I have been thinking about making some DIY Laundry Detergent for a while now. I’ve known for sometime, how bad some of the chemicals are inside store-bought detergent. So, I finally decided to give it a shot…
By the way this basically makes 10 gallons of Laundry Detergent. So, if you use 1/3 a cup like we do… This stuff should last awhile.
Total cost for me was about $11 (as I bought everything I needed). Next time I make this… The cost should about $1 as I should have the Borax & Washing Soda, I’ll just need to buy another Fels-Naptha bar. =)
Oh, and if you are worried about how it works — The Duggers from TV use this recipe to make their DIY Laundry Detergent as well!
Benefits:
1. Safer for the environment.
2. Easy to make
3. Super inexpensive
4. We should get about a years worth of laundry out of a batch or two.
Items Needed:
1. One Bar of Fels-Naptha soap – Amazon If you can’t find it locally.
2. One Box of Borax, I like the 20 Mule Team brand – Amazon If you can’t find it locally.
3. One Box of Washing Soda, this can be harder to find. – Amazon If you can’t find it locally.
4. A box grater
5. A Five Gallon Bucket with Lid – Lowes/Home Depot
How To Make it:
1. Grate the whole bar of Fels- Naptha
2. Add grated Naptha to pot and cover with water.
3. Simmer on low until completely melted. Your kitchen will have a pleasant citrus/floral scent while cooking. Note: This is the longest part of the process. It took me about 20mins.
While waiting for the Fels-Naptha to melt….
4. Clean out a five gallon bucket… I just bought a new one and wiped it down inside.
5. Next get your Borax and Washing Soda ready…
6. Pour a 1/2 a cup of Borax into the empty bucket…
7. Pour 1 full cup of Washing Soda into the bucket…
8. Once your Fels-Naptha has completely melted; pour into the bucket on top of the powder.
9. Next fill the bucket up to the ridge with hot tap water. I stopped about two inches from the rim. And mix well, with a long stick or spoon. I used a patty flipper from the BBQ – cleaned of course.
10. Let the mixture sit covered tightly for 24 hours. It will congeal and turn into a sloppy wet jelly substance.
Next, take an old Laundry Detergent bottle and fill it half way with the homemade DIY Laundry Detergent concentrate. Then fill the rest of the bottle with water. I suggest using a bottle or jug that isn’t too big, as you will need to shake it up each time you use it… as it can separate a bit.
We use 1/3 of a cup for a Front Load washing machine and it works great. Our washer is a HE machine and we haven’t had any issues. Clothes come out clean and fresh.
Happy Soap making!
Matt is a Systems Development Director for a multinational franchise. Matt has lived and worked in Hawaii, Chicago, South Florida and currently resides outside of Atlanta. He enjoys his hobbies including Technology, Gadgets/EDC, Fountain Pens, Wetshaving, Clocks, Antiques & Coffee. He even roasts his own coffee weekly.
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