Homemade Laundry Detergent
Homemade Laundry Detergent
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup borax
- 1 1/2 cup washing soda
- 1 1/2 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup sea salt
- 20-40 drops optional: essential oils see note
Instructions
- Mix ingredients thoroughly in a large bowl. (See note before adding essential oils)
- Pour powdered detergent into mason jars and use a funnel to help keep it mess-free.
- Store with a screwtop lid in a dry place.
- Use 1-2 Tbsp for every laundry load.
Notes
This homemade laundry detergent is made with gentle and non-toxic ingredients, but is a strong cleanser for even the muddiest adventures. Cheap and easy to make!
I have a busy 3 year old who loves the outdoors, especially mud puddles. Like you, we do a lotttt of laundry, and buying the non-toxic detergent was getting a little pricey.
I love making simple swaps for everyday things that not only help our health, but save us money. While some of the clean brands cost 50 cents a load, his laundry detergent is only 10 CENTS a load! It works just as well as store-bought detergent with toxic ingredients.
-5 minutes to mix up
-10 cents a load
-Non-toxic and all natural ingredients
Ingredients for Laundry Detergent
1/2 cup borax
1 1/2 cup washing soda
1 1/2 cup baking soda
1/4 cup sea salt
*Optional (see note below): 20-40 drops of essential oil. (I leave mine unscented) Use 1-2 TBSP per load
*Note: I am not usually able to smell the essential oil after the dryer cycle. If you plan to line dry your clothes, the scent is a nice addition. But if not, I would personally just leave it out to avoid wasting money on that. I leave mine unscented for that reason.
Supplies needed
- Measuring cups
- Large bowl
- Mason jars, 1 quart and 1 pint and lids
- Optional: funnel for mess-free pouring
How to make Laundry Detergent
Well, it’s about as simple as “mix together”!
Measure all the ingredients into a glass bowl. Mix thoroughly and carefully pour into a mason jar or larger glass jar. This recipe takes about 1 quart and a pint to fill.
For mess-free pouring, I love Azure Standard’s stainless steel funnel. I use it all the time!
How to Liquify Powdered Detergent
Not every water system handles powdered detergent well (or so I have heard). We live in a 1950s farmhouse and we have never had any issues, but it is something to note as a possibility. If this is a concern, then you can easily liquify your detergent by adding the powder to a small mason jar with 1/2 cup of hot tap water or so, cover, and shake until mostly dissolved.
Homemade Laundry Detergent
Ingredients
Method
- Mix ingredients thoroughly in a large bowl. (See note before adding essential oils)
- Pour powdered detergent into mason jars and use a funnel to help keep it mess-free.
- Store with a screwtop lid in a dry place.
- Use 1-2 Tbsp for every laundry load.