Homemade detergent for a front load Speed Queen

[launderess]

To Be Fair

Thalidomide was never approved for sale in the United States despite huge pressure upon the FDA to grant approval. For standing up to "big Pharma" the then head of the FDA would be awarded honors by President Kennedy.

However a number of Thalidomide pills were given to physicans in the USA to dispense as part of clinical trials. United States citizens also obtained the medication abroad and or had it brought back by those traveling overseas.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thalidomide

 

[lordkenmore]

Add me to the list of people suggesting a "green" detergent like Seventh Generation.

I may be cheap. I may have my moments of health consciousness, as witnessed by one question I posed here about the possibility of BPA leeched from plastic dishwasher tanks. I may be interested in making something from scratch just to try it. But despite all this, I have never had any inclination to try making laundry detergent. An off the shelf product will work, at least better than anything I could probably do.

 

[ronhic]

Iowegian

How dare you personalise a reply like that!

I don't believe that Chris posted a comment connecting you, or any American or other nationality to the creation of or manufacture of Napthalene or anything that it may or may not cause.

It is wholly inappropriate for you to have said what you did and in the manner which you said it.

Napthalene is on the International Agency for Research on Cancers list of possible cancer causing agents. However, it is known to cause anemia.

Thalidomide, on the other hand, is still used today to treat leprosy.

However, when the drug was patented and used scientists believed that medications couldn't pass from mother to foetus...this was rapidly disproved after 10,000 children were born with birth defects. Australian obstetrician, Dr. William McBride suspected the link and, in conjunction with German Dr Lenz, this was proven.

Dr. McBride was awarded a medal and prize money by the prestigious L'Institut de la Vie of the French Government in connection with his discovery. Using the prize money, he established Foundation 41, a Sydney-based medical research foundation concerned with the causes of birth defects. His most notable achievement, with Dr P H Huang, was the discovery that thalidomide caused malformations by interacting with the DNA of the dividing embryonic cells. This finding stimulated their experimentation, which showed that thalidomide may inhibit cell division in rapidly dividing cells of malignant tumors. This work was published in the journal "Pharmacology and Toxicology" in 1999 and has been rated in the top ten of the most important Australian medical discoveries.

On a personal note, Dr. McBride used to be baby sat by my grandmother

 

[lordkenmore]

Not the hardsided LV of course, but the roll about Samsonite

There's something better than Samsonite!?!

 

[launderess]

Er, well that depends.

It does look so much better arriving for a country weekend in "the Mercedes" with LV hardsided luggage. It does make such an impression in the hotel lobby and upon the bell boy as things are fetched to one's rooms. It shows one is a person of quality and understated taste. *LOL*

 

[frigilux]

Well played, L!

 

[launderess]

Can You Imagine The Looks On TSA Agents Faces

If one arrived at an airport today with such a luggage train? Am not even sure airlines would allow one to take that lot in the hold surcharge or not.

 

[whirlcool]

Yup, most airlines would handle this for you at considerable cost.($$$$$)

Back in the 1920' & 30's a lot of wealthy people would spend a summer or winter in Europe. They would get there by a taking an ocean liner. Now people fly. I think the really smart people would ship ahead a few of those streamer trunks via a cargo carrier.

Back then they just took everything with them.

Yes, the heavier an airplane is the more fuel it consumes. Every ounce counts.
Back in 1979 Braniff switched their mini bottle liquor from glass to plastic containers. This move saved the airline over $300,000 per plane in fuel charges.

I think the woman in the photo above could probably get all that luggage shipped for about $900 or so in excess luggage fees.

 

[stan]

Think the Women in the above photo

above could afford it.
That's Marlene Dietrch if Im not mistaken!

 

[chris74]

Indeed...

...it is La Dietrich. But to return to the original post, what has naphtalene in self-made soap to do with thalidomide? Of course, both substances might be dangerous but that is the only thing they've got in common.

 

[stan]

Don't Know!

You'd have to ask lowegian about that!

To me there is no connection.

 

[ronhic]

There isn't a connection

...he was just being particularly rude.

 

[launderess]

Did Some Linens Last Night In The Miele

Decided to use up some of the vintage German Persil soap powder and things came out clean, whiter that white and with a wonderful scent.

IMHO the best way to use any soap in a modern washing machine is to start with a base of liquid detergent then add the soap (dissolved and well stirred in boiling water). Should one have very hard water and or get's the notion a small amount of STPP can be added to the soap *before* adding boiling water.

Know those trying that homemade detergent are going after a more pure and natural method of doing laundry but there are limits. Many liquid and or gel detergents sold in the UK or EU have a base containing small to moderate amounts of soap which is fine because they are using the stuff for cleaning and various properties. However the addition of modern surfactants and other *chemicals* found in liquid detergents provides a work around to most of the downside of using pure soap for wash day.

 

[stan]

Dear

Im not sure I understand your last sentence, and just for clarity, what is your definition of a "pure soap" for example... ?

 

[launderess]

"Pure Soap"

Just that, a soap product such as Lux Flakes, Ivory Snow/Flakes, Fels (not strictly pure but mostly soap), Kirkman's Borax, and so forth versus a syntethic based surfactant detergent such as Tide, Persil, and so forth.

 

[stan]

Well Dear

I'm glad I asked!
Now I know that you and I have a different definition. LOL

Now that I know what yours is, I'll better understand your meanings in the future

 

[dustin92]

I had completely forgotten... you should look up a product called "Selestial Soap". It is made in michigan, about half an hour from our old house. It is an all natural, non toxic detergent. I have tried it and it seemed to work ok, but was a bit pricy. About 7-8 dollars a bottle. Apparently it is very popular, and from what I have heard so is the laundromat that sells it. I never did get in there, but I recommended it to a friend of mine after I went with her to do laundry at another laundromat.

 

[stan]

Looked up the

Selestial Soap,

and checked the ingredients.

Appears to be neither "soap" or "detergent" just washing soda, borax, a little glycerine, in purified water ??
Don't see ANY surfactant in the mix at all, good, bad, or indifferent ??

$7.00- $8.00 a bottle seems pricey to me for watered down borax?

 

[launderess]

There Is Always Cal-Bend's Seafoam Laundry Soap

IIRC one of the only mainly soap based laundry "detergent" products still produced and sold in the United States.

http://www.calbenpuresoap.com/seafoam-laundry-soap.php

 

[ronhic]

...and they have a sample pack...