When I suggest making your own household products to skeptical friends and family, I always get the same response. “It won’t work as well as my store bought brand.” This is a myth; that natural ingredients don’t do the job like their chemical counterparts. Using this method, you can make your own all natural laundry detergent for pennies and it works like a charm! This formula is especially good for people with allergies or who prefer a fragrance free detergent.
What You’ll Need to Make Your Own All Natural Laundry Detergent
First of all, you’ll need to find soap flakes. These can be impossible to find in stores although sometimes drug stores will carry them. If you’re having a hard time locating them, you can order them online at http://www.dwellsmart.com/ or mail-order them at http://www.french-handlaundry.com/products.htm.
Washing soda is the next ingredient you’ll need. Washing soda can usually be found in the laundry section of your local supermarket. You can also order it online here: http://www.soapsgonebuy.com/Arm_and_Hammer_Washing_Soda_p/ah1001.htm.
Borax is next on the list and is also sold at your local supermarket in the laundry aisle. It’s often marketed as a laundry brightener. If unable to find it locally, it can be ordered online here: http://www.soapsgonebuy.com/20_Mule_Team_Borax_p/d1002.htm.
These are the three basic ingredients you’ll need for to make your own all natural laundry detergent powder. If you prefer to make a liquid all natural laundry detergent, you’ll need vegetable glycerin.
Vegetable glycerin can usually be found in natural health stores and sometimes drug stores. You can order vegetable glycerin online here: http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/bulkmisc/bulkmisc.html.
You’ll also need a heavy plastic or glass container for storing your all natural laundry detergent. Make sure it has a lid. I use a one gallon glass jar with lid for storing my all natural laundry detergent but in the past I’ve also used plastic Rubbermaid storage containers.
How to Make Your Own All Natural Laundry Detergent
Once you have the specified ingredients, the rest is a breeze. Mix 2 cups of soap flakes, 1 cup of washing soda and 1 cup borax together and store in a lidded container.
If you want to make a liquid all natural laundry detergent, add 6 tablespoons of vegetable glycerin and 6 cups of water to the powder detergent above. You’ll need to shake well before each use.
You can also add essential oils for fragrance if you like. Lavender and Orange essential oils are both great choices for your all natural laundry detergent. If you decide to add fragrance, use 30-40 drops per batch of detergent.
How to Use Your All Natural Laundry Detergent
Use ½ – 1 cup of your all natural laundry detergent per load of laundry. I usually keep an old measuring cup (1/2 cup) in the container with the laundry detergent for easy measuring of the powder detergent. For the liquid detergent, you can just keep a cup nearby for easy measuring.
For lightly soiled loads, use ½ cup of your all natural laundry detergent. For heavily soiled loads, use ¾ – 1 cup of your all natural laundry detergent.
