I have been making my own nontoxic powder laundry detergent for a couple of years now, and I am excited to say that I have finally settled on a recipe that I love.
I have tried many different recipes, but I have always struggled with the ingredients separating, our clothes not cleaning thoroughly enough, or residue being left behind, etc… until I tried this recipe. It is a true example of simple is best.
Why Homemade Detergent?
Two main reasons I make my own laundry detergent:
1. It’s drastically cheaper than the leading “clean” brand of detergent.
2. I am able to monitor what ingredients go into it- making it nontoxic and safe for my family.
It also takes very little time and effort to make a large batch. Plus, it cleans really well. Win-win for me. I mean we are ROUGH on our clothing, and I have never had any issues with our clothes not being thoroughly cleaned.
Natural Fragrance
This post may contain affiliate links. For my full disclosure, click here.
If I choose to add fragrance to a batch, I will make add organic essential oils to the mix. However, I have recently been leaving it unscented to help lighten the toxic load on our bodies.
If you watch the video, you will see that I am using a scented castile soap bar. That is because it was the only one that was in stock at my local grocery store. It isn’t as clean as what I generally like, but it is still better than store-bought detergent. A word of caution: I see many people who make their own laundry soap using a Fels Naptha or Dove soap bar. These are not toxin free, so I prefer to stick with a simple Castile Soap.
Homemade Powder Laundry Detergent Recipe
Ingredients:
2 Castile Soap Bars (Grated)
Borax: 4 cups
Washing Soda: 4 cups
Baking Soda: 4 cups
Directions:
- Grate Castile soap bars into large bowl.
- Mix Borax, Washing Soda, & Baking Soda into grated
Castile soap. Make sure to wear gloves or use a wooden spoon. - Add Essential Oils. I prefer lavender, orange, and eucalyptus blend.
- Store in airtight container.
- Use 1/4 c of mixture per load. If washing colors or denim,
add 1/4 c of vinegar to fabric softener tray.
Recipe makes approximately a 1/2 gallon. Double recipe for 1 gallon.
For stains, I like to pretreat with Puracy Stain Remover– my FAVORITE nontoxic stain remover. It’s my ride or die laundry product.
Printable Powder Laundry Detergent Recipe
Click link to download printable recipe or see recipe below.
I hope you guys enjoy! Leave a comment down below if you give this recipe a shot or if you have any questions!
