This year, I started making my own laundry detergent. It’s less irritating on my skin—and works as well as any commercial detergent for a fraction of the cost. Here’s the simple recipe.
“After the ecstasy, the laundry.” I’d say that famous Zen saying also holds for agony. Yes, the laundry always awaits! Ecstasy or agony, laundry serves as a metaphor for everything about daily living that demands attention.
Homemade detergent
For years, I had made homemade detergent out of borax, washing soda, and grated hard soap. However, after a while, I found that the borax was irritating to my skin.
Here’s my recipe. Toss these ingredients individually right onto the clothes you are about to wash:
- A good squirt of liquid Castile soap (three or four tablespoons).
- Half a cup of baking soda (light load) or washing soda (more alkaline, better at lifting grease/oils from heavy work clothes). Use protective kitchen gloves if you need to break up clumps of washing soda, which can be slightly irritating.
- A handful of plain salt (I use non-iodized kosher from a big box; brightens colors, helps remove stains).
Works as well as any detergent I’ve used. Give it a try yourself!
Homemade (non-chlorinated) oxygen stain remover.
If you need an oxygen bleach, I have a recipe that’s a cinch to make. It not only works well on most fabric stains, but you can also use it to clean just about everything–even as a gentle disinfecting wash for fruits and vegetables.
Here’s how I make it:
- Mix equal parts of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide and baking soda with two parts of hot water and shake well. For deeply set stains, use washing soda in place of baking soda.
- Funnel the solution into a light-excluding bottle to maintain the stain-fighting strength of the peroxide. That’s it!
Note: This homemade solution doesn’t spray the way commercial liquid oxygen bleaches do, because the baking soda settles. I just shake it well and squirt or sprinkle it onto stains, or add add half a cup to the wash water.
That’s it!
Reader Comments
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Allergy
When I was not much more than a toddler, I used a dry borax-based hand soap to wash my hands, and promptly found out I was allergic to borax. Is there something else I could use in place of the borax? (Every laundry soap recipe I've found uses borax)
No borax
This recipe doesn't seem to use borax, so it should be perfect for you.
Recipe question
When the detergent recipe calls for washing soda is that baking soda? what is washing soda?
Washing Soda
Washing soda (sodium carbonate) is not the same as baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), though they are similarly structured compounds. Washing soda is primarily used for removing stains from clothing and fabrics because it has a high alkalinity and acts as a powerful solvent. It can be bought from most stores that sell baking soda.
Great Post.
Loved it. Thanks for sharing. Would definitely try this.
Great comments, all! I've
Great comments, all! I've also used the dry mixtures, but found they tend to cake in my wash if I'm not careful.
I don't think you have to worry about precise measurements in any of these homemade products. Half and half washing soda and borax with an equal amount of grated hard soap should do the trick.
And Woodfarm is right; the peroxide does degrade quickly when mixed with water or exposed to light. Guess I'll start mixing my stain remover just before I treat the wash I'm about to do.
I have been making this for
I have been making this for almost a year. I add a little baking soda as well as the washing soda to brighten the wash. I also add more water to thin it some and keep it in gallon milk jugs. Usually I make 4 gallons with this recipe.
peroxide degrade rapidly, so
peroxide degrade rapidly, so make only as much as you need that day. The oxygen in peroxide boils off, even in a bottle.
I've made my own soap for
I've made my own soap for over a year now. I mix up the dry ingredients and do not put water with it. I usually make a double batch and keep it in a gallon jug. Two tablespoons per load. Boarx, Baking soda, Washing soda, and Fels Naphta (grated). It's wonderful.
I like the idea of a 'dry'
I like the idea of a 'dry' product..takes up less room..and less mess..Thanks..I think I need to try this..
i was wondering where you get
i was wondering where you get the directions for making this soap. How much of each ingredient do we use?
Just google homemade dry
Just google homemade dry laundry soap and you'll find several websites with recipes for dry laundry soap.
Ill have to try this recipe.
Ill have to try this recipe. I have a dry laundry soap recipe on my site below
http://www.modestsimpleliving....
Wondering if you could give
Wondering if you could give me the amounts of the ingredients to put into the dry mixture recipe.
what's the trick to mixing
what's the trick to mixing peroxide with baking soda?
Is washing soda the same as
Is washing soda the same as baking soda? I've never heard of washing soda. Where can I buy some?
No, washing soda is not the
No, washing soda is not the same as baking soda. One can find washing soda at Walmart next to the Borax.
You can buy washing soda in
You can buy washing soda in the laundry section at the grocery.
I heard that Baking Soda
I heard that Baking Soda fades your clothes. Washing Soda has soap it in. I tasted it. Yuck.