DIY laundry detergent

I’m not one for extreme changes.  I’ve tried big changes here & there throughout my life, and it seems like I always (or most of the time) fail when I try to do too much at once.  So I’ve been trying a different approach lately…little things, one at a time, until they stick.  And it’s been working!  One of my changes has been making my own laundry detergent.  There are a lot of questionable things in store-bought detergents, even ones that are for sensitive skin.  I like that I can make a detergent that I know exactly what’s in it, and I know that it works & works well.  I’ve actually found that my clothes and towels are coming out of the dryer SOFTER than when I used Tide. So here’s what you need: Castile Soapdetergent-3Biokleen (this is not a bleach, more like an oxyclean)detergentCitric Aciddetergent-2Baking Soda & Washing Soda (I buy mine at Wal-Mart in the detergent aisle)detergent-5Epsom Salt (I buy mine at Wal-Mart in the same aisle as band-aids)detergent-4Essential Oils EOs are good for SO many things.  I use them on a daily basis.  If you’d like to know more about them, I would love to help!! 🙂  For laundry, these are just a few I would recommend, although there are many more that would work. **UPDATE** After months of using this detergent, I have found that I prefer to mix doTERRA’s Lemon oil over any other oil.  Lemon oil helps to get my laundry cleaner by loosening dirt & other things as well.  It’s wonderful for cleaning in general, and works so good in my detergent.  I add about 30 drops after I have everything else mixed together.  Another plus using this EO…it’s very inexpensive!  You can purchase Lemon oil, as well as any other EO here.detergent EONow to make the detergent… First, you need a Food Processor.  It is so fast & easy using one, and I wouldn’t want to attempt making it without one.  Here are the attachments you’ll be using:detergent-8You’ll want to shred ONE bar of soap before you mix anything up.soapMeasure out everything else into cups.  You’ll need: 1 cup washing soda 1/2 cup baking soda 1/2 cup citric acid 1/2 cup Epsom salt 1/2 cup bioclean (also the cup of shredded soap)detergent-23detergent-20Make sure to change to the metal blade for the rest of the mixing, and then put all the ingredients into your food processor.mixed upMix for 20-30 seconds, and it should look like this:detergent-30You should not have clumps, and if you do, mix a little longer. If you would like to add some Essential Oils to your detergent, you’ll want to add about 30 drops and mix at this point.  You won’t smell the EO when you’re all done, but the ones I mentioned (lemon specifically) are so good at cleaning, and will boost your detergent’s ability to get your clothes clean. aaaaaaand, you’re done! **UPDATE** Another thing I’ve learned after making this detergent is that it’s helpful to shred and pulse the bar of soap ahead of time and let it dry out. Otherwise when you mix everything else in, the moisture from the soap (even though it doesn’t feel wet) will cause the detergent to harden. So the best way to fix this problem is to shred & pulse the soap, let it dry, and THEN mix the rest. You can even let the final mixture set out in the open, stir it every now and then, and then after a few hours on the counter, put it away in your laundry room sealed up. It’s a little extra work, but the results are MUCH better. One other thing that I like to do is mix up a biiiiiiiig batch of this. I’ll normally do 3 or 4 times the recipe, and it lasts so long, you don’t have to mix it very often that way.detergent-34Make sure to store in an airtight container.  I use 1 Tablespoon for a small load, 2 TBS for a medium load, and 3 TBS for a large load (and usually an extra TBS to any load that’s extra dirty!).  It doesn’t lather up, and it may seem like you’re not using enough, but a little goes a long way. One more (very important) thing.  I don’t use fabric softener.  I actually haven’t in years.  Instead, I fill the cup for my rinse cycle full with white vinegar.  If you haven’t tried this before, you may be thinking, um, ew?  But I promise you don’t smell the vinegar one bit after the clothes are washed & dried, and it really does make your wash soft. Now go have fun doing your laundry.  I know I am 😉 **to read more about WHY home made laundry is a great choice, and how it can even save you some money, please check out this and this.

April 18, 2014 - 12:57 am

Margie - Does this detergent work in the front load washers?

April 18, 2014 - 1:09 am

katiemarie - Yes it does! Mine is a top loader, but my mom’s is a front load washer, and she loves this detergent. If she’s washing clothes on cold, she will normally mix the detergent in a small cup of warm water (to dissolve it) and then puts it in. If it’s a load with warm water, you would be fine just putting the dry mix in with the clothes.

March 9, 2015 - 1:58 pm

Erin - Can you add more Lemon EO if you want it to SMELL like Lemon? Was thinking I might try lavender too.

July 1, 2015 - 2:19 am

katiemarie - I’ve found that most EOs evaporate by the time they’ve been through the wash and dryer. I use lemon mainly to help cut any grease or dirt, and get things cleaner. Some EOs are just naturally stronger smelling (think cassia, oregano, peppermint, lemongrass), and those might stay around somewhat (although I would never choose oregano for a laundry scent) 😉 . Here’s my tip if you’re mainly looking for the smell to stick around… After washing, put your clothes in the dryer and dry them about half way. Then turn your dryer to air dry on COOL and let them cool down completely. By this point your clothes should be close to dry, but still a little damp. At this point, put some EO (5-10 drops should do it) on either a felted dryer ball, or on a clean wash cloth, and throw that in there with your clothes for the remaining time. This has been the most effective way that I have personally found to get the smell of EOs to stay. Remember, EOs are volatile and they start to evaporate as soon as you use them. But if you’re choosing an oil that normally has a stronger smell to begin with, and you put it in the dryer when everything is cool towards the end, you should have some good results! Good luck!!

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