This Homemade Natural Laundry Detergent and my Non-toxic Tips will not only save you money, but also help reduce toxic chemicals in your home for better health and less allergies.
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For a few years now we have been slowly replacing the products we use in our home with natural ingredients and homemade alternatives.
One of the main areas we have targeted is commercial, laundry detergent products. We made this change due to an increase in allergies in our family.
I decided to reduce, and in some cases completely remove commercial detergents.
It is our experience that the harsh chemicals and artificial fragrances in commercially produced laundry products cause sensitive skin irritations, itching, sinus allergies and breathing issues. After trialing several options from various grocery stores, I finally decided to try making my own homemade detergent. The outcome has been such a positive experience; the washing is clean, and the family is a lot more comfortable.
Below are my 7 tips, tricks and homemade recipes you can try in the Laundry for more natural products.
A quick note on Essential Oils, please do your own research on which Essential Oils you choose to use. This is especially important if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have young children in your family. If you choose to use oils ensure they are a pure, organic brand and only use a few drops of essential oils in DIY recipes.
Five DIY Recipes: Alternative options from store-bought detergent
With just a few simple ingredients you can make your own natural detergents – suitable for; general loads of laundry, bedding, towels, cloth diapers, stains and odor removing.
1- Homemade Natural Laundry Powder
Ingredients:
- 2 Cups Washing Soda – sometimes called Soda Ash. (Washing Soda is Sodium Carbonate – NOT Baking Soda* which is Sodium Bicarbonate.)
- 1 Cup of Borax (Sodium Borate)
- 10 Drops of Essential Oils (optional)
Method:
- Mix ingredients together in a large airtight container. (Plastic containers are fine or ideally a large glass jar) Store your Homemade Laundry Powder in the jar with the lid on – out of direct sunlight.
- Add 1/4 cup per wash directly to the washing machine. (You many need to add a little extra for very large or very dirty loads.)
*Many laundry powder recipes call for Baking Soda rather than Washing Soda, however I find Baking Soda leaves a white, powdery residue on the clothes. Washing Soda, however, dissolves well, in hot water or cold water, it is a natural fabric softener and biodegradable. Washing Soda and Borax are available in NZ from Bin Inn, or in bulk from cleaning suppliers. (Not a paid promotion.)
2- Homemade Fabric Softener & Odor Remover
Ingredients:
- White Vinegar
Method:
- Add 1/4 cup of White Vinegar directly to the washing machine’s Fabric Softener Dispenser
White Vinegar helps to;
- naturally soften fabrics,
- remove unpleasant odors
- break down build-up in the clothing fibers.
- It can also help as a stain remover
3- Borax Stain Remover for Dried on Stains
Ingredients:
- 1/3 Cup Borax
- 600 ml cold water
Method:
- Mix borax and cold water together in a large (approx. 750ml) spray bottle.
- Shake well, spray on stain
- Lay flat to dry in shade, then wash as normal.
4- DIY Laundry Pre-soak for Heavy-duty Stain Remover
Ingredients:
- 1/2 Cup Washing Soda
- Warm Water
Method:
- In a bucket or large plastic container dissolve the Washing Soda in the warm water.
- Add soiled clothing/items and make sure they are submerged in the water, stir well with a wooden spoon.
- Leave to soak overnight. Then wash as normal.
5- DIY Ironing Starch
I must admit I don’t really iron, in fact it’s very rare in my home! But for those of you that want to, here’s a natural Starch – for a nice crisp finish to your laundry.
Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons Corn flour
- 1 Cup Distilled or Filtered Water
Method:
- Shake corn flour and water together well in a spray bottle
- Lightly mist garment with spray
- Iron as per instructions on garment.
The final two tips are great options for drying a load of laundry without harmful chemicals. These simple additions to your laundry routine are an easy way of saving money and using nature.
6- The benefits of Line Drying your laundry
Fresh air and sunshine do wonders for your laundry. The ultraviolet light in sunshine helps to disinfect, it lightens stains and brightens whites. This is especially beneficial to towels, sheets and lighter clothing.
For dark clothing – prolonged sunlight can cause fading over time so another idea is to have a drying rack indoors or under a porch. Racks can be used to drape items over, or, as I prefer, a pole/curtain rail for clothes hangers can be utilized in well-ventilated areas.
Line drying when possible is more energy efficient and saves you a lot of money over time.
7- Tumble Dryer Wool Balls
Tumble Drying for some people is the only practical option available. I too choose to use a dryer sometimes in the winter months when the days are shorter or it’s wet outside. I do this to ‘finish off’ the line drying. This way I know that the items are fully dry before putting them away.
Rather than dryer sheets, which contain artificial fragrances, I recommend Wool Dryer Balls (example). They lower drying time, reduce static and reduce the need for ironing. They also last a really long time (years) so save money in the long run.
If you want to add a little bit of natural fragrance, an optional extra is to place a few drops of essential oils onto the wool dryer balls before putting them in the dryer.
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Why I choose these ingredients for my Homemade Natural Laundry Detergent recipes
As you may have noticed, the recipes in this post are basically the same ingredients, just in different quantities. Here are my reasons for this… Firstly, having less products to buy keeps the cost down. Secondly, I can keep the more expensive products for when I really need to put them to work. And thirdly, they work.
A little bit about Washing Soda
Washing soda (Sodium Carbonate) is a low allergy, easily dissolved, biodegradable natural product. It’s an inexpensive way to soften your water. It is a natural fabric softener, suitable for use on cotton and wool, and lifts out grease and perspiration. It is often used commercially in laundry and cleaning products. Read more ideas on how to use Washing Soda around your home here.
A little bit about Borax
Borax (Sodium Borate) is a salt. A naturally occurring mineral that dissolves in water. It acts as a cleaner, deodorizer and stain remover. Often found in dry lake beds where the water has evaporated and left behind a mineral deposit. Borax is often used commercially in – you guessed it, laundry and cleaning products.
So, if washing soda and borax are used commercially for laundry products – why not cut out all the nasty stuff and just use these?
I hope you enjoy trying this homemade natural laundry detergent and my non-toxic laundry tips. I’m sure you will save lots of money and enjoy knowing you have helped reduced the toxins in your home!
Happy Laundry Day!
