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You can easily make your own detergent right at home using simple household ingredients. africa_pink / ShutterstockLooking for a more eco-friendly and budget-friendly alternative to store-bought laundry soap? Well, your wish can be granted by making your own homemade laundry detergent! Imagine this: not only can you save money and cut down on plastic waste, but you’ll also create a homemade detergent that's just as effective as commercial ones — with fewer chemicals, too.
In this article, we will explore the benefits of creating your own DIY laundry detergent. But first, let’s go over the essential ingredients you’ll need to get started making your own laundry soap at home.
Essential Ingredients for Homemade Laundry Soap
The market is flooded with countless laundry detergents boasting fancy packaging, high-priced ads, and bold claims. But the reality is, you can create a detergent at home using basic ingredients that works just as well.
Here’s the list of ingredients you’ll need:
- ½ bar of soap
- ½ cup of washing soda
- ½ cup of borax
- Empty 4-gallon (15-liter) bucket
- Scented essential oil (optional)
The Right Ingredients Make All the Difference
While making your own laundry detergent is fairly simple, there are still some decisions to be made. For instance, while you can select any soap, it’s best to go with natural or hypoallergenic options, especially if you have sensitive skin. Castile soap is an excellent choice for this.
Borax is another crucial ingredient in your detergent. It enhances the cleaning power and is a naturally occurring mineral compound. Essential oils, though optional, can be added for fragrance. Popular choices include lavender, lemon, or eucalyptus for a fresh, clean scent.
How to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent
Here’s the step-by-step process:
- Start by gathering your ingredients. Basic bars of soap, washing soda, and borax should work perfectly.
- Grate or break up the soap into small pieces. A cheese grater works well for this. Add the grated soap to a saucepan.
- Pour in 6 cups of hot water and stir over medium heat until the soap dissolves completely.
- Fill a 4-liter bucket with about 1 gallon (4 liters) and 10 cups of hot water.
- Mix the melted soap solution, ½ cup of washing soda, and ½ cup of borax into the bucket of water.
- Stir the mixture thoroughly until all the powder dissolves into the water.
- Cover the bucket and let it sit overnight to cool. The mixture will thicken into a gel-like consistency.
- Pour the homemade detergent into an empty laundry detergent bottle for easy use.
- Use about half a cup of detergent for each load of laundry. Be sure to shake it before each use [source: Lehmans].
- For added fragrance, drop in 10 drops of essential oil into each load. This not only gives a fresh scent but also acts as a stain remover and fabric softener [source: The Real Essentials].
How to Properly Use and Store Your Homemade Laundry Detergent
Using your homemade laundry detergent is as simple as using any commercial brand. For a standard load of laundry, use just one or two tablespoons. This amount is enough to clean effectively without leaving any residue on your clothes. It’s compatible with all high-efficiency washing machines.
For storage, opt for an airtight container to keep the detergent dry and free from clumping. A repurposed jar or an old detergent container works perfectly. Don’t forget to label the container for easy identification and keep it in a cool, dry spot to preserve its cleaning power.
Advantages of Homemade Laundry Detergent
Keep in mind the reasons you started this project: the many benefits it offers! First off, homemade laundry powder is eco-friendly. By creating your own detergent, you’re helping to reduce plastic waste. Even this small change can have a big positive effect on the environment.
Next, it’s budget-friendly. While store-bought detergents can be expensive, homemade versions are often made with affordable ingredients. Additionally, it’s gentle on the skin. Many commercial detergents contain harsh chemicals that can irritate sensitive skin. Since you control the ingredients, you can create a milder wash.
Lastly, it’s customizable. You can modify the scent and strength of your detergent to match your personal preferences. This makes laundry more enjoyable as you can tweak your detergent for every load. Who knows, your laundry room may turn into your very own soap-making laboratory!
Reduce Harsh Chemicals in a Simple Way
If making your own detergent isn’t for you but you still want to cut down on the chemical-laden products in your laundry routine, consider trying these alternatives:
- Vinegar: Adding white vinegar to the final rinse cycle helps remove soap residue from your clothes. It also eliminates any synthetic fragrances left behind.
- Baking soda: Substitute your fabric softener with baking soda. You can also reduce the amount of chlorine bleach you use by adding baking soda when you start the wash cycle [source: MSU].
Washing Clothes with Your Homemade Detergent
It’s also worth noting that liquid detergent can easily be made at home. Many recipes use liquid castile soap as the primary cleaning agent, rather than bar soap or soap flakes. There's even a variation that uses dish soap in the formula!
Of course, you can spend as much time as you want perfecting your own unique detergent formula. And in the process, you'll avoid the store-bought laundry aisles and save money. Who would have thought laundry soap could be so captivating?!
