make your own laundry detergent!
Like cooking your own food, making your own household products is the best way to ensure that all ingredients are as eco-friendly as possible. There are a lot of household products that we can make ourselves, saving trees and money in the process. Today, I want to share a recipe for laundry detergent that I found on The Simple Dollar. It takes just four ingredients, and four tools that you likely have already check it out
Ingredients
- 1 cup washing soda
- 1 cup borax* (optional - 20 Mule Team is one brand)
- 1 bar soap (whatever eco-friendly soap you choose is fine!)
- 3 gallons water
- A container to store it in (a five-gallon bucket with a lid will do - try to find one that's not made of plastic though!)
- A large wooden spoon for stiiring
- Put to boil soapy water
- Grater or other tool to cut up the soap
PHOTO SOURCE: Pinterest.com
great deal on a home composter
51 comments
-
So I tried this recipe, and I had an interesting result. The soap that was created became a gel like substance, which was fine. The only problem was that it was thus rendered more difficult to get out of the glass bottles that I was using as containers. For the bar of soap I used kirks coconut castile soap and I used less than three gallons of water- probably 2.75 gallons. I also added lavender and lemon essential oil to make the soap more fragrant. -
-
Hi Sarah,
No, bread soda (baking soda) is not the same as washing soda. You'll find it in the laundry isle of the grocery store. Mine is Arm & Hammer (yellow box) and the exact title is 'Super Washing Soda'. Good luck.
-
Hi I know this is an older post but I love this idea of making my own laundry detergent. I was wondering though, what is washing soda and can I substitute is with bread soda (bicarbonate of soda)? Thanks
-
-
-
You can also make a dry version, instead of wet. I didn't have a pot big enough the first time I made it and it was INCREDIBLY messy. The dry version is a bit easier to store, also
-
I made my first batch of DIY laundry detergent three months ago and haven't had to buy detergent since! I also used an unscented soap but I would recommend something with a scent for anyone who has a stinky footed hubby, like me lol
-
I've been using this laudry soap for a while now, and I really like it. I think that a small amount of borax is probably ok, but I may try the one without at some point. Also, I add a couple drops of tea tree oil into it....
-
I've used homemade laundry soap (pretty much the same recipe as in the article) for over 6 years. I started because my daughter has eczema. I've never felt like it was that hard or messy to make. Yes, it does get lumpy, but the little time it takes to mix it up is well worth the savings in money. Where I live, Tide was up to $26.00 a container, and when I can spend $10.00 and the products make a years worth of soap, it's worth it!
-
I use baking soda and vinegar to clean, and I use soap nuts for laundry. I wanted to make my own detergent, but I've heard elsewhere that borax isn't healthy. The soap nuts work great, and it's only one natural ingredient.
-
I am a nanny and the youngest boy has incredibly sensitive skin, so his parents have to buy the dye free/fragrance free stuff to do all his laundry/bedding in so that he doesn't break out. And I made a similar recipe for laundry soap and he still ended up having a reaction to it and we couldn't figure out why. But Thanks to "K"'s response I may have figured it out, it could be the borax that he is reacting to!
-
Here's a borax-free recipe - although I happen to think it's fine to use it in small quantities......
http://elizabethskindcafe.com/hot-topics/diy-home-cleaning-products/liquid-laundry-detergent
-
I made this recipe several times years back. The resulting concoction does its job well although it is a time consuming and messy process to create and store. The liquid had some gel like lumps in it that required stirring or shaking to mix before use. I kept it in old tide bottles so I could shake it and measure it easily. I do not think anyone would have an allergic reaction to it since there are no dyes or perfumes. My baby at the time handled it fine but could not take some commercial brands with perfume. My thinking is that the washer really does the work. So buy a commercial brand of frangrance free and use a lot less per load, like to the #1 measuring line instead of #3 or #4. You still save money, but save precious time.
-
-
-
Borax Toxicity
Sufficient exposure to borax dust can cause respiratory and skin irritation. Ingestion may cause gastrointestinal distress includingnausea, persistent vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Effects on the vascular system and brain include headaches and lethargy, but are less frequent. "In severe poisonings, a beefy red skin rash affecting palms, soles, buttocks and scrotum has been described. With severe poisoning, erythematous and exfoliative rash, unconsciousness, respiratory depression, and renal failure.[21]
A reassessment of boric acid/borax by the United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Pesticide Programs found potential developmental toxicity (especially effects on the testes).[22] Boric acid solutions used as an eye wash or on abraded skin are known to be particularly toxic to infants, especially after repeated use, because of the slow elimination rate.[23]
Borax was added to the Substance of Very High Concern (SVHC) candidate list on 16 December 2010. The SVHC candidlate list is part of the EU Regulations on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals 2006 (REACH), and the addition was based on the revised classification of Borax as toxic for reproduction category 1B under the CLP Regulations. Substances and mixtures imported into the EU which contain Borax are now required to be labelled with the warnings "May damage fertility" and "May damage the unborn child".[24]
-
This looks great....and easy! How effective is it on cloth diapers? Does it change their absorbancy at all? Thanks!
-
I was just telling my husband we should make our own detergent. I don't know if anyone answered Katy regarding using homemade detergent in the HE washers? I will try and look for an animal-friendly version.
My husband was completely blown away when I used olive oil to fix a sequeaky cabinet door. I thought it was hilarious because it seemed like a no-brainer to use olive-oil to me, but he wanted to use WD40. I didn't want that wafting around our small apartment.
-
Dear Moms:
Most Moms I know don't have time to make their own laundry detergent so I have been recommending an eco friendly line made with tea tree oil, lemons, black currant buds, all natural ingredients and you only use 1/8 of a cup. This company also has a bleach replacement that is chemical free and a natural enzyme spot remover that works in harmony with your home and your babies skin. If you are interested see my website which is www.totalwellness.healthyhometour.com.
I have been using these products for 20 years and they ship them right to your door. They also have novacaine free, chemical free baby shampoo, baby wash and a fruit flavored hand wash, all natural.
Have a great chemical free day!
-
Mari, all I know is my local stores, but the washing soda and borax are always near the laundry detergents. Actually, they seem to be with the powdered bleach most of the time. :-)
-
Washing soda made by Arm and Hammer is NOT cruelty free. Neither is Borax which is owned by Dial corp.
Please be mindful of this when you prepare your detergents. Sometimes money saved comes at a sad and unkind price for animals. :(
-
-
I am anxious to try this! I have a question, though, for those of you using vinegar. How much do you use for a large load? Oh, and those that mix the detergent up with just the dry ingredients, how much do you use per load?
Thanks! And have a great day!
-
PS: I also wanted to remind you about Vinegar as a Laundry Softener. It's very inexpensive, and really makes the clothes softer. I like to dissipate the vinegar smell with baking soda, watch it fizz and mix that with some lovely smelling essential oil... like lavender or Jasmine. It's another great earth friendly easy recipe! :)
Available at:
Available at:
Join the Discussion!