Should you make your own laundry detergent? *my bulk recipe*
Three of my grandies, in their elements, eating sprinkle donuts at Amma’s house. (That’s my sweet mom in the background.
Join me as I analyze why I make my own laundry detergent–why do I do it??–and if you might want to do the same. Also: my favorite recipe for homemade laundry detergent.
So you woke up this morning wondering if you ought to make your own laundry detergent.
Possibly you have a crunchy friend who is making her own, and you wonder if you’re missing out on some mysterious benefits. Or maybe the strong scent of the laundry detergents in the store–not to mention the rising costs of same–are getting on your last nerve. You skitter-skatter past the detergent aisle holding your breath, because those strong smells don’t agree with your delicate sensibilities. Or–horror!–somebody in your family has super-sensitive skin and it has become harder and harder to find a laundry detergent that doesn’t cause them issues.
You take it all personally, of course, because you are conscientious and you want the best for your family.
Do you know why I started making my own laundry detergent? All of the above. Yes, gentle reader, alas, all those travails were happening under my own roof. Under my watch, as it were, as the primary (and only) hausfrau.
To wit:
- Bryan has sensitive skin which breaks out if I even think about using anything but the mildest detergents. And believe me–I’ve tried them all! I could only use Dreft (for baby clothes) for years!
- I have the World’s Most Sensitive Nose (a blessing, but mostly a curse) and even passing somebody on the street who has used the detergents with the “fresh scent” or any scent, makes my head lean toward migraine.
- The prices on the commercial laundry detergents have risen rapidly, like everything else.
Here are the simple ingredients of my homemade laundry detergent recipe.
So I learned how to make my own. You can, too.
Benefits of making your own laundry detergent are many. Here are just a few:
- You can control exactly what goes into it.
- It costs pennies per load, which makes my tightwad heart sing.
- You can mix up a year’s supply in a few minutes. No more toting heavy boxes or jugs of laundry detergent from the store every few weeks. (This actually means a great deal to me. Simplify, simplify, simplify, so there’s more time to do the things that you really want to do!)
Let’s touch on the financials:
Super Washing Soda: 1 55 oz box ($5.38)
Borax: 1 4 lb box ($5.97)
Baking soda: 1 4 lb. box ($3.34)
3 bars of 5.5 oz. Fels Naptha, or 2 bars Zote soap ($1.78 x 3 = $5.34)
Oxy-Clean: (optional) 1/3 of a 3# box (1/3 of $9.00 = $3.00)
Adding it all up (including the optional Oxy-Clean), I make a year’s worth of laundry detergent for $23.00. Those are my current prices in our area.
That’s less than $2.00 per month for laundry detergent! If you have a bigger family (I just do laundry now for Mack, Bryan and me) of course, you’ll do more laundry and need more detergent. (Maybe? It still seems like we do a ton of laundry!)
Here’s a breakdown of the ingredients:
Super Washing Soda: softens the water, making the soap more effective.
Baking soda helps regulate the pH level in your washing machine’s water by keeping it from being too acidic or too alkaline. It’s food grade, so: you can eat it if you like!
Bar soap like Castile, Zote Soap (I do like it that Zote is pink) or Fels-Naptha is just that, a soap. NOT a detergent. Particles of soap don’t dissolve in cold water very well, so it’s best to use warm water if you make your own laundry detergent.
Borax is a natural substance found in the ground, and it increases the effectiveness of other soaps and bleaches in the water. Not everybody agrees that it is as “clean” as the other ingredients in this recipe, however.
Oxy-Clean: I add this as an “optional” ingredient because it has that stanky super stench scent that, quite frankly, I loathe. But it does work well as an additive when I’ve got super-dirty laundry, so I pinch my nose and toss some in when I really need it. (Mack works in the summer times with a contracting business, and I’m a flower farmer–we do get our clothes very dirty!)
The Big Question: Will a homemade laundry detergent work for everybody?
My answer may surprise you.
Answer: NO. I believe this homemade laundry detergent is not for you if you fit one or both of these following circumstances:
1. If you have terribly hard water (been there!), you will need to buy laundry detergent that is specifically made for hard water, which most of the commercial detergents are. Hard water is a bummer, baby, in so many respects. I was never happier than I was on the day that Bryan bought me a water softener. “Keep the pearls, the cashmere, the diamonds,” I cried. “Just give me a water softener!” I grew up with a mother who doggedly insisted on keeping a water softener at all times, because she knew. SHE KNEW. Yes, she knew how much harder the day-to-day life of any haus frau is, if she is constantly battling the ill effects of hard water. She knew. And now you know. And I certainly know. We all know.
They were beyond our reach for years. When Bryan finally bought me one, “HUZZAH!!”, I cried, and I’ve been huzzahing ever since.
The one we bought was EXPENSIVE (especially for a tightwad like me!) but I would buy it again and again. And–by the way, we’ve had it for probably 20 years and have only had a few minor repairs on it. (Thank you, Kinetico) (Not an affiliate! Though I’d certainly consider it!)
2. If your clothes are regularly grease-soaked or mud-crusted, buy the powerful stuff from the store. You can get it, after all, without the obnoxious scent.
Honestly? I use this homemade laundry detergent, only costing pennies per load, and made up of generally-perceived-as-“clean”-no-pun-intended-ingredients–with daily laundry–towels, sheets, ordinary clothing–but I run a load or two every week of muddy, greasy, or otherwise really filthy clothing with a stronger detergent. So I save money most of the time, and use a product that I feel good about. But I still like super clean clothes–so I use the strong stuff when I have to. I’m discriminating. You can be, too! Not everything is black or white. Sometimes we have to accept the grayscale. Ya know?
So what are we waiting for?
Here’s the recipe.
1. In a huge bowl, combine the following ingredients:
- Super Washing Soda: 1 x 55 oz box
- Borax: 1 x 4 lb. box
- Baking soda: 1 x 4 lb. box
- 3 bars of 5.5 oz. Fels Naptha, or 2 bars Zote soap, shredded
- Oxy-Clean: (optional) 1/3 of a 3# box
2. Use a food processor or a cheese grater to shred the bars of soap.
3. Using your biggest wooden spoon, stir slowly to combine. (Slowly because you don’t want to get a lot of the dust in the air!)
4. Put into a decorative container. Use 2 Tablespoons per load, or slightly more if your clothes are especially dirty.
Pin it, baby!
Should you make your own laundry detergent?
There ya go!
I promised you cheap and easy-peasy, and I do believe I delivered. If you make this detergent, I’d love to hear what you think of it!
Thanks for popping in!
*hugs*
Amy