Homemade Laundry Detergent - FAIL x 2

I've tried it again and it is just not working. I think the lye soap that I'm using isn't working: I believe the issue is that it isn't a hard soap. Most processed soap (Dove, Ivory etc) is extremely hard and it takes quite a bit for it to dissolve in water, the Lye soap is softer and dissolves pretty quickly. That's what I'm guessing the issue is.

This is what my jug from yesterday looked like this morning. It's separated and there were thick clumps of soap at the top, and then just funky water below. I shook it up and did a load of wash and I don't think it did anything.

Then I decided to try it again. I read some other stuff online; all have the same ingredients, the same basic idea, some had you boil the water first, then add your bar soap. I decided to try that. Boiled the water, added my soap, let it dissolve, add the rest in. It looks just like it should while it's cooking, but once it starts to cool it gets a film on top and has brown-ish water underneath.



For right now, I've given up. I guess I need to try it with a different bar soap, as that is the only difference. I was really hoping to use a natural soap though, so there would be nothing questionable in it. I have a few bars of Irish Spring lying around (we never use it), which I guess I could try that.

In the mean time....I'm now questing for a powder detergent recipe. I found one that was a cup each Bora.x and Washing Soda, and a bar of soap shaved. Maybe.