I am here to debunk something that I have heard all over the internet.
I have recently made my very own batch of homemade laundry soap.
It is SO easy and lasts for so long!
Here's the simple recipe:
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda
1 cup baking soda
1 bar soap
That's it! And you want to hear something even more amazing?
The borax, washing soda, and baking soda are all sold in big boxes together in the laundry soap aisle of your local WalMart. Unfortunately sometimes, all 3 of these ingredients are out of stock. I was lucky when I went in a few weeks ago and found all 3 on the bottom shelf waiting for me :)
Here's the full list of what you need:
- 1 cup measuring cup
- leak-proof container for your finished product (at least 5 cups capacity)
- borax
- washing soda
- baking soda
- laundry bar soap (could be Fels-Naptha, Zote soap, or Ivory for sensitive skins)
- 1Tbsp or 2Tbsp scoop
- grater
And here's the formal steps how to put it together:
1. Open your leak-proof container and make sure there's no debris inside
2. Into your container, measure and pour in 1 cup of each: borax, washing soda, and baking soda.
3. Now grab your grater and grate down your bar of soap.
**Some people find success in grating their soap with a food processor**
Ivory soap can be put on a plate in the microwave and "cooked" for 2-3 minutes. It will puff up and then allow it to cool. It'll crumble, then add it to your powder ingredients.
4. Give it a REALLY good shake! Everything needs to be nicely incorporated.
5. Now throw your 1-2Tbsp scooper inside of the container and lock it shut.
6. 1Tbsp for small-medium loads. 2Tbsp for large/heavy loads.
You want to keep your mixture in a sealed container so it doesn't get damp. Then the ingredients will clump and will eventually turn into a detergent rock!
I have had amazing results with this mixture and I've only been using it for a couple weeks!
Here's WalMart's prices:
Borax 4lb box- $4.09
Washing Soda 55oz box: $3.39
Baking Soda 4lb box: $2.26
Bar Soap: $1+
To spend $10.74+tax on these laundry ingredients that should last you almost a year and they wash just as well as the next popular commercial detergent, who wouldn't say no?
Softener
Commercial fabric softeners add a layer of film on your lint catchers and that is how many housefires begin. It's also not good for your washers. AND softeners make your towels MUCH less absorbent. The main ingredient in homemade softener is white vinegar. And by the time your washer rinses out your clothes at the end of the cycle, there will be zero vinegar smell. But for the people who are doubtful, you can simply add several drops of essential oils (whatever is your favorite; between 20-40 drops). The more oil, obviously the more prominent the smell when they're done drying. You can add 1/2 a cup for small-medium loads. 1 cup for large/heavy loads.
Other ways to soften your clothes besides vinegar:
-Dryer balls, or better yet, WOOL dryer balls. They fluff your stuff ;)
-Also, you can put your dryer on medium heat instead of high. It will take your dryer longer to finish a load but your clothes will be fluffier without the harsh chemicals.
-You can also line dry to make your clothes softer
Some people swear by line-drying. Every time I've ever line-dried, my clothes aren't too soft or smell too good. But I'm not giving up hope! We will be moving this Summer and I will try yet again. I'm determined to make this work!
I hope I have helped out many!
Kayla Dobbins
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