I have not bought laundry detergent in over two years. Long time, right? (And yes I still do laundry! ;-)) It was a slow process trying to find the right recipe but, I finally found it! I have a husband that works outside a lot, three-year old twin boys (need I say more?), a six-year-old girl who loves to play in the mud and myself that sweats (pixie dust, of course) while I workout! I tell you this, because this detergent is great on all five of our stinky and smelly clothes. Okay too much information, I know!

This homemade laundry soap is awesome and it does the trick with no skin irritations, so it’s great for people with sensitive skin too. My husband and youngest have sensitive skin and they both have not had any issues since switching to our DIY laundry detergent. Store-bought detergent was always so harsh on their skin . I didn’t really realize it until after we started using it.

The best part is it’s great on the pocketbook too! This recipe lasts 6 months! Yep, six months for our family of five! Long time, right? I only mix up this recipe twice a year and it is super-duper easy! The simple ingredients make it easy to make, cheaper than commercial detergent and easy to find ingredients.

I am usually doing a load of laundry a day with my family of five, if I am honest most days it is a lot more, at maybe two or three loads of laundry a day. I pair this laundry soap recipe with white vinegar, as my fabric softener, in every load and it will get out the tough stains without the toxic chemicals

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How to Quickly make Homemade Laundry Detergent

How to Quickly make Homemade Laundry Detergent!

Ingredients

  • 6 lb of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda
  • 6 lb of Epsom Salt
  • 3 lb Chlorine Free Oxi Clean
  • 4 lb Borax
  • 1 Bar Bronner’s Soap or Fels Naptha Soap
  • Few drops of your favorite Essential Oil

    Directions

    1. Pour all of your ingredients into a 5-gallon bucket or any kind of large bucket.
    2. Grate with your cheese grater the laundry soap.
    3. Mix with all of your ingredients with a large spoon or a mixing paddle attached to your drill. I talked Chris into doing this for me the last time and it worked out nicely.
    4. Put your detergent into several different containers or place a lid on the top of your five gallon bucket and take out your detergent as needed.
    5. Voila! That’s it! You are done!

More Tips

    • What kind of washing machine: I use a top load washing machine, so do some research before mixing this detergent together if you have a front loader. Updated to say: I now have a front loader and it works just as well. But still do your research. I could not hurt!
    • Asthma: Also, if anyone has asthma in your family Borax has been known for causing more breathing issues. I do have a son with asthma, it has never hurt him. He is not inhaling it, of course. I am telling you this, so you can do your own research and find what is right for you and your family.
    • Hard Water: Some people have made the comment that this detergent does not mix well with hard water. I am not as familiar with hard water since I do not have hard water.
    • This homemade laundry detergent recipe is great to mix up for your large family, but if your family is not as large, feel free to half the recipes, as needed.
    • Choose a soap that is right for you: I have a hard time finding Bronner’s Soap where I live, so I substitute it with Fels Naptha Bar SoapZote Soap or even Ivory Soap and it works just as nicely.
    • Lavender essential oil is my favorite to use in this recipe. Sometimes I switch it out to a more citrusy smell.
    • Have a separate grater just for this recipe only. I do not like putting the same grater back into my kitchen to grate cheese with. Just my preference.
    • Maybe start with a smaller batch the first time so you can get the feel for making it. My first batch I ever made was not my favorite, even though it did the trick. As I made it more I learned what essential oils and which bars of soap I liked best for my family.
    • Sodium Carbonate is not necessary, unless you want to use it. Good ol’ fashioned sodium bicarbonate or regular kitchen baking soda will do the trick and it is easier to find. But, if you feel you need a boost for your family’s clothes and needs, by all means try the sodium carbonate instead.
    • Scent Booster:Commercial laundry detergents add an extra cost to your monthly spending. And if you use anything like Downy Unstoppables or a scent booster it adds to your monthly cost. With your own detergent you don’t need those extra products and costs! If you feel you need even more of a scent booster, try a scented epsom salt.
    • Instead of using dryer sheets use dryer balls with your new detergent. They work so much better that traditional dryer sheets and are a healthier option.
    • Best Advice: Do what is best for you and your family. Tweak it and make it your own for your personal preference. Have fun with it and experimenting! You cannot go wrong with your own homemade laundry detergent.
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