A few months ago I began a personal mission to replace the commercial cleaning products in our home with natural alternatives that are both gentler on the environment and easier on the ol’ wallet. After a couple months of cleaning exclusively with my homebrew, I’m happy to report that I haven’t missed the store-bought stuff at all. In fact, now I actually enjoy the process of making my own natural cleaners. (Notice I did not say that I enjoy the process of cleaning – please let me know if you discover a magic potion for that!)
Anyway, one of my most successful experiments has been the recipe I found for homemade powdered laundry detergent. It’s simple to make, cleans really well, and smells absolutely AMAZING! Since this particular recipe doesn’t produce suds, it is also safe to use in front-loading machines.
Powdered Laundry Detergent
- 1 cup Fels Naptha Soap, grated
- 1/2 cup Washing Soda
- 1/2 cup Borax
- A few drops of Essential Oil (optional)
Wal-Mart and many grocery stores carry Fels Naptha Soap, Washing Soda, and Borax (usually found on the laundry aisle). I bought the Essential Oil locally at Akin’s Natural Foods and it can be ordered online, too.
To make homemade detergent, first grate the soap using a fine grater or food processor. It will look like shredded cheese when you’re done, but try to resist the temptation to make nachos.
Combine all ingredients and store in a sealed container. For a light load, use 1 tablespoon of detergent. Use 2 tablespoons for a full or heavily soiled load. A little bit of this detergent goes a LONG way! I haven’t crunched the numbers myself, but Savvy Chic estimates that this homemade detergent only costs around 3¢ per load. That’s a bargain, especially compared to other commercial eco-friendly detergents that, on average, cost about five times more per load!
I store my homemade laundry detergent in a recycled margarita bucket. What, is that weird?
Well, I just wanted to throw that out there because I’m keepin’ it real here (and also so the Laundry Fairy will know where to find it in the event that she makes a surprise visit to my house).
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6 Comments
So great! Every time I clean I think how I want to try all of your homemade cleaning agents and I haven’t done it yet. Maybe getting all setup will be my new project this week. Thanks for all the recipes and super cute labels too!
I can’t wait to try this…I just bought a small brand name detergent for $15 and got nauseous taking it off the shelf and putting it into my cart!
Thanks for sharing the recipe, again. I made it and LOVE it too. Now I need to replace my other store bought cleaning items. Have you tried vinegar in the rinse cycle to soften the clothes?
@Jennette Thornton: So glad you like it, too! I read about the vinegar trick, but haven’t tried it yet. I’m also considering buying reusable dryer balls ($10 for 4 at Bed, Bath & Beyond) to replace using dryer sheets. They are supposed to reduce static and wrinkles while softening the clothes. Let me know if you discover any other tricks that work well!
I will never buy detergent again! I made some about a month ago, but didn’t think to add the essential oil! Next time! I read that1 cup of vinegar added to the rinse cycle removes residue AND keeps the hoses clean. You can also extend the life of your liquid softener by adding 2 parts of water to 1 part softener. Add a sponge to the mixture and then just wring it out and toss it in the dryer!
@Olivia: Great tips, Olivia! I will have to try the vinegar trick. When washing whites, I add a couple tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide to the load because, when mixed with the homemade detergent, it whitens just like OxiClean! I recently replaced the dryer sheets with reusable dryer balls and have been really happy with those!