Homemade Laundry Detergent

Using store-bought laundry detergent to keep your clothes and linens clean may seem like a necessity. However, there is a cost-effective alternative.

Homemade laundry detergent is relatively quick and easy to make, and it can save you a small fortune over the course of the year. After learning how to make homemade laundry detergent, you may never buy commercial detergent again.

Why People Are Turning to Homemade Laundry Detergent

Often, people assume that using their favorite laundry detergent from the store is essential for lifting stains, removing odors and leaving laundry feeling and smelling great. Store-bought products promise to keep colors bright and to whiten whites, making them a laundry room staple.

However, many people are looking for alternatives to store-bought soaps and cleaners for several reasons. Some are concerned about the environment and introducing harmful chemicals into their homes. Others are looking for a more affordable way to do the laundry. Homemade laundry detergent is the solution.

Pros and Cons of Homemade Laundry Detergent

As is true with most things in life, homemade laundry detergent has its pros and cons. Before making the move to DIY laundry detergent, here’s what you need to know.

Pros

• After buying the initial ingredients, you can save a bundle on laundry detergent.
• You don’t need to make a special trip to the store when running low on laundry detergent.
• Laundry is just as clean and fresh smelling compared to washing clothes with a store-bought detergent.

Cons

• It costs a little more than the cost of store-bought laundry detergent to buy the initial ingredients. Savings are found only when making additional batches of detergent.
• It takes time to make your own laundry detergent.

Simple Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipes

Regardless of your preference for a powdered or liquid laundry detergent, effective recipes are available to meet your needs. These are some of the easy DIY recipes to consider.

Easy Powdered Laundry Detergent Recipe

To make powdered detergent, you’ll need a bar of Castile soap or pre-made soap flakes. If you buy a bar of soap, you can use a kitchen grater to make the soap into flakes. Both the soap and soap flakes can be purchased in a variety of scents to suit your preference. An alternative is to add a few drops of essential oil to the flakes.

Simply combine a cup of the soap flakes, two cups of washing soda and two cups of Borax in to sealable container. Stir the mixture with a spoon. Ensure that your detergent is stored in an airtight container out of reach of children and pets.

Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe for a Natural Clean

Liquid laundry detergent is just as easy to make. In a large pot, boil eight cups of water with two cups of baking soda and two cups of Borax. Add another two cups of water mixed with a cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Then, add eight more cups of water and two cups of liquid dish soap.

Continue boiling the mixture until all of the ingredients are dissolved. If you prefer scented laundry, add up to 50 drops of essential oil. After the liquid cools down, store it in an airtight container.

How to Use Homemade Laundry Detergent

The recipe above makes five cups of powdered detergent. This is enough for 27 loads of laundry. If you have a high-efficiency washing machine, this stretches to 80 loads. In a typical house, this is often sufficient to cover your laundry needs for up to three months. The liquid detergent recipe produces more detergent and can last for six to 12 months, depending on the size of your family.

If you make the powdered recipe, add one to three tablespoons of detergent to each load. To avoid clumping, pour the detergent into the laundry basin rather than in the soap dispenser. You can use the same amount per load with the liquid detergent and use the detergent dispenser.

Is Homemade Detergent Safe for All Washers?

The last thing you want to do is ruin your washing machine by using a homemade detergent. The good news is that these recipes for homemade laundry detergent are safe for your clothes and your washing machine. This includes high-efficiency washing machines.

While making your own laundry detergent takes time, it is more affordable and effective. You can also use natural ingredients to clean other areas of your home. At Cleanzen, we exclusively use natural cleaning products to deliver better results for our valued customers. To book Boston apartment cleaning with our team, contact us today.