DIY Laundry Detergent

Cleaners can really eat into your budget, so why not switch to something can be done relatively easy at home for MUCH less!

Ingredients: (this recipe can be multiplied to make larger batches)

• 1 cup of Borax (76oz. box) – $4.99
•  1 cup of Arm & Hammer washing soda (55oz.) – $3.99
•  and 1 bar of grated soap (Ivory, Naptha, Fels, or ZOTE)
• 3 Tbsp. baking soda (This is optional)
• 10-15 drops Lavender Essential Oil. We use Young Living essential oils, because we find the smell is much better with less drops.

Directions:

1. Grate bar soap with cheese graters, or use a food processor for quicker results!
2. Add the Borax to your plastic totate, and break up clumps!
3. Mix in washing soda, grated soap, and baking soda in a plastic tub/tote (thoroughly).
4. Use no more than 1 Tbsp per load as this will be plenty! A baby formula scoop or small iced tea scoop is the perfect size!

The Details and Questions:

1. Will this work in a front loader HE machine? YES! I have a front loading machine and have had no problems!
2. No smells and no suds!   There will be NO smells or suds with this homemade solution. Remember that a lot of artificial dyes and scents go into making regular cleaner, so there will be no smell.
3. Does it clean my clothes as good as detergent? Yes, while there is no smell, it is cleaning the clothes just as much for less!
4. Do I still need a liquid softener- Yes, you will still wnat to use a liquid softener, and we wrote a post for DIY Fabric Softener too!

Liquid DIY Laundry Detergent

Reader Rhonda shared her Liquid Formula with us too, since her HE machine only allows for liquid laundry detergent!

Thanks, Rhonda!

Ingredients/Tools:

• ½ cup Borax (76 oz box = $4.99)-  You can get 19 batches out of this box, for .19c/each.
• ½ cup Arm & Hammer washing soda (55oz = $3.99) – You can get 13 batches out of this box for.30c each.
• 1/3 bar of grated Ivory soap (3 pkg w/ coupons for $1.00) -You can get 9 batches out of this for .11c each.
• 3 Tbsp baking soda (optional)
• 4 gallons of water (I use filtered water from our refrigerator because our water is hard here).
• Empty laundry containers or 4 empty milk jugs
• 1 funnel
• 1 large bucket & 1 very large pan for the stove

Directions:

1. Put large pan on the stove with 6 cups of water on med/high heat.
2. Add ½ cup borax, ½ cup washing soda.
3. Finely grate 1/3 bar of soap & add to pot.
4. Heat & stir constantly until all of the soap is melted completely. This will take a few minutes.
5. Once the soap is melted, Add the remaining gallons of water & just heat through. Do not boil, just heat through.
6. Remove from heat & fill the containers that you want to keep the laundry soap in. After fully cooled the soap will become more ‘gel like’. You need to shake the containers to mix because it will settle as it sits.

Notes:

• You only need ¼ cup per load. This mixture will not suds in your machine.
• This recipe makes 4 gallons, .15c/gallon of laundry soap.

Do you have any favorite Homemade Cleaners or Home Remedies? Let us know!

Check out our other DIY & Homemade posts!