DIY: Homemade Laundry Detergent

WHY do I make my own? Well, I told you why I started. However,  there are more reasons than that. My kids have sensitive skin and I was told it is suppose to be good for sensitive skin. It works great for my family and doesn’t irritate anyone’s – 3 have sensitive skin. The second reason is that I cannot handle some laundry detergent scents. Plus, really, it’s just more chemicals added to the product. The fourth reason (and most convincing one) is COST – it’s very cost effective. The fifth reason is simply that I know what is in the product I make. I am not sure when it became ok to not have ingredients on the label but I find it so strange that something that a person could have a skin reaction to isn’t always labeled with the ingredients. (Go, check your detergent bottle. Is it labeled with ingredients?)

So here’s there deal. It really doesn’t cost a whole lot to start.

What you need  –

	*Grater – any cheap grater will do. I use one like this.

	*1 bar  Fels-Naptha Bar .  They say you can use regular bar soap but I much prefer Fels Napa. The thrifty side of me says don’t buy it at Amazon. Most stores carry it in the laundry aisle. My mom used it to pre-treat spots and I am so happy with the work it does in my detergent.

	*1 cup Washing Soda – (Do not confuse this with baking soda. Often you can find this in your grocery store)

	* 1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax –

	*Essential Oils – optional for scent

Grate the Fels napa soap and add to 4 cups hot water in pan on stove over medium heat.  Constantly stir until it the soap is COMPLETELY dissolved.  Take the pan off heat and add the washing soda and borax. Mix well.

Fill a 5 gallon pail half full of hot water. Add the soap mixture and mix well.  Fill the bucket the rest of the way with hot water. Let set for 24 hours.

You will find it is very congealed the next day.  Don’t worry. It’s normal. Stir it well until it is liquid again. I use a ladle and honestly, my hands sometimes. 

Use 1/2 cup per top loader load. Use 1/4 cup per front loader load.

Some people fill laundry detergent containers half full and dilute it, as the Duggars, but I didn’t like it as well that way. I don’t dilute it any farther at this point but use less for small loads. I collected empty detergent conainters and fill them. Each recipe yields (10) 48 oz. containers.  Make sure to shake really well before each use as you don’t want the deterent to be clumpy/separated. You want it mixed well.

A few notes –

*If you do not use essential oils your laundry will be clean but it will not necessarily smell scented.

*I have found that some clothes with set in stains have come clean after several washes – not all but some. I think that is
   a  nice side benefit to making my own laundry detergent.

*Since my original purchase 2.5 years ago I have only had to make several batches. The only thing I have needed to
   purchase each time is the Fels Napa soap, which is .99 at my grocery.

*The washing soda and Borax harden and clump if left in a bathroom closet or somewhere warm/humid. It does 
  unclump though but is extra work.

*Each bottle of laundry detergent costs me $0.28-$0.40 to make.