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Okay, for the first time ever, I don't have a supply for an activity...and couldn't find it in any store either! I found laundry flakes online, but I would need to wait...does anyone know of a viable substitute for the Bigger science activity for day 5, Unit 28? Perhaps castille soap? My local Trader Joe's carries that in bar form so I thought I could grate it...but I'm not sure if it will work. Thanks in advance for any ideas!

I know you can grate castille soap, and some people I know grate Ivory soap for use in their homemade detergent. I wonder if someone who has been through that lesson can tell you what they used?

I have no idea what the lesson is ... ... but I make my own detergent and I use castille soap and grate it. Works wonderfully.

The activity is to use laundry flakes, hot water and salt to show how soap is formed. The mixture is supposed to separate in to "neat soap", kind of a semi-solid I guess, and liquid soap. If laundry flakes are just made from castille soap, then I guess that should work.

Just had to laugh My friend and I tried this today too and were wondering what laundry flakes were!! Can't wait to find the answer!!

So, funny I thought it was an American way of saying laundry detergent, I should have known! If you do know a brand that works, please let us know. We can keep it for the next couple of kids who will do Bigger

Ok I make my own Laundry soap too but mine never gets thick like a gel maybe I need to go do this experiment to get it right? I use Ivory soap bar grated, Washing Soda, and Boric Acid. I also make it with Fels Naptha laundry bar soap but I think Ivory smells nicer.

Ditto to Mandy. It's a great laundry soap, and not expensive at all! I guess castille or Ivory should work.

We just used ivory soap today and it worked great!!!! It was sooooooo cool! I think my friend and I enjoyed it more than the kiddos! We had co-op at my house today and let all the kids wash their hands with the "neat soap." Great fun, thanks HOD!!!

BTW: we just grated 5tbsp of the ivory soap and added it to the hot water. Have fun!

Yes, Indeed it was much fun, girls< I mean Mom's having fun doing school!! I was very excited to wash my hand with "neat soap". We are going to turn into real scientist who do not give up after a couple of trials, even when it means using your friends good "sea salt" over and over Thank you HOD and Carrie for teaching us to be persistent

Oh wonderful! I will just get some ivory or castille soap and grate it. Will let you all know how it turns out

So did it gel pretty good? Would the salt affect using it as a laundry soap? If it wouldn't and it gels more then maybe I should add the salt. What do you think?

It worked We used grated castille soap. It did indeed separate into liquid soap at the bottom, and a gooey, gelatinous soap on top. We scooped out the "neat soap" and put it in a bowl-although over the course of the day it has dried a bit and is more solid than gelatinous. I poured the liquid into the dishpan for today's dishes Great fun! We've been using the "neat soap" to wash hands often-we will have the cleanest hands around

I make my own laundry soap all the time, and it gels great.
I use 1 bar fells naptha grated
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda

Boil water on stove add soap until melted then add borax, and washing soda. After it is all stirred and dissolved I pour into 5 gallon bucket, then fill the rest of the way with water. Let it sit over night, and the next day I stir it with a wisk until it is as smooth as I like. 5 gallons lasts us about 3 months.

I'm sure my ds will enjoy this experiment next year too.

I would like to know what is meant by Laundry flakes for the assignment? Is there a brand that is recommended? I see that we can grate our own, but what was intended?

ideas?