• Make laundry detergent from MamaSuds Castile Soap, with rubber / nitrile gloves, face mask, measuring cup, spoon and airtight container (Powdered Laundry Soap)
• For Powdered Laundry Soap: grate 1 cup of MamaSuds Castile Bar Soap, mix 2 cups of Washing Soda (sodium carbonate) and 1 cup of Borax (sodium borate), mix in soap flakes and store in airtight container
• Use 2-3 Tablespoons per load for regular washer; use 1 Tablespoon or less for HE Washer
• For Liquid Laundry Soap: dissolve 1/2 cup Borax and 1 cup of Soda Wash into warm water on a stove while stirring; add essential oils for scent if desired; add to 2 cups of MamaSuds Castile Soap; let cool completely
• Use 1/4 cup per load for regular washer; use 1-2 Tablespoons or less for HE Washer

One of our most FAQs for our Laundry Soap is:

My Laundry Soap is thinner/thicker/darker/lighter/cloudy, is something wrong with it? 

Answer: MamaSuds does not use ANY synthetic ingredients in our products and there are no natural products that make the soap the exact same consistency that we are willing to use. Some companies use calcium chloride or calcium formate which we don't use. Other ingredients that stabilize the color or viscosity are: diethylene glycol, dipropylene glycol, ethanolamine, monoethanolamine, PEGs, propylene glycol, and sodium bisulfite are just a few.

We also don't add dyes to hide color variations.

So what IS happening? Cold weather (as many of you saw this year in particular) is the biggest culprit. If your soap was "gloppy" or cloudy or looked like it needed to be mixed then the cold weather cause a physical reaction. The soap is still in working order, it just looks.... well like snot. The soap will perform exactly the same as your last visually perfect bottle. 

 

• HE logo stands for 'High Efficiency' and is a cue to use the product in a high-efficiency washing machine.

• High-efficiency machines require special detergent with less water than traditional washers.

• MamaSuds Laundry Soap is HE safe, indicated by the logo on the back of the labels.

• For best results, put soap directly in with laundry – not in automatic dispenser – to prevent wastage and soap residue build-up on clothes.

Answer: Maybe you're thinking to yourself, it's on the product page isn't it?

Actually it's on there twice but that's not the point.

The point is that you are all feeling totally over the "duped again" feeling, am I right? You think you have found a clean laundry product then you get the product and it's not the same as what was listed on the website (or some variation of this).

So even though it's on our website a lot, we don't mind ingredient questions at all (we love them) and totally understand why it's asked so much.

Here is the entire ingredient list: water (distilled or RO), potassium olivate which is also called saponified olive oil (our very own castile soap), sodium carbonate, and sodium borate.

If you get the lemon or lavender scent then we use pure essential oils (nothing synthetic). 

 

That's it! 

This article focuses on 1,4 Dioxane, an environmental contaminant which has been classified as a likely human carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This chemical is often found in skincare and beauty products, such as those containing ingredients like PEG-100 stearate and polyethylene glycol (PEG) compounds. It can also be released during the manufacture of other products such as Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES), Cocomide MEA and DEA. In order to avoid exposure to 1,4 Dioxane, it is important to read labels carefully in order to identify potential sources. Additionally, natural alternatives like MamaSuds Laundry Soap are available that are completely free of this chemical so those with sensitive skin can feel confident about using them. By being aware of this hazard and taking steps to avoid it, we can help protect ourselves and our loved ones from its potentially dangerous effects.

Toxic chemicals may be hiding in your laundry detergent. Find out what you need to know to stay safe and healthy and get your laundry clean. 

Doing the Laundry is the Worst. Okay, so maybe a few people like one aspect of laundry. But most hate it. I like putting my laundry into the washer and starting it. But then that's when I wish the Laundry Fairy would finish the job for me! Who can relate? 

Unless you live in a nudist colony, your skin is touching fabric 24/7, so what you use to wash your laundry is important to your health. Conventional laundry detergent (and many greenwashed "natural" ones too!) contains many unhealthy ingredients that can severely impact your health. In fact, your laundry room products are some of the most toxic cleaning chemicals in your house! 

With so much to sort through on product labels (if your detergent lists the ingredients on the label at all), it can be hard to sort through the good, the bad and the greenwashed. We have some ingredients to steer clear of when you are looking at a safe and healthy detergent.

1. Fragrance

Fragrances in laundry products can lead to skin irritation (which can be the cause of rashes, eczema, and itching). A big problem with fragrance is that companies can list them as one ingredient without listing all the components. Why does this matter? Most fragrance is synthetic and contains both phthalates  and petrochemicals (which is bad for the environment) which do not have to be disclosed. These components can cause headaches, asthma attacks, and skin irritations that don't always show up right away. They build up in our system and cause a gradual overload.

“Fragrance is considered to be a trade secret, so brand formulas are proprietary and the individual ingredients are not required to be listed on the label,” explains Tonya Harris, an award-winning environmental toxin expert and the creator of the Slightly Greener Method. “Fragrances in detergent can be made up of dozens of ingredients, of which some may be allergenic [and] toxic to the brain and nervous or respiratory system.”

Bottom line: stick with essential oils (real ones!) or go unscented, and stay clear of the word FRAGRANCE and PARFUM. 

2. Ingredients that end in "-ETH"

Ethoxylated ingredients are treated with ethylene oxide (a known carcinogen) when it's processed. A by-product of this process is 1,4-dioxane (another carcinogen) which is absorbable through the skin. 1,4-dioxane won't be listed as an ingredient on your products so it's important to stay away from ingredients that when processed create 1,4-dioxane as a by-product. Companies use ethoxylated ingredients to stabilize their formula so the ingredients won't separate. 

Bottom line: steer clear of ingredients that end in "-eth", polysorbates, phenoxyethanol, and PEGs. 

3. Sulfates

We have been conditioned in the last 100 years to believe that soap/detergent must foam or lather in order to clean. Sulfates are found in so many everyday products; everything from shampoo to toothpaste, and laundry detergent. They are a skin irritant that doesn't always show up as an immediate reaction.

Bottom line: avoid sodium laurETH sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate.

• Castile soap laundry detergent is a biodegradable and non-toxic cleaning detergent made from vegetable oils which has free-floating charged atoms that attracts grease, dirt, and germs.
• Its gentle on skin properties combined with powerful dirt-grabbing abilities make it an ideal clothes cleaner.
• It contains no synthetic compounds, chemicals, or other unwanted substances into your laundry.
• It is also useful as a pre-treatment to tackle stains with just a few drops of the liquid version rubbed directly on them.
• Additionally, it is eco-friendly and safe for clothes and skin.
• Mama Suds provides Castile soap household cleaning products including a mixture specially designed for high efficiency machines without any chemical additives.

• Castile soap is a natural cleaning agent that uses vegetable oils as its main ingredient, making it non-toxic and biodegradable.
• It has a pH balance of 8.9, which is effective for removing grease and other substances without being harsh or acidic.
• Castile soap can be used for face and body wash, all-purpose cleaners, dishwashing detergent, laundry detergent, and vegetable cleaner.
• Mama Suds offers quality Castile soap products with all-natural ingredients and no irritants.

• Understanding MCS: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is a disorder triggered by exposure to chemicals in the environment which can cause symptoms such as headaches, respiratory problems, memory loss, depression and fatigue.
• Finding the Right Detergent: Individuals with MCS should look for "green" brands and check labels carefully when looking for an appropriate laundry detergent.
• Potential Issues with Standard Detergent: Reactions to "regular" laundry detergents can vary and may irritate skin or create other unpleasant results.
• Castile Soap Safety: Castile soap is made of olive oil and lye and is just as safe to use as standard bar or liquid soaps.
• Final Thoughts: Home testing different products while considering fragrance implications can help individuals find the right laundry detergent for their needs.