Anyone and everyone has to at some point in time buy laundry detergent. If it wasn't for laundry detergent these days very few of us would have super clean clothes. The one thing that we must ponder, though, about store about laundry detergent is how safe it is for the environment. Ever took a good look at the ingredients on various laundry detergent bottles and or boxes? The answer to whether or not laundry detergent is safe for the environment is easily answered with a plain and simple, straight forward, “no”. There are too many chemicals, etc. in laundry detergents that aren't environmentally friendly, which makes it hard on the water. Luckily, there is way around it. Ever thought about making your own eco-friendly laundry detergent? If so, or even if you are simply curious up to this point, then continue reading from here on out...



The following recipes are recipes that you can easily make at home in order to make eco-friendly laundry detergents.

Eco-Friendly Powdered Laundry Detergent

Ingredients:
1 bar of soap (not antibacterial)
1/2 cup of borax
1/2 cup of baking soda
Grater
Resealable container

Directions:
1. Grate bar of soap into container.
2. Pour in borax and baking soda.
3. Mix well.
4. Use 1 tbsp. for small or lightly soiled loads and 2 tbsp. for large or heavily soiled loads.

This recipe is by “GreenKnitter”. You can view this recipe in their article online.



Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent

Ingredients:
5 ounces of pure soap (can be deodorant soap)- preferably cruelty-free soap. I use pure glycerin soap. If you can find Zote Soap, that's great.
Water (faucet is fine)
grater
large pot (3-4 quart size)
Soda Ash (Sodium Carbonate) - a.k.a Washing Soda - can be found at grocery, photography, and pool supply stores.

Directions:
1. Grate the 5 ounces of soap into the pot and just cover with water.
2. Heat until soap is dissolved. Heat on low to medium heat, stirring continually.
3. After heating and dissolving, fill pot the rest of the way with more water. Stir in ONE cup full of soda ash/washing soda.
4. Stir mixture until soda ash is dissolved. I usually heat mine on low and stir to dissolve the soda ash completely. Let mixture cool.
5. Funnel into a large recycled container, such as a recycled juice bottle, a cola bottle, or anything else you can find. Use 1/4 cup per full load of laundry.

This recipe is by “themissiah”. This recipe can be viewed in their article online.

23 Comments so far!!

Not only does this laundry soap not contain harmful chemicals, it is pennies to make compared with store bought. I'm definitely trying this out.
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sounds very easy I'll have to try it myself, I'm getting more conscious of the chemicals I use for cleaning.
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[...] need a plethora of new cleansing materials for your home. Start out eco-friendly with options like homemade detergents or ready-made “Green Clean [...]
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I also like the fact that I can choose a soap that would suit my sensitive skin.
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Looks easy to do, thanks for the tips, will definitely have a go at doing this.
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i think that chiken and how it tastes is like detergents how they are made and what is put on it and in it makes it eather better or worse
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erm.. thank you for that piece of useful advice wise man.. do you mean we must not put chicken flavour in our detergents?
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Wow, I didn't know I could make my own detergent! How does it work out cost-wise compared to buying store detergent? Also, you could probably add herbal products to these recipes if you wanted a scent.
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Here is a tip.. Don't use moisturizing soap.. while this soap is excellent for your skin, the excess oils are not good for your clothes or your washing machine.
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Thanks for the tip, ZammaJannan! :)
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What I'm wondering is: can you put a few drops of essential oils (not so much as to make the soap oily) so you can have your own custom- aroma clothes soap? That would be cool!
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I wouldn't see why not since you can do that with many other things, and it isn't as though you are applying the oil directly to the clothes all by its self.
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Where in the world (not online) would you obtain borax
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Wal-Mart carries it. It can be found by the laundry detergents. I specifically mention Wal-Mart because almost everyone has one near where they live. I can't tell you where to look locally where you live, so you will have to look around.
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What about High Efficiency machines? We have to buy specific detergent for our machine because it uses so little water. We only use about 1-2 tbsp of soap but it is HE soap. Any ideas?
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That's a tough one Amy. A relative of mine has the same problem as you. If I think of anything I will let you know, but at the moment I am unsure. With any luck one of our readers will see your question and have an idea for you. If you can think of anything as well please post a comment with whatever solution you may have come across. Have a great day!
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I have a front loader (HE) and have been using homemade detergent for a while. I use 1-2 Tbsp Washing soda and a small dash of Dr Bronners Castile soap. You can find that online but I buy it at my local health food store. Don't let the price of the bottle scare you. You really only need a small dash.
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Catherine, Can you send me the complete receipe for making homemade laundry detergent for front load (HE) washing machines. I've never made homemade laundry detergent before and I'm excited to start. Thanks!
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Thank You, your comment is waiting to be approved.
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I am wondering if Catherine would be able send me the complete list of ingredients for homemade laundry detergent for a front load washing machine. I asked for this a week ago and haven't received a reply. Is there a problem? Would appreciate a reply. Thank you very much.
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Instead of having to make your own detergent, just buy vinegar and baking soda. I add the vinegar to the detergent compartment and 1/4 cup baking soda to the clothes, start the machine. I make my own dryer sheets (Take your fave liquid softener, saturate rags, squeeze out rags, spread out and allow to dry. Re-usable for a few loads.) No chems in waste wash water! But I dry my clothes outside as often as possible to keep the electricity costs down.
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could someone puh-leese tell me how to make soap detergents that has ingredients found anywhere.its for my science project and i need it urgently...please help
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Have any of you tried soap nuts? I highly recommend them.
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I do not make4 my own detergent, I have used Shaklees natural detergent for years. They are a very green company and I use a lot of their products.
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I do like teh ideas mentioned above. However sometimes time can be a deciding factor. In our busy household we use Ecover cleaning products. They are great as Ecover also sell large refill boxes. Keep packaging waste down to a miniumum.
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Nice idea. The following steps are so easy
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I will have to try that...I love Bronner's soap and I use it to bathe. Never thought of using it to wash clothes.
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