Make Your Own Laundry Detergent

Learning how to make your own laundry detergent doesn’t need to be difficult. With the right ingredients and a little perseverance, your family can save money, help the environment, and know exactly what you’re putting into your washing machine.

You can go one step further with laundry detergent substitutes.

There are many advantages to creating a common household product on your own, rather than buying it at the store. First and foremost, it saves you money – an average of $0.16 per load. Doesn’t sound like much? Multiply it by the number of loads your family does in one month, and you may be impressed by the savings.

Homemade detergent also means you are saving the environment in your own small way. You won’t be purchasing wasteful packaging such as the boxes and bottles that mainstream detergents come in, and you won’t be dirtying as much water to get your clothes clean. Finally, your ingredient list is free of chemicals and toxins that aren’t good for your family, so you’re sparing the risk of any skin irritation or allergy attack.

There are many different recipes available both in books and on the Internet when you are ready to try making your own laundry detergent. However, for the most basic of them all, you will need to purchase only three simple ingredients, all available at your local grocery or home store.

First, purchase a bar of washing soda. Arm & Hammer makes a good one, and there are other brands to choose from as well that will work just as efficiently. Secondly, you will need a box of Borax. Try to find the 20 Mule Team Borax, both for its quality and its large size (76 ounces). Finally, you’ll need some bar soap. Some people like Ivory, others prefer something more organic and natural. Pick your favorite – any of them will work. You can save money by purchasing a package of several bars, rather than buying them one at a time whenever you run out of detergent.

With these ingredients in hand, you can make approximately 16 ounces of detergent. You can store the remainder in a Tupperware container, old cream cheese or butter container, or anything else laying around your house that is airtight and able to hold the final product.

For the simplest recipe found above, you simply shave one whole bar of soap, and stir it together with a half cup of each the Borax and washing soda. It is that simple and efficient, and you’ll save money both on detergent and gas as you won’t have to run to the store before you do the laundry! Even better, this recipe produces low suds, meaning you can even use it with your high efficiency washing machine. If you prefer a liquid detergent over powder, simply add one quart of boiling water to the mixture, and you will be set. If you prefer the inviting scents found in your favorite store bought detergents, you can purchase an essential oil at your local health food or beauty store. Use several drops, and enjoy the smell of fresh laundry on your own terms.

Liquid detergent made at home will often gel up, so be sure to stir it thoroughly before each laundry load. Use approximately ¼ of a cup per full load of laundry. For the powdered detergent, use 2 tablespoons per load. Either way, your homemade detergent till last you quite some time, and you’ll enjoy how crafty you can be while freeing up some spending money.

Finally, get your family involved. Gathering together to make your own laundry detergent is a good rainy day project for children, as it teaches them a valuable lesson on competency and frugality, while providing them with a positive sense of independence. When it comes to making your own detergent, you simply can’t go wrong.

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