- Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (make sure this is exactly what you get–I had to visit a few different stores to find it, but finally located some at the grocery store…go figure)
- Borax
- Ivory Soap
All you do is grate one bar of ivory soap (below is all three bars grated because I was doing a triple batch) on a small cheese grater, add one cup of Borax and one cup of Super Washing Soda (or three if you’re doing a triple batch, of course!)
Mix it up and store it in an airtight container/bag. Use one tablespoon for every load of laundry or two if it’s really dirty!
I’m not generally someone to get really excited about being “green” (I stand in the gray area), but there are several perks to using this detergent:
- Your pipes will thank you, Seriously, they’ll be so clean, you could…well…they’ll be clean, OK?
- Your hands will thank you when you take care of those “handwash-only” items. I used this to clean my Goodwill pillow and felt pretty excited to know exactly what I was sticking my hands into. No chemical worries here. Which also means no additional bad chemicals in the environment and fewer in your house.
- This cost me $6.49 (Borax: $2.98, SWS: $2.44, Ivory: $1.07 for three). I used all of the Ivory soap, but I still have a ton of Borax and SWS left. Because these are household cleaners, I could use them to clean just about anything else at home or I could continue making detergent (like I’m going to run out anytime soon!)
- This literally took me five minutes to make.
- You will have a squeaky clean cheese grater when you’re done! How’s that for easy clean-up?
**Edit 3.10.12: We literally just ran out of detergent from this batch (yes, the one I made above!). I tried a slightly different recipe this time around, as I’ve been hearing that Ivory soap isn’t the best for your clothes. Any soap made for skin has additional oils in it that isn’t the best for your clothes. So, I replaced the Ivory with Fels-Naptha, which is specifically made for laundry. You use two cups each of Borax and Super Washing Soda for one bar of Fels-Naptha. Check out my friend and sponsor Abby’s blog for a tip on microwaving the soap instead of grating it. You end up with powdered soap!
Alina…first off let me say that I LOVE your blog!! You are so crafty! Second…I really like this idea of saving a little extra $$ and being green at the same time! I do a lot of laundry (like 5-6 loads a week, on a normal week), so I'm pretty sure I'd rather spend $6.50 for 140 loads, than $ 10+ for a bottle of Tide that only lasts 60 loads (or so). Yep, lovin' it!
Alina…first off let me say that I LOVE your blog!! You are so crafty! Second…I really like this idea of saving a little extra $$ and being green at the same time! I do a lot of laundry (like 5-6 loads a week, on a normal week), so I'm pretty sure I'd rather spend $6.50 for 140 loads, than $ 10+ for a bottle of Tide that only lasts 60 loads (or so). Yep, lovin' it!
Tell me where to find the Borax and Super Arm and Hammer stuff.
Tell me where to find the Borax and Super Arm and Hammer stuff.
@Kayla – thank you!
@Erin – I found the Borax at Walmart and the Super Washing Soda at Hyvee.
I love it! Great idea!! Do you know anything about how this does with front loaders? Maybe just use less?? Any thoughts??
I love it! Great idea!! Do you know anything about how this does with front loaders? Maybe just use less?? Any thoughts??
I don't have front-loaders, so I'm not speaking from personal experience, but this doesn't get very sudsy, so I think you're safe using a normal amount!
In fact, to be sure, I just researched it a little and read of people using this in a front loader and loved it because it eliminated door build-up. One more perk!
I don't have front-loaders, so I'm not speaking from personal experience, but this doesn't get very sudsy, so I think you're safe using a normal amount!
In fact, to be sure, I just researched it a little and read of people using this in a front loader and loved it because it eliminated door build-up. One more perk!
You are awesome! I had found both at Krogers sitting next to each other. Crazy right! Like peanut butter and jelly crazy. I love that it saves so much money. The pro though is that it is tough on baby stains.
You are awesome! I had found both at Krogers sitting next to each other. Crazy right! Like peanut butter and jelly crazy. I love that it saves so much money. The pro though is that it is tough on baby stains.
You are awesome! I had found both at Krogers sitting next to each other. Crazy right! Like peanut butter and jelly crazy. I love that it saves so much money. The pro though is that it is tough on baby stains.
hmmm nine months since anyone posted…oh well, I was just wondering if it cleaned the clothes as well or better than standard detergent.
hmmm nine months since anyone posted…oh well, I was just wondering if it cleaned the clothes as well or better than standard detergent.
Hi there! I've had great luck with it! I'm actually still using this same batch, haha! It lasts forever. 🙂
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Subject: [myellowumbrella] Re: http://myellowumbrella.blogspot.com/2011/01/homemade-laundry-detergent.html
I've just tried this today. I feel like I'm not using anything. Did you all feel like this at first too?
I've just tried this today. I feel like I'm not using anything. Did you all feel like this at first too?
I've just tried this today. I feel like I'm not using anything. Did you all feel like this at first too?
I have just started using DIY laundry detergent and love it. My recipe is a little different. I use Ivory soap but you can cut the bar in 4ths and microwave for about 30 seconds. When you pull it out it will look like a ballooned marshmallow. Allow to cool a few seconds then crumble with your hands to make soap flakes rather than grating. I then mix 1 cup of each ingredient plus 2 oz. of OxyClean for extra stain fighting. (I have 3 small children plus a husband that works around farm equipment.) I have been very impressed with how well it cleans because I have tried Purex Free and Clear to help with my children's eczema but it didn't clean the clothes as well. So far no problems with the eczema.
I have just started using DIY laundry detergent and love it. My recipe is a little different. I use Ivory soap but you can cut the bar in 4ths and microwave for about 30 seconds. When you pull it out it will look like a ballooned marshmallow. Allow to cool a few seconds then crumble with your hands to make soap flakes rather than grating. I then mix 1 cup of each ingredient plus 2 oz. of OxyClean for extra stain fighting. (I have 3 small children plus a husband that works around farm equipment.) I have been very impressed with how well it cleans because I have tried Purex Free and Clear to help with my children's eczema but it didn't clean the clothes as well. So far no problems with the eczema.