soap box

I have been wanting to make my own laundry detergent for a few months now. I work with a friend who makes her own and I was intrigued ….for several reasons. First, I like to be ‘green’ whenever possible. I know the chemicals they use in the detergents and fabric softeners are terrible for the environment and even worse to breathe (even though they smell oh so good) They are harsh on the environment when they are being made in the factory and then harsh for years (or forever) after I use them since they go down the drain. I try to be a good steward and value God’s creation as much as I can.

But, the reason I like the detergent the most is because I am a cheapo. Or I should say, I like to save money and get a good deal. So this is perfect.

It took only a few very simple ingredients and about 5 minutes. Awesome. Every ingredient I purchased at Kroger. So, they are also easy to find!

Plus the cost breakdown of how much I am saving is incredible! I did a quick little breakdown and decided that I was spending about 25 cents a load before. We used whatever was on sale or whatever I had a coupon for. I had always really wanted to buy the Seventh Generation or other earth friendly kinds, but they were way out of my price range. With the homemade detergent, I figured it is about 6 cents or less per load. Wow!

Here is what you need.

I mixed….
1 grated bar of Fels–naptha soap (2 cups)
1 grated bar of Ivory soap (1 cup)
4 cups washing soda
4 cups baking soda
4 cups borax

It takes only one tablespoon per load (or two if it is really dirty)

There are a ton of different recipes online with different ratios of these items. Some leave out the baking soda all together. I made enough to last for months and months.

I was a little nervous about the homemade detergent in my washer because we have a front loading high efficiency, and they recommend you use special HE detergent. But I did a little research and homemade detergent is perfect for HE since it is ‘low suds’, and that is what the special HE detergent does.
Next I would like to try and make homemade dishwasher detergent, but I need a few more ingredients first. I will let you know how that works out.
I really like the laundry detergent. It smells great. My clothes feel so clean, too. I know that my old stuff was leaving a nasty residue with all those chemicals and scents.
and now for the dryer sheets….

Fill a Downy ball with distilled white vinegar (and a drop of essential oil if you want) and add to the wash cycle. Vinegar is magical stuff. Your clothes DO NOT smell like vinegar when they are done. It is a clothes softener. Vinegar dissolves soap residue which is what makes clothes stiff. Also, add the dryer balls to the dryer. Cuts down significantly on drying time. Some day I would like to make my own like this. Or perhaps just buy a cute set someone else made like this set on etsy. You can also add a drop or two of essential oil to a clean rag and put in the dryer. I feel so clean! What are your experiences with homemade cleaners? Are you going to try it out? Seriously easy! Or I wouldn’t be doing it. 🙂