Making homemade laundry soap starts with something simple: knowing what your clothes need and what each ingredient does. L’Aixeta’s potion combines a soap-flake base with additions you can choose to suit the wash. You do not need to add everything to every load.
Here you will find the ingredients, how to prepare the liquid base and when bicarbonate or percarbonate may be useful. We also cover dosage, foam and storage so you can make an informed start.
Ingredients for the laundry potion
For the liquid soap base in this preparation you need:
3 litres of water.
75 g of Agalla natural soap flakes.
2 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda.
Keep percarbonate separate until wash time, and use it only when the fabric and product label allow it. If you want a fragrance, choose one suitable for laundry and follow its dosage: fragrance is optional and does not improve cleaning.
Have a scale, measuring jug, spoon and a clean, heat-resistant container ready. The base quantities are for the whole preparation, not a single load of laundry.
What each ingredient does
Soap flakes: the laundry base
Soap helps loosen greasy dirt so that water can carry it away. Agalla flakes are an olive-oil-based laundry soap; they can be weighed and dissolved without grating a bar. Use soap intended for laundry, rather than any hand soap.
Bicarbonate: an addition, not another soap
Bicarbonate of soda is an alkaline salt used around the home, including to help with odours. Here it accompanies the soap; it does not replace it or make the mixture a disinfectant. It is also different from sodium carbonate and caustic soda.
Percarbonate: a boost for suitable fabrics
When it comes into contact with water, percarbonate releases oxygen and is used as a bleach and stain-removal aid. It has a different role from bicarbonate. Add it when the wash calls for it and follow its label, rather than using it on every garment as a matter of habit.
How to prepare the homemade soap base
Weigh the flakes. Measure the 3 litres of water and set some aside to heat. Work with a stable container and avoid splashes.
Dissolve the soap. Add the flakes to the hot water and stir gently until they are incorporated. There is no need to whisk up foam.
Add the bicarbonate and the rest of the measured water. Mix and leave to cool. Do not add extra water just to alter the texture: that would also change the concentration.
Keep the percarbonate separate. Add it only at wash time, using the dose and conditions specified for the product and the clothing. This keeps the soap base separate from the stain-removal boost.
Percarbonate starts to break down in water and can release gas: do not add it to liquid soap that you intend to keep in a sealed bottle. This is why the base is prepared separately from the ingredient that reacts when wet.
How much to use in the washing machine
The dose depends on the concentration, load, dirt and water. This base contains 25 g of flakes per litre. Do not copy the dose from a more concentrated recipe or a commercial detergent: the same volume of liquid does not necessarily contain the same amount of soap.
Before using this preparation, confirm the amount per load with L’Aixeta. If you prefer to follow Agalla’s directions directly, check its product information: the manufacturer specifies a different dilution from this preparation. Also check that your machine is suitable for this type of soap.
Common questions about homemade laundry soap
Can I use it on whites, colours and delicates?
There is no universal combination. Check the garment and soap labels. Do not use percarbonate on wool or silk, and check colour compatibility. For a special garment, choose a dedicated product rather than adapting the mixture by guesswork.
Why is there little foam, or why is residue left behind?
Foam alone does not tell you how well a product cleans. If residue remains, check that the flakes dissolved properly and review the dose and water hardness. Soap can form deposits with minerals in hard water; adding more soap will not necessarily solve the problem.
How long can I keep it?
A homemade water-based mixture does not have an established shelf life simply because of its ingredients. Make small quantities and do not assume it will last for months. Store dry products as directed on their labels; confirm suitable conditions and a time limit before keeping the liquid base.
Can I add vinegar, chlorine bleach or other cleaners?
Do not extend the recipe with improvised mixtures. Keep percarbonate away from acids such as vinegar and from chlorine-based products. Avoid inhaling powders and protect your eyes and hands as directed on the label. Label everything and keep it out of children’s reach.
Bulk ingredients and help getting started in Santa Coloma
At L’Aixeta Verda you can find Agalla soap flakes, bicarbonate and percarbonate. Explore the catalogue products at the end of this article and check availability before visiting. Buying in bulk lets you choose the amount and reuse a suitable, clean, dry and clearly labelled container.
Find us at Carrer de la Mare de Déu de Montserrat, 11, in Santa Coloma de Gramenet. Tell us what you wash and which product you use: we can help you understand the instructions or choose a ready-formulated laundry product if you prefer to refill and use.
Agalla soap-flake directions for use
