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There are a lot of people talking about making homemade liquid laundry detergent. Want to know if it’s really worth your time?

There are a few different reasons that many people have started making homemade liquid laundry detergent. Some to save money, some for a nontoxic alternative. I am really excited to share this tip with you because it fits the two things I love the most.

Going Green And Saving Money

This little treasure will do just that. Most conventional cleaning products INCLUDING your laundry detergent contain so many toxins that are spread throughout your house. Some lead to illnesses such as allergies and asthma, infertility and some even cancer causing. You would think with the market getting larger and larger in the eco-friendly cleaners that there would be more choices available. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. It just means you now have to do a lot more research! Some of the conventional “green” cleaners can be the worst offenders.

A great place to check if you aren’t quite sure about a product is the Hall Of Shame (check it out). You may be surprised at what you will find. Today I am going to show you how to make detergent at home and have a nontoxic alternative.

 

For those of you that don’t have the time or just don’t want to mess with learning how to make homemade detergent that’s ok. Here is a non toxic laundry detergent that you can use, I actually still use it as my spot remover. Not only is it safer for you and your family, it’s safer for the planet. To find out more about Get Clean laundry click here. They do have both liquid and powder detergent alternatives.

 

Before I wrote this post I tried a few variations of different homemade liquid laundry detergent reviews and made recipes to try out. There are powder versions also available online I have just found since I wash in cold water 99% of the time that liquid preforms better. The recipe I am going to share with you I have been using for over 6 months and LOVE it!

You will find two different variations of this recipe because I know some people are used to using more conventional products and I didn’t want to get in your way:). For those that are not but still want to make your own homemade liquid laundry detergent I have one just for you too.

Here is your step by step guide to making your own  homemade liquid laundry detergent. You pick your version ….

What you must have to get started:

• 1 Cup of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (NOT baking soda). You can find this in most store’s laundry sections.
• 1 Cup of 20 Mule Team Borax Also in most laundry sections.
• 1 Bar of Fels- Naptha Soap Found in laundry aisle also. You can use whatever soap you prefer this is the one I prefer for removing stains.
• 4 Cups Of Hot Tap Water
• 5 Gallon Bucket

If you don’t want to dig at the store and want to buy your ingredients online here is a pack with them all together for you. Because you only use a cup of the powder it comes with 3 soap bars so that you have everything you need to make 3-4 batches!! That’s a LOT of detergent, but it will save you a ton of $$.

Optional: Some people like to add some additional scent. You have two options for that. You can use scented oil. I have found lavender or tea tree oil work best or you can use a bottle of Downy Unstoppables — also found in the laundry aisle.

You can find essential oils here:

 

 

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 Follow the step by step tutorial below and I will show you exactly how to make your own homemade liquid laundry detergent 🙂

• Grate your soap.

 

 

 

 

• Add 4 cups of hot tap water to a pan and put on stove. Turn your heat to medium low.
• Add your grated soap. Stir the mixture until the soap melts completely.

 

 

 

 

• While your soap is melting fill your 5 gallon bucket halfway with HOT tap water.
• Add your Borax and Washing Soda to the 5 gallon bucket
• Stir and the powder will begin to dissolve. 

 

 

• Once the soap is dissolved remove from heat, add the mixture to your bucket.
• Optional — if you are using some sort of conventional scent such as Downy Unstoppables in your soap go ahead and add the bottle’s contents to your bucket now. If you are using essential oils don’t add them yet. 

 

• Continue stirring until the powder completely dissolves and if you use a scented product it will begin to melt also. 

 

• Take the bucket and fill it the rest of the way up with hot tap water. 
• Stir, Stir, Stir .. mix it all up and make sure everything dissolves. 
• Cover it and let it sit overnight. 

 

 

 

Overnight it will harden up. When you get up in the morning it will be harder on top and your liquid will be at the bottom. Take a large spoon and stir it up! This is what you mixture will look similar to. 

If you are using essential oils in your mixture now. You will want to use about 10-15 drops for every 2 gallons. 

 

 

 

You can also wait and add the essential oil when you are using the detergent as well. I personally prefer to do that because I change up my scents some but it’s what works best for you.

 

 And your soap is DONE! … now next step, using it. So let’s mix it up and get it ready to use.

• Grab your containers that you have to put your detergent in. 
• Fill the container halfway with hot tap water.
• Fill the other half with your mixture.

This makes a total of 10 gallons of detergent, which makes it pennies a load!!

When using your homemade liquid laundry detergent it IS safe for top loading and front loading washing machines. Here are the measurements you use. 

Front Loading Machines use – 1/4 cup  (that’s around 640 loads) roughly .11 a load

Top Loading Machines use – 1/2 cup (that’s around 320 loads) roughly .22 a load

Your only directions for use are to shake well before using your laundry soap. It will settle a little bit. 

If you do not have enough containers to hold all of your detergent it is ok to leave in the bucket. I wouldn’t do it for a long period of time but it will be ok for a while. Be sure that you remember when you do add it to your containers that you fill it halfway with water and half with your mixture.

There are many ways that you can store your laundry soap but after reading many homemade liquid laundry detergent reviews it’s best if you can find containers to store it in separately. Maybe a gallon or two per container. I’ve seen many different ways of storing it. Anywhere from old laundry detergent bottles to even orange juice containers. I did learn the hard way you do NOT want to store it in milk jugs long term. They can work for a short period of time but the plastic they are made out of does break down very easily. What you may want to do is purchase a container that is easy to use and then store the rest just in the bucket until you need to make your next batch.

I have found the best way to store it for myself is using a drink holder (above) that you might put in your fridge with a spout and has a handle. It sits easily on a shelf or the dryer .

You do have to shake the soap up between uses because overtime the soap does rise to the top so the handle makes it easy to do that. It also makes it easier because I have found that when you shake it up some bubbles rise to the top and you get less liquid when you are pouring it into your measuring cup. 

These containers can be next to impossible to find until summer time. I have checked local Target and Walmart with no luck to find a place to refer you guys too but I will say the Walmart that I went to is a Super Walmart, the only one we have really close to us. Sometimes you can go to a regular Walmart and their kitchen department is usually a bit bigger. I will find some online resources for you though and get that posted:).

While it may look a little intimidating I assure you it’s SOO easy.  Even the first time I made my homemade liquid laundry detergent it took me maybe an hour. Then you leave it to sit overnight. Not only is it much better for you and your family it will save you a TON of money! 

There ya go. It’s a long post I know I’m sure you will agree this is one easy homemade liquid laundry detergent! If you have any questions feel free to comment below and I would LOVE to see your results. So go get the stuff and make yourself some new laundry soap this weekend.