How to Make Your Own Laundry Detergent

By Jen

When I posted last week about my laundry detergent container, I offhandedly mentioned that I make my own laundry detergent and I got a couple of comments asking for a tutorial.  So, here is how to make your own homemade laundry detergent, if you are so motivated to make your own laundry detergent.

First gather your ingredients. You need bar castile soap (I like unscented), borax, and washing soda. I am able to get all these things at my local grocery store and/or Walmart. You'll use all the soap for this batch, but you will be able to get multiple batches out of a single box of borax and washing soda. 

Now grate the soap. You can use any kind of grater. I use the shredder attachment on my KitchenAid mixer. (I wash it thoroughly afterward and no, nothing I have grated after the soap has ever tasted like soap.) I usually use about three bars of soap. (The scientific reason behind this is because the soap I buy is sold in threes.)

Do not eat the grated soap. It is not cheese.

Measure out about three cups of washing soda.

Now measure out about three cups of borax. I use approximately equal amounts of borax and washing soda, but you can experiment based on your water type.

Use a spoon and mix them all up.

Store the detergent in a container with a lid. You can use any container (actually, I used to use a ziploc bag), but I use this glass storage container for mine, which is what got this whole laundry detergent conversation started.

If you'd like, you can scent your detergent with essential oil. I, of course, used peppermint because it is my favorite scent. It takes about ten to twenty drops and you should leave it covered for twenty-four hours for the scent to fully permeate.

You will have to experiment to find out how much detergent you need for your water hardness. I have very soft water, so I use about half a scoop (which is about a tablespoon) for a regular load in my HE washer. A batch of detergent tends to last me about six months before I have to make a new one. 

There are numerous tutorials around the internet for homemade liquid laundry detergent as well, but I personally prefer the powdered.  It's easier to make and I've always found powdered detergent to be less of a mess in the laundry room.  This detergent gets our clothes perfectly clean and fresh smelling. 

So what do you think? Are you going to try making your own laundry detergent? 

Cross posted with Who Wants to Know. 

Comments

[Elsha]

This is one of those things that makes me think--oooh I should do that! But probably I won't.

I did enjoy your instruction not to eat the grated soap. Reminded me of a chemistry textbook I had where one section included a side note that said that acids taste sour and bases taste bitter. And right under that it said, "Do not taste chemicals"

[@mandalikescats]

I really want to do this! Hopefully my husband will be ok with his clothes smelling like lavender, which is MY favorite scent! Good to know I can also use it in my HE machine.