Homemade Laundry Detergent?

[madxhatter]

I was wondering if anyone could share their recipe to make laundry detergent at home with me? I need to start doing this because I am allergic to just about every detergent I have tried except for all free & clear, and its expensive and i can never find coupons... i cant even wash my fiance's clothes in regular detergent and then use all after because it irritates my skin, so now he has to use the all too....

id rather just make my own.... so any help would be appreciated!!

TIA

 

[MEM]

I was wondering if anyone could share their recipe to make laundry detergent at home with me? I need to start doing this because I am allergic to just about every detergent I have tried except for all free & clear, and its expensive and i can never find coupons... i cant even wash my fiance's clothes in regular detergent and then use all after because it irritates my skin, so now he has to use the all too....

id rather just make my own.... so any help would be appreciated!!

TIA

Here's my recipe I posted today on another thread...

It takes me about 15 minutes twice a month to make it. I grate one Kirk's castile soap bar (it makes 2 cups of fine powder) and add that to 2 cups of washing soda and 2 cups of borax. I use it dry in my machine and it dissolves easily with no streaking on my black clothes. It deodorizes the clothes without leaving its own scent. We used to use Tide-Free HE but we found that even on sale, its 10 times more expensive that making our own. It makes no suds so we were told its fine to use in our front-loader...however, our machine is older and there is no longer a warranty on it. DISCLAIMER: Some newer machines will void the warranty if you do not use detergent labeled "HE".

I use about 2T for a full load of towels or jeans, half of that for my work clothes.

 

[briannesmom]

I just made some last week and so far I love it. There was a thread a few weeks ago that had a bunch of laundry detergent recipes but I couldn't find it so I just googled a few. I went with a powder recipe instead of the gel just so it would be easier to make and store.

2 bars Fels Naptha soap finely grated
2 cups Borax
2 cup Washing Soda (I used Arm & Hammer)
1 cup Oxy Clean (optional)

I used the fine side on my box grater to grate the soap. The soap is really hard so it takes a while to do. I found everything at my local grocery store. I have heard that the Fels Naptha can be hard to find but if you go on the Dial website you can look up where they sell it near you.

 

[Rogue26]

We are going to give homemade laundry detergent a try. Actually I am, my husband thinks I've completely lost it, but as long as his cloths are clean he doesn't care. I'm going to go with the powder kind because of storage and it seems a bit easier.
I only use cold water though, does it disolve enough?

 

[MEM]

We are going to give homemade laundry detergent a try. Actually I am, my husband thinks I've completely lost it, but as long as his cloths are clean he doesn't care. I'm going to go with the powder kind because of storage and it seems a bit easier.
I only use cold water though, does it disolve enough?

Yes, it dissolves fine in cold water. I only use hot water for towels, sheets and undies, cold for everything else.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

I just made some last week and so far I love it. There was a thread a few weeks ago that had a bunch of laundry detergent recipes but I couldn't find it so I just googled a few. I went with a powder recipe instead of the gel just so it would be easier to make and store.

2 bars Fels Naptha soap finely grated
2 cups Borax
2 cup Washing Soda (I used Arm & Hammer)
1 cup Oxy Clean (optional)

I used the fine side on my box grater to grate the soap. The soap is really hard so it takes a while to do. I found everything at my local grocery store. I have heard that the Fels Naptha can be hard to find but if you go on the Dial website you can look up where they sell it near you.

Do you use 2TBLS per load of laundry with this recipe?

 

[wannagotodisney]

I'm so glad to see this thread! I've been making my own fabric softener for awhile but wasn't sure how to make the detergent. Thanks for posting it!!

 

[Green Tea]

Where would you even find those ingredients? Kirks whatever it was? Fels? I cant imagine that all added up being less than Kirklands powder

 

[branv]

I am getting ready to try this as soon as my detergent runs out! The closest supply of Fels Naptha is about 200 miles away, so I'm using Zote bar instead. Every grocery store I've been to so far has had the Borox and the Washing Soda in the laundry aisle, so I'm ready to go!

To PP, if you look online you can see a number of people who've figured out the cost per load. I figured out my Kirkland Free Liquid costs me about $.12 a load (depending on coupon ), and what I've read is that people have made this homemade stuff for about $.01-.03 a load (guess it depends on how much your area supplies cost and how much you use per load). Nice.

I'm also starting to consider the recipes for homemade wipes and fabric softener. I spend way too much money on those things and worry about some of the ingredients. I know I can use vinegar both, but...ugh..the smell, and contrary to everything I've read, I can smell it on my clothes after a few loads using the vinegar instead. But at least with the laundry I've learned this is eliminated by adding about a tsp of fabric softener to the vinegar. And I'm going to start looking for essential oils instead. Mmmmm, how about a lavendar and peppermint fabric softener and cleaner a la Aveda.

 

[ncbyrne]

Where would you even find those ingredients? Kirks whatever it was? Fels? I cant imagine that all added up being less than Kirklands powder

I've been making my own powder detergent for a long time. I started using Fels Naptha soap as the recipe called for it...but, I have found that ANY bar soap works. Fels Naptha will be found in the cleaning supplies section, OR sometimes stores have them with the other bath bar soaps.
My daughter had a zip lock bag filled with the small hotel bar soaps. I used those for the last batch, and it worked just as well! The more important ingredients are the borax and washing soda. I use store brands and you can find them in the laundry detergent aisle.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

Where would you even find those ingredients? Kirks whatever it was? Fels? I cant imagine that all added up being less than Kirklands powder

I have seen all of them in my grocery store. The initial investment might be equal to buying one thing of regular laundry detergent...but if you only need to use 2 TBL per load it will last much much longer.

 

[NotUrsula]

I am getting ready to try this as soon as my detergent runs out! The closest supply of Fels Naptha is about 200 miles away, so I'm using Zote bar instead. Every grocery store I've been to so far has had the Borox and the Washing Soda in the laundry aisle, so I'm ready to go!

Tell your grocer that you want it, because it is a GREAT stain remover (which it is.)

I don't make my own detergent, but I always keep a bar of Fels Naptha in a plastic bin container with an old tooth bruth, one kit under every sink in the house. I also travel with a chunk in a ziploc, for getting out stains while on the road. My kids' daycare providers always ask how I managed to keep their clothes stain-free, even after they have been sent home in a baggie after a disaster: the answer is Fels Naptha.

 

[sylvenmaid]

I have lots of Ivory soap already stockpiled so I'm going to try the recipe with it. The only thing I can't find in my area is the washing soda.

 

[briannesmom]

Do you use 2TBLS per load of laundry with this recipe?

Yes, 2TBLS.

 

[loveysbydesign]

We use homemade kind too, but I also buy Country Save laundry detergent from amazon when it's on sale. I rotate them as the homemade stuff can get built up in the washer and on your clothes. I buy my supplies from Soaps Gone Buy They have great prices and quick delivery!

 

[Goofy'slady]

I was just on YouTube last night watching folks make their own laundry soap and I think it's something that I'm very interested in trying myself. My youngest daughter has skin problems and while we're currently using All Free once it's out I think I'll reuse the container and fill it with what I'll make myself.

It's nice to see I'm not alone.

T.

 

[chocovrdmicears]

Yes, 2TBLS.

Thanks - I am doing this next week.

 

[lovebuzz]

Thanks for stsrting this thread. I was out of laundry detergent yesterday, so I bought all of the stuff for homemade detergent. I was allready using the Fels Naptha soap for stain remover anyway. I will let you guys know how it goes.

 

[worm761]

I make my own laundry soap too. I love the stuff. DS has psoriasis and I have very sensitive skin.

For those of you having trouble finding washing soda, it is nothing more than sodium carbonate. NOT sodium bicarbonate, which is baking soda. So don't mix them up. Sodium carbonate is conveniently used to balance the Ph in your swimming pool. I buy mine in the pool section at walmart since no one around here carries washing soda. It is Ph plus, I think. Not really sure. I put it in another container to store it.

Here is my recipe:
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda (sodium carbonate)
1/2 cup laundry booster
mix in air tight container. I use 1tblsp per load unless it is really dirty. Then I use two. I wash most things in cold water and everything comes out clean.

Laundry booster can be oxyclean. I personally don't like it. It has a scent and lots of ingredients. I usually use Sun brand laundry booster. But you could use baking soda. Baking soda has been used in laundry for forever. That would make your laundry recipe even cheaper.

For those that need fabric softner and won't use vinegar: Put some fabric softner in a tub or jar. You can thin it out with some water if you want. Cut up some sponges and toss in there. Let them soak in the fabric softner. When you go to dry a load of laundry just grab a sponge and squeeze out the excess. Then just throw in the dryer like you would a regular dryer sheet. They are reusable!