Did you know that many store bought laundry detergents have some serious chemicals in them that are no good for your or your little tot's skin &/or the environment? It's true.
The Ickies
Here are just some of the chemicals in many name brand detergents.
- Alkyl benzene sulfonates or ABS
- Alkyl phenoxy polyethoxy ethanols
- Artificial fragrances
- Diethanolamines
- EDTA (ethylene-diamino-tetra-acetate)
- Optical brighteners
- Petroleum distillates
- Phosphates
- Polycarboxylates
- Polyethylene glycol (also PEG)
- Quaternium 15
- Xylene sulfonate
This list is from
laundry-alternative.com so if you're interested in finding out more about these particular chemicals, just click the link & it will take you straight to the page that explains what each one is.
All I know is I can't even pronounce 1/4 of those words & from their descriptions, they don't sound too good for your body. They may help clean your clothes & make them look whiter & brighter, but there are plenty of other natural ways to do the same thing - minus the harm!
So today I thought I'd share with you how I make my laundry detergent for my family. I posted this recipe on
naturemoms.com a while back, but today I'm gonna take you through the steps with photos so you can actually see what everything looks like!
8 Steps to Homemade Laundry Detergent
Here's what you'll need:
- saucepan
- measuring cups & spoons
- grater of some sort
- borax
- washing soda
- fels-naptha soap {or other: Dr. Bronner's is great!}
- water
- essential oil
- 5 gallon bucket & detergent containers
Step 1
Grate your soap & add the flakes to 4 cups of water. Heat in a saucepan until all the flakes have dissolved.
*Note: This takes a while so be patient. Don't heat to high & constantly watch it. It will boil over & you'll have a soapy mess!
We're getting there!!
Step 2
Fill your 5 gallon bucket up 1/2 way with hot water.
Step 3
Take 1 cup of washing soda, 1/2 cup of borax, & your melted soap water & add it to your 5 gallon bucket of water.
Mix well!
Step 4
Fill your bucket the rest of the way up with water. Let it set overnight to thicken.
Step 5
The next day take a spoon or your hand & mix up your thickened soap. This is a bit of work & may take a little time. I use my hands because it works better for me than a spoon.
Step 6
Take your mixed soap & pour it into your containers.
Use a funnel! If you don't you'll have more soapy mess to clean up!
Fill your bottles half way up!
Step 7
Add in you essential oils to suit you. Remember it doesn't take much.
I use 1/2 tsp. for each bottle.
*Note: You don't have to scent your soap at all. I think it smells great with the Fels-Naptha smell only!
Step 8
Fill your containers the rest of the way up with water & voila! You're done & you have a ton of simple, pretty easy, healthy, & super cheap laundry detergent that will clean your families clothes!
I got 6 big containers of detergent which equals to about .33 cents a bottle & I don't even know how long it lasts. I'd say I make this every 6 months or so.
This recipe yields about 10 gallons of detergent. For top-load machines, use 2/3 cup per load {180 loads} & for a front-load machine, use 1/4 cup per load {640 loads}.
Some final thoughts!
- There are many natural laundry detergent recipes out there. You have to find one that's right for you.
- Don't just assume that because a store bought detergent says it's for babies that it's good for you. Dreft & All Baby have icky things in them.
- Also don't just assume that because a store bought detergent says it's natural & eco-friendly that it is. Seventh Generation also has some no-nos in it as well. Not as many, but some.
Have you ever made a homemade laundry detergent? What were your thoughts?
Follow up with this recipe for a facial moisturizer that is light & absorbs well into your skin. Put it on before your makeup & especially after you wash your makeup off at night.
