Monday 9 November 2015

Well, that's a bummer

Having run out of homemade laundry liquid, I needed to make some pronto. I used to use half a bar of grated soap, then I found soap flakes which made the process easier. Unfortunately, it would appear that the main producer of soap flakes have now stopped making them. Instead they produce liquid soap for laundry, at a slightly higher price.

Off I went into the kitchen, started as normal. Obviously I didn't need to dissolve the soap flakes to begin with so just put 1 cup of liquid soap into 1 litre of water and stirred to mix. Then I added in my washing soda and stirred.

Straight away it was obvious something was different. Normally, when adding the washing soda, it quickly thickens when stirring, this just stayed the same. I felt it and it was very waterery and runny, not how it would normally feel, which is slimy.

I didn't add my usual 3 litres of water to make a product that would normally fill 2 x 4 pint milk cartons. It just didn't feel right so I poured it into one 4 pint container and topped up, so maybe 1 1/2 litres of cold water. The next day, it is the same, very runny, not slightly gloopy like it should be.

Guess then, that there is a big difference.  On their own (i.e. not used to make into frugal laundry liquid), a box of flakes would give up to 10 washes as opposed to the liquid version that gives 15 (for a higher price).

However, it is now clear that the liquid soap flakes cannot successfully be made into a frugal laundry liquid, unless a very large amount of it is used. Even then, I am not sure it would work as it appears to be made differently. If anyone knows differently please let me know.

I did find online here someone asking a similar thing with an answer from the producers themselves:
Not to be outdone (and yes, I know I could go back to grating a bar of soap), I found another make online and ordered through them. I shall use the liquid soap flakes up though, adding some to my laundry liquid as I go.

You live and learn all the time!

10 comments:

  1. I'll remember that. I've only used bars of soap which I grate, but might easily have been caught out by trying soap flakes. Thanks for the heads up!

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    1. Mind you, I should have realised when I read the contents of the bottle of liquid soap flakes which said 30% soap! Anyway, hopefully the soap flakes I have ordered will arrive soon.

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  2. My son suffers from eczema and I don't use any soap in his laundry. I put it on a quick wash 40 degree Cycle and it seems to clean up really well. I do use laundry liquid soap in my husband's laundry as he gets dirty at work, but I only use a fraction of the recommended amount and it works fine.

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    1. We have tried using nothing and for us it doesn't work well enough, particularly underneath arms.

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  3. Is it really worth it, making your own? Could you not just use less of a washing liquid? And are modern washing machines able to take anything made with soap flakes? Surely there will be a build-up of residue in the mechanism that might eventually clog it up? Soap flakes were used in the days before automatic washing machines. I am old enough to remember them being used for washing the dishes. But I'd take care when using such things in a washing machine - OK for washing by hand in the sink, of course.
    Margaret P

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    1. From a money point of view, yes it is very worth it. By the time the process is finished the soap flakes/grated soap bars, are no longer present in their original form. Also I know what is in it, as I choose what goes in. My washing machine is fine, as the washing soda and use of vinegar instead of conditioner, cleans as it goes.

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  4. Manufacturers are always messing with things and its maddening. When I was researching fairy liquid last week I found about 10 different size bottles......what looks the same isn't the same. No wonder consumers are confused. I hope the new flakes work out.

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    1. Same as in the £1 shops, things are usually smaller than the same thing elsewhere.

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  5. Bah humbug! They're out to get us!

    And yes, I did mean that! Everything is so profit-driven these days that there really is no end to the manipulations (I'm being kind here!) the manufacturers go through to get us to pay more for less of their product. Researching for my Quitting Sugar challenge, I am reading so much about the Food Industry I am totally shocked - and I'm not naive! We thought the tobacco companies were immoral - hah! Wait until the media finally catch up with what the sugar industry has been doing for decades. I am more than angry, as you might tell! Crack on with your own personal campaign, Dc and to heck with Big Business!

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    1. Bah humbug indeed. Having to buy soap flakes on line means a postal charge which puts the overall cost up:( When these are eventually used might go back to grating soap!

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