Of all the DIY cleaners, laundry detergent is the one that I haven’t wanted to do. I would start reading ingredient lists and directions and instantly look away. It’s always been easier to buy laundry soap (even the not-so-great stuff) then turn my kitchen into a soap-making factory. Until I found this easy recipe for homemade liquid laundry detergent.
I won’t lie. DIY liquid laundry detergent isn’t my most favorite recipe to make. Other green cleaning recipes are so much easier and use ingredients I generally always have in the house. Compared to laundry detergent which uses borax and washing soda (I didn’t even know what those were until recently).
But for many, making laundry detergent is a way of doing the following:
- Making laundry detergent for sensitive skin
- Saving money
- Knowing exactly what ingredients are in your clothes
- Homesteading
What Ingredients to Use in DIY Laundry Detergent
There aren’t a lot of ingredients to use. Which is why this simple recipe does make me happy. But you might not be familiar with these ingredients, yet. So let me explain how they work.
Castile Soap
This gentle soap made from plant-based ingredients is super gentle. That’s why it’s often used for sensitive skin.
Castile soap suds up well. And it comes in a variety of scents. Unscented is great for sensitive skin and those that don’t like fragrance. You can also buy with natural fragrance such as lavender or peppermint.
Dr. Bronner’s has been the gold standard in Castile soap since 1858. But there are other varieties that work, too. Such as Kirk’s Original Coco Castile Soap made from coconut oil.
Washing Soda (NOT Baking Soda)
Washing soda is a chemical compound known as sodium carbonate. It can soften water and help to remove stains. It creates alkaline water, which is beneficial for removing stains and cleaning clothes.
The substance can cause irritation if handled directly, so just be careful.
Yes, there is a difference between washing soda and baking soda. In washing soda, the carbon dioxide and water molecules from baking soda are removed (you can easily do this yourself in an oven with this washing soda recipe).
Borax
Some people like using borax. Others think it’s not a green cleaning ingredient.
Borax is a natural mineral that is mined. However, it doesn’t mean it is completely non-toxic. Borax can cause health problems if children, pets or adults were to ingest it or have it get in their eyes, nose or throat.
The benefits of borax in your laundry detergent are numerous, including:
- Changes the pH level of the water to more alkaline, so your clothes get cleaner
- Whitens whites
- Inhibits mold
- Neutralizes odors
- Softens hard water
- Gets rid of soap residue
- Helps to remove stains
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Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe
Ingredients
- 16 cups of water
- 1 cup borax
- 1 cup washing soda
- A 5 oz. bar of Dr. Bronners soap (unscented or scented)
Supplies
- Medium size pot for cooking
- Large pot for mixing
- Storage container
- Knife
- Spoon
Directions
- Shave off the soap with the knife into the pot or use a cheese grater to grate the bar soap.
- Add 6 cups of water and heat slowly on medium heat until the soap pieces dissolve. Heat just under boiling or gentle boiling – do not let it boil over! Keep stirring to prevent the soap from bubbling over the top (about 15-20 minutes).
- Add in the washing soda and borax and stir until fully dissolved. Remove from heat.
- Pour this mixture into another larger pot or container. (The 2-gallon or 5-gallon buckets from the hardware store work great for this. Make sure they are clean and don’t have an odor in them, though.)
- Add 10 more cups of water. Stir together. Let cool.
- Pour into your storage container and seal.
*Depending on a lot of factors, you may find that the finished laundry soap will gel a little bit. This will be perfectly fine and will not affect how it performs. Just give it a quick mix or shake it up before adding to the laundry as you do the loads.
To Use
Use about 1/4 cup of soap per load of laundry and wash as normal.
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