Do you know what is lurking in your laundry detergent?
Do you realize that the toxic 
chemicals found in cleaners and detergents find their way into your body, wreaking havoc as they go?
chemicals found in cleaners and detergents find their way into your body, wreaking havoc as they go? Maybe it is time to learn how to make your own natural laundry detergent! It is quick, easy, and inexpensive! I had heard about families such as the Duggars making economical liquid homemade detergent, but it looked difficult, messy, and hard to store! No thanks! But then I learned that it is so easy to make your own POWDERED laundry detergent! Well, THAT I could try, and you can, too!
To prepare, take a trip to your local Walmart, and pick up three simple ingredients: Borax, Fels-Naptha Bar Soap, and Washing Soda...that's all! This recipe must be catching on, because Walmart had all three ingredients located all together on a shelf in the cleaning aisle! And they were CHEAP!
First, use the grating attachment on your food processor to grate the bar of Fels-Naptha soap. Some people substitute Ivory soap for the Fels-Naptha. The kids love this step, because it's really fun to push the soap down, and watch the soap grate up into long orange slivers. (If you don't have a food processor, you can grate the soap by hand, but it takes a bit longer, and is just not quite as fun.)
Did I mention that this was fun for the kids???
Next, dump the grated soap into a bowl so that you can change the grating attachment to the blending attachment.
Then dump the grated soap back into the food processor.
Add one cup of Borax and one cup of Washing Soda (this is NOT baking soda!)
Blend this lovely mixture into a lovely, sweet-smelling powder.
Finally, pour your beautiful natural laundry detergent into the container of your choice.
This even makes a lovely gift for a friend! Find a beautiful glass jar, attach a coffee scoop and gift label with some twine, and you have a practical, unique gift that everyone will appreciate!
Instructions for using your easy, homemade, natural laundry detergent: For regular washing machines, dissolve 2 TBS in the bottom of the washer before adding clothes. For high-efficiency washers, place 1 TBS in the bottom of the washer with your clothes. Do not use the powder dispenser, as it could clog....trust me... ;)
Your clothes will come out smelling simply and refreshingly clean!
Your clothes will come out smelling simply and refreshingly clean!
Linked up at:
These Five of Mine Plus Two Little Natural Cottage
Heavenly Homemakers
Growing Home
Time-Warp Wife
Frugally Sustainable
The Humbled Homemaker
Raising Homemakers
Women Living Well
Deep Roots at Home
Day 2 Day Joys
Our Simple Country Life
Raising Mighty Arrows
Consider the Lilies
The Finer Things in Life
The Peaceful Mom
Wow! This stuff looks great! I should convince my mom to try this out.
ReplyDeleteThat little boy looks like he's having too much fun! And who's that creepy looking guy in the background?
Amazing! What a great idea!
ReplyDeleteI've been experimenting with homemade laundry detergents too. I've tried liquid and dry recipes and recently blogged about the comparison of each. Your recipe looks like a combination of the two I have used. I'd be honored to have you click over, check out my comparison and leave a linky in the comment section for others to come back here to see your recipe as well. As I've learned from different water types--what works for some may not work for others. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteI used that recipe for a couple years, but then I decided to give Charlie's soap a try. I love that it comes in a giant container; it seems like it will last an entire year. But--I so miss the fresh smell that my homemade soap had! I love your idea of packaging it up as a gift too. I wish I had thought of that while I was making it.
ReplyDeleteI found your blog post via the Healthy2day Wednesday link-up. I make my own homemade laundry powder, too. It's fabulous and so inexpensive. I reallly enjoyed reading your post..and the smile on that little boy's face as he's putting the soap into the food processor was priceless :) :) I agree.it looks like lots of fun for kids :) Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather :)
ReplyDeleteI use the same ingredients to make my laundry detergent but add water to make a liquid. Never thought about combining the three and leaving it a powder.
ReplyDeleteThis is the same recipe I use! Although I don't have a food processor right now so I have to grate the soap by hand. Boy does my arm get tired! LOL Would love for you to link this up at my Frugal Fridays series: http://considerthelilies-luke1227.blogspot.com/2012/02/frugal-fridays-wheres-it-all-going.html
ReplyDeleteI bought the stuff just this week! Our food processor is not currently working, so we'll have to hand grate. No problem except that I'd love to see the excited expressions on my kids like what I just saw in your adorable little boy!! Thanks so much for linking up!!
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