Make Your Own Laundry Detergent and Save Big!

Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipes

So I decided to stop spending so much money on many 'convenient' store-bought products and make my own.  I found that it's barely less convenient to make your own, really, and you save a TON of money.  It only takes a few minutes to make the recipes and they'll last several months!  I found some recipes via an online search and adjusted them to suit me.  Here are three that I made today:  

#1.  This is a concentrated version of a recipe I found online.  You'll need a gallon size container.  (I used an empty juice jug that has an airtight screw top and handle.) Into this jug add: 1/2 cup plus 1 tbs. each washing soda and borax (These can be found with the laundry care products in many stores.  These two items were about $5 together), 1/4 cup plus 2 tbs each dawn dish soap (I used the pineapple scent, it's my favorite) and your choice Downy unstoppables (these two items cost about $10 together).  The downy unstoppables are optional, it just adds fragrance.  My favorite scent is 'shimmer' (the pink one).  Now add about a quart or so of boiling water to your jug and shake it well to dissolve everything together.  Finally, fill your jug the rest of the way with cold water.  It's ok to let the foamy bubbles pour out while the jug fills.  Use 1/4 to 1/2 cup per load of laundry.  You will have enough washing soda, borax, dawn, and downy leftover to make many many more gallons of this detergent and it only cost me what I used to pay for ONE gallon of my old favorite store-bought premade laundry detergent! I've just tested this one today and I really liked how nicely the clothes smelled after the wash.  A plus for this recipe is it doesn't require any further mixing during use like the next recipe does.

#2.  You will need a clean 1 gallon jug.  Put 1 cup each borax and washing soda into the jug.  Boil about 4 cups of water.  Grate up 1 cup of bar soap.  You can use a laundry bar such as fels naptha or regular bath soap.  I used an old favorite bath soap, Dial Spring Water (I purchased a pack of 8 bars for $4).  Put the grated soap into the boiling water and stir until it's dissolved.  Add this to your jug and shake the jug until all is dissolved.  Fill the jug with cold water.  Be sure to shake the jug before each use.  Use about 1/4 cup in each load of laundry.  You may add fragrance to this.  I didn't, because I thought it smelled great as is.  I have tested this detergent and it works just fine.  It didn't impress me as much as the other two listed here, but does get the job done.  One downfall to this recipe is it separates and the soap clumps to the top, which requires vigorous shaking or stirring before each use.

#3.  This is for a powdered laundry detergent.  This recipe doesn't make a lot, so you can multiply it to make a longer lasting amount.  I will most likely do this now that i've tested it and like it.  It gets the laundry VERY clean.  The first time I used it, was on a load of light colors and when the wash cycle was done, the clothes didn't appear to have any stains left on them and besides smelling fresh, they looked very bright, so it gets the dingies out!  You will need to grate up a bar of soap (I used a bar of fels naptha that was $1).  Mix this with 1 cup each washing soda and borax.  I also added some downy unstoppables to mine for added fragrance.  For a consistent and fine powder I suggest you put the grated soap and unstoppables through a grinder or processer before adding to the other ingredients.  You'll only need to add 2 tbs. per load of laundry.

Update: I've been using laundry detergent #2 for about 2 weeks now and I am still very pleased with it.  I've used a little more than a half gallon (that's from an average of about 1-2 loads of laundry per day)