Friday, April 02, 2010

Homemade Laundry Detergent

A couple months ago, a friend shared this recipe for homemade laundry detergent. I told myself I'd make some but was still a bit nervous about doing all the work and not liking it. The same friend gave me some she had made and we really like it, it cleans our clothes so well and is so much more cost efficient! We wanted to share.

Homemade Laundry Detergent.
I ordered the Fels-Naptha on line for $.99 a bar at Soaps Gone Buy, I also ordered the Arm & Hammer Washing Soda through the website but found it at the commissary too.Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap- Front or top load machine- best value

4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda*
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water.
Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved.
Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.
24 Hours later, this is what it looks like.


-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)

-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.

-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.

-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)

-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

*Arm & Hammer "Super Washing Soda" - Baking Soda will not work, nor will Arm & Hammer Detergent - It must be sodium carbonate!!

And here is a recipe for Homemade Dishwasher Detergent

Powder Recipe #1

1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax

Powder Recipe #2

1 cup Baking Soda
1 cup Borax

For the above two recipes:

  • Mix thoroughly and store in a plastic container, use approximately 2 TBS per load.
  • Use vinegar in the rinse compartment as a rinse agent to help prevent residue
  • Try adding 2-3 drops essential oil

9 comments:

Drea said...

How funny, I just posted a similar recipe on my FB status today after buying all the ingredients at the commissary today. I bought the essential oil too and the total came out to $12.71, I figure it will make approx. 4 batches which comes out to about $3/batch. Why have I been spending $21/month on detergent again? :)

Puddums said...

This is a great idea... do you know if it's safe for the HE machines?

trevsnavywife said...

Dying to know how you guys like it!! I am personally a powdered person so I might have to try that out. :)

TotallyContent said...

I have many friends who use this exact recipe and have thought about doing it a few times myself. Maybe I'll have to borrow a cup full of yours so I can try it out...

Dana said...

So now that you have used it for a while....do you have any problems with it or is it still pretty fantastic?

TheAlbrechtSquad said...

Dana, we still love it!

Dana said...

So you mention vinegar in the rinse compartment (I'm assuming you mean the fabric softener? or maybe you just have a fancy machine) Are you noticing a buildup or residue?

How much do you add? Are you adding it to every load to prevent residue on clothing or every week to prevent build up on the machine?

Dana said...

thanks!

TheAlbrechtSquad said...

Dana, the vinegar is in reference to the dishwasher