DIY detergent can be cheaper than store-bought detergent, but just as effective.
It’s not difficult or time-consuming to make, so don’t worry that you’ll be spending hours concocting some mix- ture over the stove.
Why do it yourself?
Home-made detergents don’t contain toxic ingredients or chemicals that are often found in over-the-counter recipes. Petroleum distillates and other chemicals can be carcinogenic and bad for your body.
By doing it yourself, you can save time, money, the environment, and your health. Here’s how to brew your own detergent:
DIY Laundry Detergent Recipes
You can choose to create either powder or liquid. Both work fine, just pick which consistency you prefer, then try out the recipe.
DIY Powder Detergent
To make laundry detergent in a powder form, you need 3 simple ingredients:
Washing powder – Also called soda ash or sodium carbonate, washing powder is made of limestone and salt or can be found as natural deposits. Look for Arm & Hammer brand or a generic version of the same. While baking soda can be substituted for washing soda, washing soda contains more sodium, so it is bet- ter at removing grime.
Bar soap – Choose an unscented variety first, then try scented varieties if you’d like to add a little spice to your detergent. Dr. Bronners bar soaps are very popular.
Borax – This laundry booster is made up of sodium, boron, oxygen, and water. It’s available from Ama- zon or any major retailer. It is essentially the stain remover and whitener that helps pull dirt and discol- oration from your clothes.
How to make the powder:
1. Grateatleastonebarofsoapinablender.
2. Inabowl,mix2partswashingsoda,2partsborax,and1partgratedsoap. 3. That’sit!
To prevent moisture from contaminating the mixture, store in an airtight container, such as Pyrex or Tupper- ware. Use 1/8 to 1/4th a cup for every load of laundry.
Optional steps and ingredients:
Tea tree oil – Some people add tea tree oil to work as a disinfectant
Baking soda – This can act as a laundry freshener
Fels Naptha – If you want additional cleaning power, this soap can help, without producing too many suds
Baby Soap – Mild soaps or baby soaps can be substituted for bar soap for those with sensitive skin
This simple recipe takes only minutes of your time, and it can save you loads on your laundry money.
DIY Liquid Laundry Soap
For a liquid version of the same, you can use the same ingredients combined differently:
1. Putgratedsoapintoasaucepanwith2quartsofwater.
2. Heatandstiruntilmelted.
3. Add4.5gallonsofhottapwaterintoa5-gallonbucket,thenstirin1cupofboraxand1cupofwashing
soda.
4. Pourinthesoapandmix.
5. That’sit!
The final mixture should be left to cool overnight before use. It can be kept in the 5-gallon container or stored separately.
To find free 5-gallon buckets, simply stop by your nearest grocery store deli and ask. They usually have spares. They can also be purchased for only a few dollars at department stores such as Walmart.
Extra Tips and Info
How to Use DIY Detergent to Remove Stains
Want an eco-friendly, safe stain remover? Simply rub the detergent into a stain, let it sit until you do the laun- dry, then the stains should vanish.
Fels Naptha, one of the additional ingredients mentioned above, is also a great stain remover that works much the same way. Simply wet the stain, rub in the Fels Naptha, then wash it a few minutes later.
Natural Fabric Softeners
One reason clothes get so stiff in the dryer is because too much detergent is used. For starters, consider using less laundry detergent. If that doesn’t do the trick, consider using a natural fabric softener instead of a com- mercial one.
Most fabric softeners contain ingredients which can be bad for the environment, and they can also leave a nasty film on your clothes. The worst ingredient found in commercial fabric softeners is phlatates, which have been linked to cancer and cognitive impairment in children. Also, some believe that fabric softeners can actual- ly break down clothing over time.
To avoid these problems, use a natural ingredient, like vinegar.
Vinegar is useful as a natural fabric softener, and, like the other ingredients in the above recipe, it is harmless. The best time to use vinegar is during the rinse cycle, since it can negate some of the cleaning power of your soap.
For a natural, DIY fabric softener, use:
1 cup hair conditioner 5 cups of vinegar
3 cups warm water
Mix them together and store in a container, then use in your next load of laundry.
Make Your Own Washing Soda
Washing soda, one of the main ingredients for this DIY recipe, is actually cooked baking soda. If you live in an area that doesn’t offer cheap, easy access to washing soda, consider baking your baking powder for 10-15 min- utes.
Which Bar Soap Should You Use?
Bar soaps come in many shapes and varieties, and, technically, any will do the trick. If you want to save money, buy the cheapest bar soap you can find. Here are popular soaps to try:
Ivory – This brand is one of the most common bar soaps and it’s a good option to start with. It is scented, which bothers some people but not others. However, Ivory is a very soft bar soap, so it is easier to grate than many other brands.
Bronners – Dr. Bronners is one of the most popular soap brands in the world. The bar soaps are a great choice for DIY detergent, and come in a variety of scents. Choose the one that you like most and give it a shot. Like Fels Naptha, it can also be used as a strengthener if you want more cleaning power from your soap.
Fels Naptha – As mentioned, it’s a good way to give your DIY detergent a boost, but it’s also a good base soap for the recipe.
One batch of this DIY detergent should last you for a long time to come. And, since the ingredients are cheap and all-natural, you won’t be harming yourself or the environment.
This entry was posted in Tips and tagged do yourself detergent, DYI detergent on September 18, 2015 [http://blog.gerhardsappliance.com/tips/diy-detergent/] .