Homemade Laundry Detergent
I wasn’t sure I wanted to jump on the bandwagon of making my own laundry detergent. In fact, I wasn’t sure it would even save me money.
Then I decided to do the research.
The more I read, the more I realized that yes, it would be worth.
But would it really work? Does it work as well as store-bought detergent?
I was extremely skeptical.
I decided to do a “smaller” batch and give it a whirl.
The verdict: WORTH EVERY PENNY!
I don’t know what I was so fearful about. It was a tried and true “recipe” that I had found all over the internet – the SAME recipe, on many different websites. So one day I found myself at the checkout line, with all of these crazy ingredients. I decided to stick with the powdered version as I was lazy and didn’t want to deal with the liquid – sounded too complicated (even though I don’t think it is). I just figured with the powder version, all I had to do was mix up everything and that is exactly what I did.
Homemade Laundry Detergent:
Ingredients:
3 cups Borax
2 cups washing soda
1 bar Fels Naptha soap (or bar of your choice)
3/4 cup baking soda
4 1/2 cups oxygen bleach
1 cup fabric softener crystals
Directions:
1. Grate the Fels Naptha bar with the smallest holes possible (without the soap getting stuck)
2. Add the rest of the ingredients.
3. Mix well.
Note: Use about 2 tablespoons for non-HE and HE washing machines.
I am not sure I will ever go back to store-bought laundry detergent. Granted I LOVE making homemade “things” (EVEN laundry detergent), but I have to say the quality and smell of the clothes is amazing!
And again, it has been worth EVERY PENNY!
Do you make your own laundry detergent? Do you have a favorite homemade laundry detergent recipe that you use?
I have been making the liquid version for about 18 months I love it I will never go back to the store bought soap again. I have a family of 6 and my boy's sure know how to get dirty I don't have a problem with stains it gets anything out. One of my girl's did her science fair project on which soap cleans better homemade or store bought and My homemade soap got out more of the stains than Tide. We love it and it saves our family lots of money. Very happy I tried my homemade soap.
I have a septic and can't use powder. How do u make the liquid form.
I am wondering if you would be willing to share your liquid detergent recipe? I wouldn't mind sharing a liquid recipe on my blog, and with your permission, could I use yours? I have yet to try one because the powder one makes so much. Plus, I enjoy recommending the tried and true, which yours is! Please feel free to email me if you would like. Thank you! There definitely is something about homemade soap – AND it smells SO GOOD!
My Mother was a Fels Naptha fan in the 50's. I, too, am a fan but have a difficult time grating the bar. Any ideas how to grate it other then the cheese grater?
I use my food processor to grate the Fels Naptha bar. I put the powdered ingredients, ie. washing soda, etc. in the processor. I add the Fels Naptha bar that has been cut into chunks. Just whirl the food processor (I use the S blade) and the bar soap breaks down and is blended with the powdered ingredients. Pretty easy to do. Sue
If you do not have a food processor you can put the soap in a blender and use it.
I didn't have any baking soda or oxyclean, but I think it will be fine. we aren't a super dirty bunch. do you think it will be ok?
Hi Dawn! I think that it should be okay because the washing soda is a good cleaning agent. I see baking soda as gentler, but you will have to let me know how it goes! Thanks for commenting Dawn!
Hi <3
Thanx for every advice but I have big problem,in my country Croatia,water is very hard with too much scales…so I have lot of problems with clean laundry. Need any advice how to resolve this problem,please help me bc I've tryed everything what is in the stores and no results. With love Kristina from Croatia 🙂
Kristina, you have raised an excellent question. I do not have an answer for you, but if I do hear of any solutions, I will let you know! Would bleach work to at least help the whites? Just a thought. Thanks for commenting all the way from Croatia, Kristina!