Laundry detergent is important to every household. The problem with store-bought laundry detergent is that it can be harsher on your clothes than it needs to be, making them less soft and not smell fresh as they should. And the ingredients in these products contain toxins that are harmful to both humans and the environment! Find out how to make a healthier, homemade alternative in this blog post!
Recipe
If you’re looking to save some money or simply want to be more eco-friendly, making your own laundry detergent is a great option. This homemade recipe is simple and effective, using only a few natural ingredients. Plus, it’s gentle on clothes and won’t cause any skin irritation.
What You’ll Need:
1 cup baking soda
1 cup of washing soda
1 bar of soap (Dr. Bronner’s Castile soap is a good option), grated
1 cup white vinegar
Optional: 10-15 drops of essential oil for scent (eucalyptus, lavender, or lemon work well)
Instructions:
- Combine the baking soda, washing soda, and grated soap in a large bowl or container. Stir until everything is evenly mixed.
2. Add the vinegar and essential oils, if using. Stir well again to make sure everything is combined.
3. Use 1/4 cup of detergent per load of laundry as needed.
That’s it! You now have a large batch of homemade laundry detergent that will last you quite a while.
Ingredient Break-Down
You’ll need the following ingredients to make your own laundry detergent at home:
- A bar of soap. You can use any kind of bar soap, but fels-naptha or castile soap will work best.
- washing soda. This is a type of baking soda that’s especially good at cleaning clothes.
- Borax. This is a powder that’s often used as a natural laundry booster.
- optional: essential oils. These can add a nice scent to your laundry detergent, but they’re not necessary.
- A grater or food processor. You’ll need this to grate or chop up your soap into smaller pieces.
- A large bowl or bucket. This is where you’ll mix everything together.
- A storage container with a lid. This is where you’ll keep your laundry detergent once it’s finished.
Method
1) Grate soap into a large bowl. You can use any type of soap, but fels-naptha or Zote work well.
2) Add 1 cup of washing soda and 1 cup of Borax to the bowl and stir well.
3) Add essential oils for scent, if desired. Lavender or lemon work well in laundry detergent.
4) Store the detergent in a tightly sealed container. A mason jar works well.
5) Use 2 tablespoons per load of laundry.
Uses
Making your own laundry detergent is not only easy, but it’s also environmentally friendly and can save you money. Store-bought laundry detergents often contain harsh chemicals that can be damaging to your clothes and the environment. By making your own, you can control what goes into your detergent and tailor it to your specific needs.
There are a number of different recipes for homemade laundry detergent, but most of them use similar ingredients. Borax, washing soda, and soap are the main components. You can find these ingredients at most hardware or grocery stores.
To make your own laundry detergent, simply mix these ingredients together in a large container. You can use as much or as little as you like, depending on your needs. Just be sure to store the mixture in a tightly sealed container to prevent it from drying out.
To use, simply add a few tablespoons of the mixture to your washing machine along with your regular laundry soap. This homemade detergent will work just as well as any store-bought brands, without the harsh chemicals.
Conclusion
If you’re interested in saving some money and making your own laundry detergent, give this recipe a try. You’ll need just a few ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen, and in no time at all you’ll have a big batch of homemade laundry detergent. Give it a try the next time you run out of store-bought detergent — I think you’ll be surprised at how well it works!
About the Author:
The Homefaker’s Homestead is a lifestyle blog that teaches rising homemakers and homesteaders efficient tips, tricks, and hacks for becoming the best version of themselves. The Homefaker’s Homestead relates to the self-taught person who is a self-starter and who desires to learn more about homemaking, homesteading, saving money, parenting, and everything else in between.