Homemade Laundry Detergent
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Making homemade laundry detergent is one of those easy DIY recipes that are effective when doing laundry and will save so much money.
I love to share household tips that are not only non-toxic but budget-friendly. In this post, I am sharing how to make homemade laundry detergent that is so easy to make & will save you so much money.
Laundry in our home is done pretty much-taken care of daily. With a family of five, you can be sure that we always have laundry to get done. I am a pretty organized gal, however, if I wait until the weekends to start laundry, I will have 20 loads to get caught up on. How do I know that? I had procrastinated at one time, and it took me an entire weekend to get it all done. Needless to say, I will never do that again! This homemade laundry detergent is budget-friendly too!
As I did, I found all these items on Amazon and spent less than $20, or check out at your local Walmart in the laundry aisle for all the supplies.
About two months ago, we finally got our laundry room redone. I will say it makes it so much easier to do laundry in a much more clutter-free & updated space and I mean who doesn’t love a good DIY like my lamp hack that is budget-friendly? I know I do!
Why should you switch from store-bought to homemade laundry detergent?
The easy answer is that it will save you tons of money in the long run! However, Store-bought laundry detergent is loaded with chemicals like sulfates, fragrances, etc. You will also find that many brands contain petroleum distillates, likely to cause cancer and lung disease. Furthermore, Detergents that are scented are made of harmful chemicals.
Here is a tip, separating your laundry will help keep the like colors looking fresh!
Sort your laundry with like colors. For example, Darks and Whites. Wash Linens & Towels separate from clothes to prevent lint can transfer germs and bacteria between items in the wash.
Is homemade laundry detergent safe for allergies?
This is gentle enough to use in place of baby detergents. However, if you are concerned about sensitive skin, I would not add the fabric softener crystals as a precaution.
Making your own detergent will save you money!
Homemade laundry detergent costs about $20 to make, and it will last you for about a year, depending on how much wash you do. Think about it! Purchasing store-bought detergent costs about $15 or more for a gallon of detergent that will last for about a week.
How much laundry detergent is needed?
You only need two tablespoons of powdered homemade laundry detergent per average-sized load.
DIY detergent smells divine!
Adding the softener crystals is totally optional; however, if you enjoy the fresh scents, then be sure to add them to your recipe.
It does the job well!
Whether you have a front loader or HE washer, it gets the job done and gets your laundry cleaned.
Is homemade Laundry Detergent safe to use in High-Efficiency Washers?
It is absolutely safe to use in traditional & HE Machines because it does not contain a sudsing agent as an ingredient. Therefore, it is safe to use in a high-efficiency washer.
Ingredients needed for making homemade laundry Detergent
- One box of each Borax & Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
- Two cups of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
- One container of OxiClean
- Three Washing Naptha Soap Bars
- (Optional)1 or 2 containers Fabric Softener Crystals
Instructions for making the detergent
Grate all three laundry bars in a food processor until the mixture is of a fine consistency. If you don’t have a food processor, a cheese grater will work just as well.
Add the grated soap into a very large bowl. Next, add 1 box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda, a container of OxiClean, 2 cups of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, and 1 box of borax.
Optional– 1 or 2 containers of fabric softener crystals.
Use 2 Tbsp per load and put detergent directly in the barrel.
What if I get Detergent Residue Build Up
Over time, if you have been consistently using too much detergent, the washing machine will accumulate. Over time, this can create excess suds production, further compounding the problem. However, this is an easy fix if your washer has a cleaning cycle.
HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT
Materials
- One box of each Borax & Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
- Two cups of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
- One container of OxiClean
- Three Washing Naptha Soap Bars
- (Optional)1 or 2 containers Fabric Softener Crystals
Tools
- Grater or Food Processor
- Large bowl for mixing
- Canister to store Deteregent
Instructions
1. Grate all three laundry bars in a food processor until the mixture is of a fine consistency. If you don’t have a food processor, a cheese grater will work just as well.
2. Add the grated soap into a very large bowl. Next, add 1 box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda, a container of OxiClean, 2 cups of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda, and 1 box of borax.
3. Optional- 1 or 2 containers of fabric softener crystals.
Use 2 Tbsp per load and put detergent directly in the barrel.
Notes
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Making your own cleaners like the one I make for removing adhesive from glass will not only easy to do but will save you money in the long run.
Have you made this homemade laundry detergent? Let me know in the comments below!
Until next time,
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I used to make something very similar to this… and I need to get back to it! Thanks for the inspiration!
Yay! You are very welcome!
I’ve been thinking about a laundry alternative. I’d like to try your recipe! Thank you!
That is awesome. Let me know how you like it!
Do you think this would clump up if let out, in a shed, where I’ll have my washing machine? I do want to make my own detergent, but I’m afraid that a dry mix will absorb moisture and be ruined. I’d be really interested if you had a method for turning this recipe into a liquid laundry soap. Anyhow, this is a very well written and handy post to have on hand for the future, when my husband finally gets the electric and water run to our shed to hook up our washer and dryer.
I am not sure. What I would suggest is only keep a little out to see how it does in the change of temperatures. Thank you so much, you re very kind! And I am planning on a new post for liquid laundry detergent soon 🙂
I’ve been using a similar recipe for years and it works so well!
It sure does!
First of all I love your laundry room! Secondly, I’m going to give this a go, i’ve been looking at ways to start switiching to natural cleaning products. thanks for sharing.
Aww thank you so much. It was working progress for sure. I have been for awhile now & so happy that I did!