Homemade laundry detergents

Conventional laundry detergent typically contains a list of chemicals and many have not been proven safe. Most detergents contain sulfates, petroleum distillates and phenols, as well as artificial fragrances and dyes.

There are natural, homemade options for laundry detergent, stain treatment and even fabric softener. Most of the natural options work as well or better than the conventional alternatives and offer substantial savings.

Powdered Laundry Detergent:

You need:

• 1 cup Washing Soda (available in the laundry section of most stores)
• 1 cup Borax (available in the laundry section of most stores)
• 1 bar of natural bar soap (I use homemade soap or Dr. Bronner’s bar soap, which is available in the natural/organic section at many grocery stores)

How to Make:

1. Using a fine cheese grater or a small food processor, grate the bar soap until it is a fine powder (make sure it is not an overly moisturizing soap, or this will just make a big clump of soap)
2. Mix the grated bar soap with 1 cup of Washing Soda, and 1 cup of borax until evenly mixed.
3. Store in a 1 quart mason jar or similar sized container and use 1-4 tablespoons per load, depending on how dirty the clothes are.

I typically use 1 tablespoon per load for most clothes, though I have used up to 4 tablespoons on clothes that were muddy or stained.

Liquid Laundry Detergent:

I use this laundry soap 90% of the time and it works really well. One batch lasts months and it is very simple to make.

You need:

• 1 cup Washing Soda (available in the laundry section of most stores)
• 1 cup Borax (available in the laundry section of most stores)
• 1 bar of natural bar soap (I use homemade soap or Dr. Bronner’s bar soap, which is available in the natural/organic section at many grocery stores)
• A large 5-gallon plastic bucket with lid (the bakery section of most stores have these from the icing they use and will usually give you one if you ask)
• Gallon jugs (or other container) for storing the laundry soap

How to Make:

1. In a medium saucepan, heat 2 quarts of water over medium high heat.
2. While it is heating, grate in the bar soap using a cheese grater.
3. Stir until soap has dissolved completely.
4. In the 5-gallon bucket, put 4 gallons of hot (not boiling) water and add the 1 cup of washing soda and borax and stir until dissolved.
5. Pour the dissolved soap mixture into the bucket and stir well until soap is mixed in.
6. Put the lid on the bucket and leave overnight. This will allow the soap to cool and gel.
7. After 24 hours, remove the lid, stir well (I use an immersion blender to make sure it is well mixed) and pour into clean, gallon size jugs for use.
8. Use 1/2 cup per load.

I have used both of the above recipes on cloth diapers and delicate fabrics without a problem.