How to Make Your Own Laundry Detergent
Trent at The Simple Dollar has come up with a recipe for making your own laundry detergent. All you need is a bar of soap, washing soda, Borax, and a 5 gallon bucket. You can make a whole bunch of detergent for just a few cents per gallon and Trent says it works as well as Tide. I think he just liked being able to make a slimy mess in the kitchen with his wife not complaining about it. lol
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POSTED IN: cleaning, clothes, frugal living, household product, money saving idea
8 opinions for How to Make Your Own Laundry Detergent
suzanne
Jul 2, 2007 at 8:47 am
I did this when we were living in AK, and it did save me money. But after repeated washings, I found that my clothes had a grey tinge to them. So now, I buy the El Cheapo detergent at Wal-Mart and I se half as much as the manufacturer suggests. I do add 1/4 cup of Borax powder to my colors and 1/2 cup to my whites. I also make my own bleach! With Bleach Tabs (also at Wal-Mart) They cost $1.80 and make about 15 gallons of bleach.
:)
Amy
Jul 2, 2007 at 10:38 am
This is one of those things that has been on my to-do list, but I haven’t done it. I do use the vinegar for fabric softener, line dry the clothes when possible, and use the inexpensive detergents with a boost of a scoop of baking soda. It seems to work out well!
Karen
Jul 2, 2007 at 11:53 am
Amy, a few months ago I started using vinegar for my fabric softener too and I like it. I haven’t made any detergent yet. I would have to leave out the Borax because of my eczema and allergies. I also use vinegar and baking soda to help boost the cleaning power with my whites. I miss the fresh smell of line dried clothes. I can’t use the clothes line because of my allergies. Thanks for commenting! :)
Michelle Gartner
Jul 2, 2007 at 1:55 pm
I used to make a lot of homemade substitute cleaners, etc when I first got into Thrifting years ago. Amy Dacyczyns Tightwad Gazette is a great source of recipes for homemade cleaners, food stuffs, and household products. But once I got my degree in Accounting and learned the basic concept of Opportunity Costs- I had to stop making some of these items. For me sometimes, the time is more valuable then the cost savings of homemade solutions, so I try to always keep in mind where I can obtain consumer goods at the cheapest prices, and it isn’t always Wal-Mart or the Dollar Stores.
Katie Ricotta
Jul 5, 2007 at 10:39 am
What a neat idea. We are going to see if I can actually do this. My sister calls me Lucy (as in I love Lucy) because I do things like turn my husbands socks pink and leave pens in the pockets of his pants. Thanks for the cool tip :)
Karen
Jul 5, 2007 at 11:17 am
Glad you like it Katie. Thanks for visiting.
kathy
Mar 25, 2008 at 11:22 am
I’ve seen this recipe a few times but I think I’ve seen it using the Fels Naptha Laundry barsoap that has been shredded (Ivory as a last resort). My Walmart doesn’t carry Fels Naptha, I’ve been looking for it …
Karen
Mar 25, 2008 at 8:49 pm
I think I’ve seen the Fels Naptha at a grocery store, but I can’t remember which one.
I’ve been thinking of making my own laundry detergent. My skin is so sensitive though. They quite selling Wisk Free and I’m so upset about that. I think the Purex free is aggravating my skin and the Tide free is so expensive! Making my own detergent seems like the best thing to do.
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