In a day of green eco-friendliness and DIY, why not make your own laundry detergent? It’s easy! Not only will you save money, but you can get the (older) kids involved, too. Your clothes will come out fresher, brighter and cleaner without the use of harsh chemicals and unidentifiable ingredients. According to Wellness Mama, “Conventional laundry detergent is loaded with chemicals like sulfates, fragrances, phenols and more. Many brands contain things like petroleum distillates, which are linked to cancer and lung disease. Fragrances in these detergents are made of a mix of harmful chemicals.”
And in case you’re wondering, you can use your own DIY laundry detergent in High Efficiency (HE) washers, but it is best to use the liquid kind. It is up to your discretion to use homemade detergent and what you are comfortable with—there are many natural HE laundry detergents on the market if you don't have the time to make your own. A common complaint with do-it-yourself laundry detergent is the water turns grey and there are no suds, but this is completely normal; your clothes will clean just the same, if not better, regardless of the lack of soap bubbles. Plus, no suds are perfect for your HE washer as soapy suds would leave residue. Did we mention DIY laundry detergent is money-saving? You don’t even need to use that much! Remember, less IS more. Whether you have a front or top loader, it is recommended to us 1-2 Tablespoons of DIY detergent (this stuff is concentrated) for a standard or HE washing machine. Natural Homemade Laundry Detergent (Powder and Liquid) For instructions visit Wellness Mama
- Washing Soda
- Borax
- Bar Soap
Homemade Laundry Detergent (Powder) For Instructions vist Happy Money Saver
- 1 Box of Super Washing Soda 3 lb. 7 oz.
- 1 Box of Borax 4 lbs 12 oz.
- 1 Box of Pure Baking Soda 4 lb.
- 3 bars of Fels-Naptha 5.5 oz. or Ivory soap
- 1 container of Oxy-Clean 1.3 lb
- *optional: Purex Crystals 28 oz. for scent
Photo Credit: Michael Gäbler