Homemade Laundry Detergent {Update}

Do you remember this post? It was one of the few posts I did when I was just testing the waters with this whole blogging thing. Let me just say that I’m glad I grew in the picture area!

Anyway, this post was among one of my most popular pinned posts on pinterest. Apparently, many more mom’s would like to know how to save money and make things themselves. One of them being laundry detergent.

I made this post a year ago and love it! Many people make their’s differently, so do what works best for you!

Here are my reviews:

I’ve tried the Purex Crystals-love them! (but way too expensive!) So I stopped buying them and started making my own.
I now add two bars of fels naphtha and one bar of zote
Oxi clean was great but baking soda does the same job so I omit it.

*While I did do research for the individual products with high-efficiency washers, keep in mind that products react differently together. I’ve heard that some have had issues and some have had none. Could be the way they are using it and could be compatibility. I will post testimonials on that at a later date.

Now I do this with my eyes closed! I have a Maytag top loading washing machine now and because my hubby is an appliance snob, he refuses to let me use my homemade detergent. So I am hanging on to old Norma for dear life hoping this he washer issue get’s sorted out!

ingredients:

One 4 lb 12 oz box Borax

One 4 lb box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda

One 3 lb box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda

Two bars of Fels Naphtha and one bar of Zote. (I recently found that they have a blue Zote bar)

One 4 lb bag of Epsom salt

20 drops of essential oil

I do all the boxed powders first and then grate the soap. After that I use a separate container to mix the epsom salt and essential oil together. Because of the properties of Epsom salt, when it get’s wet it clumps so occasionally I take my metal scoop and crush it back. No biggie.

I stopped using homemade fabric softener because I was making it too much, and I found that for the amount I was making and using, it was easier to just buy it. I now buy the 9$ Downy bottle at Wal-Mart. Lasts me two-three months.

* Here’s something to consider, I used a bar of unscented dial soap when I had no Zote. It was just as good!

As with every recipe I post, I do hope you love this one and find a way to make it your own. Tuck this away in a special place and experiment on one of those hard days. Let me know how you love it!