. I like 7th Generation so I use that a much as I can. Instead of finding a good cheap detergent, if it exists, do less laundry. Wear clothes a few times before washing. Only wash sheets and towels once a week and make sure its a full load. I know we are a small family of only 3, but it is shocking to me how often people do laundry.