Laundry Detergent (Marseille Soap)
We wash clothes with a home-made liquid made from Marseille soap flakes and water. Marseille soap works genuinely well here because our water is soft — in hard water it leaves limescale-soap residue, but that isn’t our situation.
Recipe (2 litres)
| Ingredient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Marseille soap flakes | 100–120 g |
| Hot water | 2 litres |
| Washing soda (cristaux de soude) — optional | 1 tablespoon |
The washing soda is only worth adding for greasy or heavily soiled loads. Plain soap and water is fine for everyday washing.
Method
- Dissolve the flakes in the hot water, stirring until no flakes remain.
- Let it rest 24 hours. It thickens and may separate — that’s normal.
- Whisk before every use so the gel is evenly mixed.
Dosing
Start low — 50–60 ml per load
Soft water needs noticeably less of everything. Start at 50–60 ml per load, not 100 ml.
Over-dosing is the main cause of residue on clothes and build-up in the machine, and with soft water you hit that threshold sooner than the back of a commercial detergent box would suggest.
If laundry comes out stiff or smelling soapy, cut the dose further.
Where it goes
| Machine | Compartment |
|---|---|
| Bosch Series 6 (first floor) | Manual compartment on the left |
| Washroom off the kitchen | TBD |
See Laundry for the machines themselves.