Homemade Alternatives to Laundry Detergent

Making your own laundry detergent saves you money.

Commercially produced laundry detergents contain chemicals, artificial colors, and fragrances that may irritate the skin. Homemade laundry detergent alternatives are less harsh, but still clean your clothing and linens.

Products

Sodium carbonate, borax, distilled white vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda are all alternatives to traditional laundry detergent. Baking soda deodorizes, while sodium bicarbonate removes stains. Both lemon juice and vinegar remove grease and odors.

Uses

Add 1/4 to 1 cup of the product to the washer when you add your clothing. White vinegar also serves as a fabric softener. If using it in combination with other products, add 1 cup of white vinegar to the final rinse cycle.

Considerations

It's also possible to use distilled white vinegar as a stain remover, but this works best when you pre-treat the fabric. Dab the vinegar directly onto the stain, and let sit overnight. Wash the item as directed with regular soap or with lemon juice.

References

• Eco-Cycle: Alternative Cleaners and Recipes