How to Make 3 Simple Homemade Laundry Detergents

Many homemade laundry detergents will clean as well as commercial products.

Growing concerns over health and environmental issues is inspiring a trend towards using more natural cleaning products. Instead of purchasing store-bought detergents, laced with chemical agents, simple homemade laundry detergents can be created with common household items, all available at supermarkets or already in your kitchen. In their book "Green Clean," Linda Hunter and Mikki Halpin list many homemade alternatives that will remove dirt from laundry and will not only help preserve the environment, but save money as well.

Things You'll Need

• Baking soda
• Washing soda
• Borax
• Plastic bag
• Kettle
• Mixing spoon
• Lemon juice
• Gallon jug
• White distilled vinegar
• Bottle

Instructions

1. Make a homemade powdered laundry detergent. Add 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup washing soda and 2 cups borax to a plastic bag. Shake well. Use 1/4 cup detergent per load of wash.

2. Prepare a liquid laundry detergent. Bring 1 gallon water to a boil in a kettle. Add 2 cups borax to the water. Stir the water with a mixing spoon until the borax is completely dissolved. Remove the kettle from the heat and add 1 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup lemon juice to the water. Stir until the soda is dissolved. Allow the detergent to cool and store in a plastic jug. Use 1/2 cup per load of laundry and to pretreat stains.

3. Mix a laundry detergent specifically designed to clean oily clothes. Add 1 cup lemon juice and 1 cup white distilled vinegar to a bottle. Shake well. Use 1/2 cup per load.

References

• "Green Clean"; Linda Mason Hunter and Mikki Halpin; 2005

Resources

• Earth Easy: Non-Toxic Home Cleaning