DIY Laundry Detergent

Laundry Detergent Cost WHAAAAT?

I’ve been meaning to make this post for awhile. Like seven years awhile. If I had to choose one thing I really dislike doing, it would be paying a shit ton of money for a product I can simply make myself that is better quality and cheaper. So when I first decided to live on my own and realized how much laundry detergent cost I created my own.

Although I didn’t jump straight to that conclusion. I bought more clothes so I would have more to wear before doing laundry, but that just lead to needing more soap.Then I tried bringing it all at once to the laundry mat and put it all in one giant machine, but that was extra work and still a lot of soap.

Why This Recipe?

At the same time my mom was making her own laundry detergent too, but hers was liquid. I absolutely HATE liquid laundry soap. Some how it always stains my clothes. I don’t get it. So I opted for the powder detergent. I found this recipe and have been using it for seven years with out ever straying. Why do I love it so much? I’ll tell ya.

• It’s super cheap to make and basically just three ingredients if you don’t count the essential oils.
• The soap lasts a super long time. Before I had my baby I made it about once every 7-8 months. Now I am making it every 5 months because I use it for my clothes, the baby’s clothes, and the cloth diapers.
• Since it lasts so long it makes it even cheaper compared to buying detergent.
• It is great for sensitive skin, which is why I use it for my sons clothes.
• It is customizable with whatever scent you would like for it to have.

What You Will Need

All the items you will need to make your soap you can find at the grocery store. They are very inexpensive I believe around 5 or 6 bucks or less, and will have extra for the next few batches you will make.

• 20 Mule Team Borax Detergent Booster
• Super Washing Soda
• Essential Oils
• Bar Soap ( I like Kirk’s Castile)I’ve ventured out from my Kirks Castile Soap and have used scented bars of soap as well instead of the essential oils.
• Two Large Bowls
• Grater
• 1 cup measuring cup
• Container for the Detergent when finished

How to Make the Laundry Detergent

I always make two batches at once. Each batch is 1:1:1 ratio of the Borax, Washing Soda, and Bar of Soap. So 1 cup Borax, 1 cup Washing Soda, 1 Whole Bar of Soap. Since I make two batches I do 2 cups Borax, 2 cups Washing Soda, 2 Whole Bars of Soap. If you want to make more you know the formula.

1. You will need to grate the bars of soap into one of the large bowls. This is time consuming and the worst part. I have heard of others using their blenders to chop up the soap in little pieces faster, but I haven’t tried this method. I use a kitchen grater. 
2. In the same bowl, add your cups of Borax and Super Washing Soda.
3. Add the Essential Oils of your choice. I usually use Lavender and then something fruity like Orange, Grapefruit, or Bergamot. I do 30 drops per batch, so since I make two batches at a time I do 60 drops of Essential oil. Drop them right into the mixture of your detergent. 
4. Next to mix it I pour the mixture back and forth between the two large bowl and occasionally using my hand to mix it up good, and break up the essential oils. 
5. To put the detergent in the jar, I set the jar in the middle of the empty bowl and then pour the mixture in. This way whatever misses the jar collects in the bowl and you can repeat until all of your laundry soap is in the one jar. Close the lid and you’re done. 

Directions to Use

I keep a tablespoon in the jar ready to use. Depending on how big my loads of laundry are I use 1-2 Tablespoons of the detergent per load. For Diapers I use 2 TableSpoons in Hot water. 

There you have it. Easy Peasy DIY Laundry Detergent. Have any of you tried this? If so what are your favorite essential oil combinations.