We’ve taken DIY to a new level over here. It was only a matter of time really. DIY rooms, paint jobs and furniture were our gateway. Then there was lighting. And we dabbled in sewing – not necessarily a strong suit, for those keeping track.
Then it happened in the kitchen. I began making things from scratch such as soups, juice and bread. Which got us thinking about all of the processed food and drinks we used to eat and how that directly correlates to our health and just generally feeling good. We’ve cut out as much processed food as possible.
That mindset begged us to ask what was in our detergents and certain cleaning supplies that we come in close contact with. As a result, our DIY laundry detergent was born…
After much research we settled on 3 simple ingredients…
- 1 cup washing soda
- 1 cup borax
- 1 bar fels naptha soap
The fels naptha must be grated. Don’t let that deter you if you are interested in making your own laundry detergent. It really only takes about 3 minutes to grate a bar of soap. If you’ve grated cheese before, you can do this!
After that, all that is left is measuring 1 cup of the other 2 ingredients.
Combine it all in a jar or canister. You’ll just need a tablespoon of the detergent for each load of laundry; 2 tablespoons for extra dirty loads. This detergent smells so truly fresh and clean too – not a manufactured scent. It also doesn’t suds up making it a good candidate for high-efficiency washers that call for low suds detergents.
Did I mention that this detergent is dirt cheap to make? Get it? Dirt cheap! I couldn’t resist. But it really is inexpensive. Do you make any of your own cleaning supplies?
Thanks! Question: where do you get “washing soap”?
Great question! It is available at the hardware store. I found mine at Ace next to the Borax.
We’ve been making ours for over a year now. We use Borax, Washing Soda and dawn dish soap. It finishes in liquid form which I’m more comfortable with. And does the job to boot so it’s a win-win!!
What are the ratios that you use?
3 Tbsp of each powder, 2 Tbsp dish soap added to four cups of boiling water in a gallon jug. Once it’s cooled, fill the jug to the brim with cool water and you’re good to go!
Dana, you are amazing!