Do you or someone you know have allergies to cleaning detergents or chemicals? I have allergies to the harsh chemicals lurking in fabric softeners. My skin instantly erupts in hives upon contact with certain laundry detergents and softeners. I constantly search for a free-and-clear type of laundry detergent and I veer away from fabric softeners, but I recently decided to make my own detergent.
What are the advantages of making your own laundry detergent?
The best part is you know exactly what goes into it! Even on the free-and-clear detergents, weird chemical names lurk in the ingredients. DIY detergent is truly “free-and-clear” of any such gunk!What ingredients do you use for homemade laundry detergent?
The ingredient list is simple:
- borax
- castile soap
- washing soda
- baking soda
- essential oils (peppermint and lavender)
Borax whitens your whites, acts as a pH buffer, softens hard water, removes soap residue from clothing, and disinfects clothing, all without harsh chemical aromas or residual particles. Washing soda also softens hard water and balances pH. Baking soda is finer compared to washing soda and helps neutralize odors in your laundry. Castille soap is made from natural ingredients such as coconut and jojoba oil and helps remove stains from laundry articles. Peppermint, an essential oil, is a natural anti-bacterial, so it actually cleans your laundry. Lavender essential oil has a calming aroma that gives a soothing scent to your washed laundry!
I’ve been shifting my lifestyle to an “all-natural” approach the past few months, and I’m happy to kick harsh laboratory-made cleaning chemicals to the curb. Our families for generations have cleaned clothes without using toxic chemicals, so why can’t we? We can achieve the same clean result without risking skin or lung irritation. Also, if and when SHTF and laundry detergent is MIA from store shelves, you will be prepared on how to make laundry detergent for you and your family.
I finally booted store bought sunscreens and opted to make my own. Learn how to make your own sunscreen. I booted sunscreens right on time because Johnson & Johnson recently recalled numerous sunscreens due to the ingredient benzene, a toxic chemical. YIKES! You won’t find benzene in my homemade sunscreen!
Make your own laundry detergent before your favorite manufacturer does a recall due to a carcinogen creeping its way into your product. My favorite part about making my own DIY laundry detergent is how easy it is—mix together all of the ingredients in a glass container and you’re done! The only tedious part of this process was grating the castile soap, but it got my arm muscles moving, haha.
Ingredients:
- 1 bar castile soap, grated
- 2 cups Borax
- 2 cups Washing Soda
- 1 cup Baking soda
- 15 drops peppermint essential oil
- 15 drops lavender essential oil
Directions:
- Combine all ingredients in an air-tight glass container. Use 1/4 cup of powdered detergent per average load of laundry. Adjust accordingly for size and soil level.
