Laundry detergent we make at home: This might work for you too!
@PatZAnthony (14749)
Charlotte, North Carolina
March 4, 2016 7:36pm CST
If you are avoiding the ingredients in commercial laundry products due to an allergy or other health issues, making your laundry detergent at home might be the answer.
Some like to make their own laundry detergent not only to control ingredients, but also to save a few dollars each month.
One recipe we have used for some time is very simple. We mix 3 cups of Borax, which is considered a booster according to the box, and a cup of washing soda.
We sprinkle essential oils over the dry powder and place in a sealed container. These simple ingredients can clean the average garment.
For our front loading washing machine, which needs low suds, we add 2 tablespoons to a load of laundry.
If someone wants to soften their laundry while washing, 1/4 cup of white vinegar added to the laundry at the same time the detergent is added may do the trick.
Those who have heavily soiled clothing on a regular basis can use the mixture we use with 1 cup of an oxygen based cleaner added. This was purchased by us in the Dollar Tree for........yes-you guessed it.
There are many recipes online that are more complicated. We don't need complicated-we need clean.
Are you making any of your household products at home?
16 people like this
16 responses
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
5 Mar 16
I would love to make that. I do not think my sensitive skin would tolerate the borax though.
I do add baking soda and vinegar and sometimes some oil scent to my wash though.
It is good to make your own for sure.
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
5 Mar 16
Some use just baking soda and vinegar as a laundry product. This cleans too!
2 people like this
@TiarasOceanView (70020)
• United States
5 Mar 16
@PatZAnthony It really does make a difference Pat. It like bubbles stains out.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
6 Mar 16
@PatZAnthony @TiarasOceanView So I can just use baking soda and vinegar, without the borax? That's good. I will try it out! Thanks!
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
5 Mar 16
We did not like the liquid form but have been satisfied with the detergent we make for years.
2 people like this
@mom210 (9170)
• United States
8 Mar 16
@PatZAnthony @DianneN Did yours keep separating? Mine did, and I found that annoying.
2 people like this
@DianneN (254926)
• United States
5 Mar 16
@PatZAnthony I may try your recipe. I have essential oils at home in CT.
1 person likes this
@Shellyann36 (11383)
• United States
5 Mar 16
I am going to try this. I have always heard that you should grind up a bar of soap such as Ivory or Nels Fatha in the mix. My local Food Lion finally got the Arm & Hammer washing soda on the shelves. I have asked them and the local Carlie C's IGA to put it on the shelf for years. It has finally happened.
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
6 Mar 16
We do not use the bar soap method. However, you can also make a liquid with the dry products we use, but it is messy and we don't want to deal with it.
*.*
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9170)
• United States
8 Mar 16
@Shellyann36 If you have a wal mart they have it there now too.
@Marilynda1225 (91086)
• United States
5 Mar 16
Making my own laundry detergent is not something I've attempted even though it sounds easy enough
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
5 Mar 16
That is very interesting. I didn't realize it was that easy to do.
2 people like this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
5 Mar 16
What we shared here is so easy-BUT-many have complicated lists online and make 5 gallons at a time...etc..not my thing! Easy peasey for me.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
5 Mar 16
Most are expensive and contain benzenes-which are carcinogens. Wonder how these are still on the market.
@GardenGerty (169474)
• United States
10 Mar 16
Mine is a little more complicated, but like you I only use about 2T for an entire load. I put my vinegar where I used to put fabric softener.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
14 Mar 16
Does anyone complain about the vinegar odor?
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
6 Mar 16
That sounds really simple. I have seen this recipe and always wanted to make some detergents on my own too, but I am now "thinking" where to buy the borax. (Yes, still thinking, haven't really go and find it out yet)
I started to make soaps on my own, and planning to make the toothpaste soon. I am thinking of making the dish and laundry detergent as well. I need to look for the washing soda as well. I haven't seen them in the stores that I usually visit.
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
17 Mar 16
@PatZAnthony Thanks for sharing this. I will go and find out more, and get the ingredients and make them! Thanks. 
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
10 Mar 16
Some don't use Borax, but just use the washing soda mixed with some essential oils. There are many ways to do this!
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
5 Mar 16
Baking Soda, Vinegar and Hydrogen Peroxide are my go to for a lot of cleaning jobs.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
14 Mar 16
This simple recipe we use does save a lot of money.
1 person likes this
@mom210 (9170)
• United States
14 Mar 16
@PatZAnthony I was so proud of this detergent, I was pulling out clothes to give away that the kids out grew. There was a pretty little dress on of the girls grabbed and asked about. I told them it had a stain that I had never been able to get out. They suggested we wash it one more time, just to humor them I did. The fact is I had washed it a dozen times, well when we pulled it out of the wash with my home made detergent the stain was gone! I was shocked because I had washed it with the best store brands trying to get the stain out. This was back in the days before I stated making my own.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
18 Mar 16
@mom210 Amazing, isn't it?
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
7 Mar 16
We have not tried making many products at home, though we use vinegar for many things.
1 person likes this
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
18 Mar 16
Wow, so you are making your own washing detergent . That can really save some money plus you can avoid allergies . 
It's a good thing our laundrywoman doesn't have an allergy , that we let her use different brands . And she is also thrifty in using them actually .
It's a good thing our laundrywoman doesn't have an allergy , that we let her use different brands . And she is also thrifty in using them actually . 
@JudyEv (382056)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Apr 16
This is a good idea and is bound to save you money.
