How to Make Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent

Making your own laundry detergent is good for the environment and your pocketbook.

The list of ingredients harmful to the environment that may be in a container of laundry detergent is alarming. An inexpensive generic detergent can contain, among other things, phosphates, which upset the balance of marine eco-systems; petroleum distillates, which can cause cancer and other diseases; sodium hypochlorite, a carcinogen; and optical brighteners, which are harmful to fish. Moreover, animals are frequently harmed in the testing of laundry detergents. Contribute to a safer environment, get your clothes just as clean, and save money by making your own eco-friendly laundry detergent.

Things You'll Need

• 1 qt. water
• Saucepan
• 5-gallon bucket
• 2 cups grated bar soap
• 2 cups borax
• 2 cups washing soda
• Essential oil
• Plastic container with lid

Instructions

1. Boil a quart of water in a saucepan to make a liquid laundry detergent. Add 2 cups of finely grated bar soap and stir until the soap is melted.

2. Pour the water into a 5-gallon bucket after all the soap has melted and add 2 cups of borax and 2 cups of washing soda. Washing soda is not the same thing as baking soda. It's available in the laundry section of most supermarkets.

3. Add 2 gallons of cold water and stir until all the ingredients are dissolved. Let the mixture cool, and then add 5 to 7 drops of an essential oil per gallon to give the detergent a pleasant fragrance.

4. Cover the bucket for storage. Use 1/4 cup of the detergent for each load of laundry.

5. Mix 2 cups of finely-grated soap, 1 cup of borax, and 1 cup of washing soda together in a plastic container with a lid to make a powdered detergent. Stir the mixture well and cover it for storage. Use 2 tbsp. per load.

Tips & Warnings

• Making your own laundry detergent can save you up to 75 percent of the cost of a commercial laundry detergent. Avoid using detergent at all by substituting the shells of seeds of the tropical species Sapindus mukorossi. They contain saponins, a naturally-occurring soap substitute.

• Washing soda is more caustic than baking soda and may irritate your skin.

References

• SixWise.com: The Toxic Dangers of Typical Laundry Detergent
• Planet Green: Make Your Own Laundry Soap
• DIY Natural: Jabs Homemade Laundry Detergent