How to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent

Making homemade laundry detergent is not only a great way to save money it is a great way to cut your carbon footprint as well. It is better for the environment and your family because you leave out the artificial scents and toxic chemicals.

You save a lot of money by making your own cleaning supplies, laundry detergent included. Figure less than one cent per load of laundry, depending on what your costs for the ingredients are. Generally you can make enough detergent to wash one hundred loads of laundry for about $1.25. Compare that to what you are currently paying and you will see how cost effective it is.

But does it work? Sure does! Not only are the clothes clean but because the homemade detergent tends to suds less they get rinsed more thoroughly.

This is not rocket science, nor will it take you all day. FIgure on about fifteen minutes of your time to make your cheap, earth friendly laundry soap. Now that is a great investment in time, isn't it?

• 3 cups (2 bars) Fels Naptha or Zote Soap, grated
• 1 ½ c 20 Mule Team Borax
• 1 ½ c Arm and Hammer Washing Soda
• 10 drops lavender essential oil 10 drops rosemary essential oil Or use the essential oils you like best.

Mix ingredients together in a large covered container and allow to stand for 24 hours for the essential oil scent to permeate the detergent.

Use one tablespoon per load for normal sized loads with normal dirt. This will wash about 90 loads. Be sure to store this marked and covered tightly, away from children.

For Hard Water

• 12 cups Borax
• 8 cups baking soda
• 8 cups washing soda
• 8 cups grated castile soap or fels naptha

Mix all ingredients well and store in a tightly covered container. Use 2 tablespoons of powder per load. You can add essential oils if you like.

For Tough Cleaning

• 2 c fels naptha grated
• 1 c borax
• 1 c washing soda
• 1/3 c oxy clean

Mix together and use one to two tablespoons per load. Add essential oils if you like. Store covered and stir before using.

1 quart boiling water

• 2 cups grated soap (ivory, fels naptha, zote, etc.)
• 2 cups borax
• 2 cups washing soda

Add the grated soap to the boiling water and stir over low heat until the soap pieces are all melted. Pout this water into a large container and add the rest of the ingredients. Stir until it is completely dissolved. Add two gallons of water, stirring well. Add essential oil for scent if you wish. Cover and allow to stand over night. In the morning it will be a thin gel.

Use one-fourth cup of the mixture for each load of laundry. Be sure to stir it before use. This is low sudsing so don't expect billows of suds when you do your clothes.

Nothing is better than vinegar to soften clothes. Just use ¼ cup of vinegar mixed with your favorite essential oil in the rinse cycle and your clothes will be clean, fresh, and soft.

Another fabric softener is made by adding one cup of baking soda to two cups of water. Stir well and add one cup of white vinegar. Shake well before using. Laundry soap and fabric softeners are not hard to make, don't take much time and save you a lot of money. They are good for your wallet, the environment and your family and that just feels good all the way around.