I used to be a skeptic when it came to making my own laundry soap. I always felt that it may be too much effort or that it would not clean my cloths as efficiently. Then I tried it and was blown away by how easy it was and how much money I was saving! In my quest to rid my house of chemicals, this is one of the most rewarding changes I have made. Your skin absorbs all the chemicals in your cloths, so if you are washing your clothing with chemicals, your body is then absorbing them all day long. This soap is so easy to make and all natural, now even my kids have become experts in laundry soap making! Now let's get started on those loads of laundry...
Making your own laundry soap is easy and rewarding. You can make it with all natural ingredients, so it's gentle on skin and safe for the environment. Plus, it's more cost effective than store bought detergents. This article will show you how to make laundry soap from scratch in a few simple steps!
Ingredients you will need:
Fels Naptha, Zote, or Castille Soap
You will need one bar of Fels Naptha Soap, Zote soap, or Castille Soap. Both Fels Naptha and Zote are made from manganese, which makes them great for laundry soap and cleaning clothes and dishes. If you can't find Fels Naptha locally, you can order it online at Amazon or Walmart. I love to use the lavander scented Castille bar soap. Named after the olive oil-based soaps originating in Castile, Spain, Castile soap can come in liquid or bar form, but it is made only from vegetable oils — i.e., no animal fats. Dr. Bronner’s, one of the most popular brands of Castile soap, is primarily made of coconut, olive, and hemp oils, but other oils like avocado, almond, and walnut can also be used.
Washing Soda
Washing soda is one of the most versatile ingredients in laundry soap making. It's made from sodium carbonate, which is also used in many detergents. It can be used to clean stains, whiten clothes and brighten colors.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is another ingredient and will help gets cloths extra clean, soft and absorbs icky smells.
Borax Laundry Booster Powder (NOT BORAX FLAKES!)
Borax is a naturally occurring mineral that can be found in the earth's crust. It is also known as sodium borate, borax decahydrate, or disodium tetraborate decahydrate. Borax is often used as a cleaning agent and detergent booster in many natural cleaning products. Borax has been deemed safe for humans and the environment by the EPA because it does not have any significant health risks associated with its use.
There are lots of recipes for making laundry soap, but here's one you may want to try first.
Recipe
1 Bar of Soap (Fels Naptha, Zote or Castille) grated
1 Cup Baking Soda
2 Cups Borax
2 Cups Washing Soda
(Essential oils, optional, I use whatever I have on had and add about 10-15 drops)
Mix all ingredients together in a large bowl or bucket.
Pour into an airtight container and store in a cool, dry place.