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This is a guest post from Grace at Blessed Elements.
I’ve lived a ‘Going Green’ Life Style even before it became popular. We use to refer to it
as living the Polly Pioneer life.
Some people begin the adventure but become disillusioned as it takes organization and
work. Buying the ingredients and making your own soap from scratch takes time and
effort compared to the convenience of opening a bottle and pouring the laundry soap into
the washer with soap bought from the store.
The health results are well worth it but there is work that goes into being a ‘greenie’.
If your interested in making the switch to a ‘greener’ life style then you may enjoy
beginning to make your own clothes detergent.
Here is my recipe for making my own detergent and I’ve kept it as simple as possible.
I keep mine as a powder rather than making a liquid because I have no desire to spend
more time by cooking my soap.
I use three ingredients for my soap powder.
Fels-Naptha – The manufacturer states that the soap grated and added to a wash cycle,
about 1/16th a bar’s worth of Fels-Naptha per load, is said to eliminate residual resins that
can remain in clothes up to a year.
Washing Soda – Washing Soda is a natural water softener, boosts detergent cleaning
power by 40percent as it cleans and deodorizes.
Borax – Is useful for cleaning and brightening.
The first step is to take a bar of Fels-Naptha and finely grate it.
I keep an old grater reserved for this task and do not use it for anything but grating my
soap.
I use a whole bar which grates to about 2 cups. I then add 1 cup of washing soda and 1
cup of Borax. I add it all into a glass jar and shake to mix together.
I fill my washer with water for a full load and then add 2Table spoons of the powder into
the water and then add my clothes.
I feel the advantage of home made soap is well worth the few 20 or 30 minutes spent
making my own soap.
Using only 2 TBLS makes my soap last a while and my clothes come out clean.
I also notice less lent in my wash basket so I’m curious if the ingredients are kinder to my
clothes than the commercial brands.
I love that there is no scent in my clothes when I take them off the line. They just smell
clean without artificial aroma. Consider the next time you smell the scent of your
clothes from the store bought soap that those chemicals are being absorbed in your skin
as well.
I’ve never met anyone that has had a reaction to these ingredients I use but there is
always a risk as with any product some skin types may be sensitive to these ingredients
so it is best to discontinue using it if you notice reactions occurring.
Grace Hodgin
This is so cool! I didn’t realize you could make your own laundry detergent. Thanks for sharing 🙂
hmmm, I have never made my own cleaning products before…you just might have convinced me to give it a whirl!
Okay, I never thought about those chemicals leeching into my skin before. I am going to give this a go when I run out of my chemical laden stuff ;D
This must be cheaper than detergent. Thats great!
I thought it would be much more challenging then it was…I may have to try it, I have sensitive skin and have the hardest time with the detergents in the stores.
I always thought making my own laundry soap would be too complicated but this is an easy recipe. Thanks for sharing!!
This is a very useful post…it would have NEVER occur to me, to make my own soap!
Awesome!
This is a wonderful post! I use baking soda and vinegar as if it was going out of style! I will have to try borax.
Great idea! I never would have thought to do this.
thanks for sharing. 🙂
Great tutorial Grace!
Sam, how did you ever find such a devoted GREENIE? LOL
She uses the same ingredients that I use: http://www.beautybrite.com/2010/12/homemade-laundry-soap.html
I have used homemade laundry soap for about 3 or 4 years now. I don’t buy laundry detergent anymore.
I have made washing detergent before, but I used the liquid recipe. I am looking forward to trying this recipe as well! It just looks easier, and not as messy!
Wow I never even thought about making my own washing powder, great post!
Wow that is one motivated Greenie! LOL. Hope this helps some out that are wanting to pursue a green life style.
Last year I put a group of friends to the test to make their own laundry soap, it was great and sure enough I convinced 10 of them to stop buying & make their own! 🙂 It may seem hard to make the switch but you will be glad you did. I love reading when other people try it out 🙂
Also, the same soap can be used to clean the carpet 🙂 just not in the steamers (as far as I know) just hand scrubbing spots up.