Homemade Laundry Detergent
Using homemade laundry detergent with natural cleaning ingredients is easier on your clothing, your skin and the environment (also your wallet!) than buying commercial chemical detergents.
Homemade laundry soap cleans just as effectively, and so far I haven't heard of anyone having an allergic reaction to the natural laundry recipes. That said, if you're extremely sensitive, you could make them without the essential oils.
Liquid Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe You need a 5 gallon bucket for this homemade laundry soap recipe.
Ingredients
This recipe makes enough homemade laundry detergent for 45 top loads or 90 front loads. If that seems like a lot, reduce the recipe by half (although it's not going to go bad - it's soap!)
Note: Washing soda is made from Sodium Carbonate and is not the same ingredient as baking soda. You can usually find washing soda in the laundry area of your grocery or department store, It will be in the water softeners section. You can also buy washing soda online at Amazon.c
Buying Homemade Laundry Detergent IngredientsMountain Rose Herbs is my all-time favorite supplier. Here's some quick links for buying homemade laundry soap recipe ingredients.
Clove essential oil Grapefruit essential oil
Lavender essential oil
Lemon essential oil
Borax
Homemade laundry soap cleans just as effectively, and so far I haven't heard of anyone having an allergic reaction to the natural laundry recipes. That said, if you're extremely sensitive, you could make them without the essential oils.
Liquid Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe You need a 5 gallon bucket for this homemade laundry soap recipe.
Ingredients
- 4 cups hot boiled Water
- 1 natural Soap Bar (see the directions below for tips)
- 1 cup Washing Soda
- 1/4 cup Borax
- 30 drops Lavender essential oil
- 30 drops Lemon essential oil
- 30 drops Grapefruit OR Clove essential oil
- Grate the soap bar using the coarse side of your cheese grater. I buy clear vegetable glycerin or olive oil soap bars from my local bulk food store, and many web sources suggest using Fels Naptha or Ivory soap.
- Combine the soap flakes and hot water in a large saucepan. Stir over a medium-low heat until the soap is melted.
- Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of very hot water. Add the melted soap mixture, the washing soda and the borax. Stir until all the powder is dissolved.
- Fill the bucket up to the top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken
- Next morning, stir the essential oils into the laundry soap mixture.
- Transfer your homemade laundry detergent to a bunch of clean used laundry jugs.
- To use: Shake the bottle before each use to dissolve any lumps of gel that might have formed while it was sitting. Use 1 cup per load for top-load washing machines, and quarter to half a cup for front-load washers.
This recipe makes enough homemade laundry detergent for 45 top loads or 90 front loads. If that seems like a lot, reduce the recipe by half (although it's not going to go bad - it's soap!)
Note: Washing soda is made from Sodium Carbonate and is not the same ingredient as baking soda. You can usually find washing soda in the laundry area of your grocery or department store, It will be in the water softeners section. You can also buy washing soda online at Amazon.c
Buying Homemade Laundry Detergent IngredientsMountain Rose Herbs is my all-time favorite supplier. Here's some quick links for buying homemade laundry soap recipe ingredients.
Clove essential oil Grapefruit essential oil
Lavender essential oil
Lemon essential oil
Borax
- **What If It's Really Lumpy?I just made a batch with a new laundry soap bar and my homemade laundry soap came out really thick and lumpy.
I tried mushing it with a spoon, then with my potato masher, and then finally I just put my hands in and squished away the lumps.
It was surprisingly fun, and I'd definitely recommend making it with your kids. It's a great alternative to squishing around in mud!