Whether you’re worried about your budget or want to try something more natural, making your own laundry soap at home is an easy way to solve both problems. Making your own laundry soap allows you to control the ingredients, making it an attractive option for families with allergies.
In addition, making your own laundry soap can save you a considerable amount of money. If you don’t like it, you can always try these recipes in a pinch (when you don’t have soap and don’t have time to go to the store).
no grind, borax-free laundry soap
Healthy Mama recommends mixing 2 tablespoons of Sal Suds with 1/4 cup of baking soda and adding it to the water at the beginning of the wash. Be sure to add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to the rinse to prevent discoloration of your clothes.
This natural laundry soap is super easy to make and requires very little effort to use. In terms of cost, it costs about $20 for the ingredients, but the lather is organic and you get a big bottle that will last for a while.
Two ingredient laundry soap
This recipe is easy to make and inexpensive. It costs about $6 for the ingredients, but you can make a lot of soap that will eventually be much cheaper over time. An added bonus: you can keep the ingredients to a minimum if you choose a natural solid soap with a good scent.
For this recipe, you will need
6 cups of laundry detergent (not borax or baking soda)
3 bars of solid soap (or a box of flakes) If you choose solid soap, you will need to grind the solid soap first.
Blend the two ingredients in a food processor for about 20 seconds, then pulse for 10 seconds to combine. Let the powder settle, then add the soap to the container; Appalachian homesteaders recommend using about 2 to 3 tablespoons per wash.
Homemade laundry detergent
A recipe from The Happy Homemaker makes about 5 gallons of broth for about $2. That’s a lot of value. However, this recipe takes a little time to prepare. Allow about 20 minutes of prep time and 24 hours of waiting time for the soap to harden.
For this recipe, you will need.
1 cup of borax
2 cups of laundry detergent
5.5 ounces of castile soap
Water
5 gallon bucket
Grate the soap into a pot, add 4 cups of hot water and cook over medium heat until the soap is completely dissolved.
Fill bucket halfway with hot water and pour in soap. Stir in 1 cup of borax and 1 cup of laundry detergent. Add ½ ounce of your favorite essential oil (optional) and stir well. Fill the rest of the bucket with warm water and stir again. Cover with soap mixture and let sit for 24 hours before dispensing into containers; use 1 cup per wash. For washing machines, use ½ cup.
Basic laundry soap with vinegar
This recipe from Mother Earth News is a simple liquid recipe. The beauty of this option is that you can personalize the recipe to suit your needs. For example, Mother Earth News suggests adding tea tree oil for antibacterial properties or adding lemon for whiteness.
For this recipe, you will need.
2-1/4 cups of liquid Castile soap
1/4 cup white distilled vinegar
1 tablespoon of glycerin
3/4 cup of water
10-15 drops of essential oil
Place all ingredients in a bottle and shake. Add 1/4 cup of the mixture for regular clothes and 1/2 cup for larger clothes.
Homemade laundry soap made with OxyClean
All the ingredients to make this soap cost just over $20, but it adds up to about £18. Since you only need a tablespoon or two per wash, the soap lasts longer, averaging about 4 cents per wash. Happy Saving” suggests looking for coupons for the items you need to save even more money.
For this recipe, you will need.
1 box of Super Wash Soda
1 box of borax
1 box of baking soda
3 bars of soap (Ivory, Castile or Felsner Pasa work well)
1 box of Oxyclean
Prex crystals (for scenting, optional)
Large bucket of water
Grind the solid soap to a powder in a food processor. Combine all ingredients (ground and powdered soap as well) in a large bucket. Mix well. You can leave the mixture in the bucket, but you may want to divide it into smaller containers to make it easier to remove when washing.
Do you use homemade laundry soap – share these recipes with your friends on Facebook and find out what works best for your family.
