If you’re searching for ways make your home chemical-free, creating your own laundry detergent is a great and easy first step. It’s no surprise that laundry detergents contain many toxic and carcinogenic (cancer-causing) chemicals. In using these kinds of detergents, the chemicals are in direct contact with your skin, which is harmful to personal health…as well as the environment! Even the “safer options”, such as Tide Free & Gentle are quiet about the chemicals they use.

But thankfully there have been DIY investigators before us who have tried out their own homemade, chemical-free laundry soaps and then shared it with all of us on the internet! The results for DIY laundry detergents on Google are plentiful, but listed below are a few options you can choose to use on your clothes.

Each of the options below are chemical-free and eco friendly! As if that’s not enough, you will save money creating your own batches of laundry detergent.   

Did you know? Homemade laundry detergent costs less than 10 cents a load!                                                   

Powder

Yields: about 32 ounces (32-64 loads, depending on how much is used for each cycle)

Use: 1 – 2 tablespoons per load

• 1 bar of shaved bar soap (Dr. Bronner’s, Ivory, etc…)
• 1 cup of 20 Mule Team Borax
• 1 cup of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda

Thoroughly stir together the above ingredients, or blend them in a food processor or blender to make the detergent more easily dissolvable. This option is very easy to make and simple to store at home!

Reuse a glass container to store your homemade detergent! 

Borax-free

Use: 1 – 2 tablespoons per load

• 1 5 oz. bar of castile soap (such as Dr. Bronner’s)
• 1 cup of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
• ½ cup of baking soda
• ½ cup of citric acid
• ¼ cup of coarse sea salt

Thoroughly stir together the above ingredients. Store in a tight container.

Below: learn how to make your own borax-free detergent with this video! 

Liquid

Use: 1 cup per load

• 1 bar of castile soap
• 1 cup of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
• 1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
• Hot water
• Measuring cup
• Cheese grater
• 5 gallon bucket
• Big cooking pot
• Long wooden spoon
• 30-40 drops of essential oil for scent (optional)

This process is slightly lengthier than the previous two and will be provided in steps.

Step 1: Grate the bar of soap with the cheese grater

Step 2: Fill the big cooking pot half-way with water and bring it to a boil. Slowly stir in the grated soap.

Step 3: Reduce the heat after the soap has melted and slowly stir in the washing soda with the wooden spoon. Note: a small reaction will happen – lay the wooden spoon across the pot to prevent the mixture from bubbling over.

Step 4: Add in the borax while stirring. Remove from heat once the mixture has successfully blended.

Step 5: Fill the 5 gallon bucket half-way with hot water, and then add the soap mixture from the pot to the bucket.

Step 6 (optional): Add the 30-40 drops of your preferred essential oil.

Step 7: Fill the remainder of the bucket with water and put on the lid. Allow it to sit overnight.

Overnight the detergent will become gel-like and will be able to be transferred into other containers if desired. Shake or stir mixture before using.

Not into DIY hobbies? There are still great options for you!

• Mrs. Meyer’s Laundry Detergent, found here
• Earth Friendly Ultra Ecos Laundry Detergent, found here

Save more energy and money by hanging your clothes up to dry on a nice day!