Homemade Laundry Detergent and Other Handy Recipies

I am tired of buying more plastic bottle of detergent, so I invested a few bucks and made our own. Poured it into the now empty Tide bottle and the rest stays in a 2 gallon bucket. It smells great, works great, and saves money. 

You can pretty much clean anything in your house with just a few ingredients: baking soda, washing soda, vinegar, borax, and basic soap.
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Please note that the steps to this are very loose. Essentially you want to dissolve all the ingredients in very hot to low boiling water. Then let them sit 24 hours or until the next day when they've returned to room temperature before use. 

Also, depending on the strength you want you can vary the washing soda and borax amounts (I would keep them equal to each other). I've tried 1 and 1/2 cups for the same about of water and you end up with a lot of it crystalizing, which is lame. I would stick to 1/2 - 3/4 cup max for this amount of water. Another option is to use 1 1/2 cups and after you've filled your jug halfway fill the rest with plain water. Do the same to the bucket. 

As for soaps I use Dr. Bonner's lavender liquid soap. If using bar soap it will melt more quickly if you grate it. Recommended bar soap is Fels Napta, which can be found on the laundry aisle. 

Update: This last batch I also added OxyClean to the mix and it fizzed up and nearly overflowed the pot. So be careful if you do want to add that. 

Ingredients: 

1/2 cup of washing soda

1/2 cup of borax

2 oz (4 tbsp) soap (either liquid or bar soap)

water

bucket (I use a 2 gallon)

empty detergent jug (optional- for ease of use) 

Directions: 

Heat up enough water on the stove to dissolve the washing soda and borax. Toss it the soap and stir it around. I let it sit in the pot on the stove until it cools before I transfer it to the 2 gallon bucket or the jug. As needed I transfer more to the last store bought detergent bottle we purchased and keep the rest in the bucket. Having a funnel is very handy for this, but I manage just fine setting the jug in the sink and slowly pouring into it. 

Portion: Use a half cup per load.

Tips: If reusing a store bought bottle measure out in their lid how much 1/2 cup is and mark it. Separation is natural- give the jug a shake before each use. 

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Floor and wall cleaner

Found on pg 83 of Mother Earth News Dec 11/ Jan 12 issue

1) Use this on the floor or to wash sticky or soiled walls

1 cup white vinegar
1 gallon hot water
1tbsp to 1/4 cup liquid soap (optional)
1 to 2 tbsp pine or lemon oil (optional)

Mix the vinegar and water and use to mop or with a rag on walls.
For extra cleaning power add liquid soap and follow with a clean-water mop.
Add pine or lemon oil to condition unlaminated wood floors.


2) If using a "swiffer" type mop that holds 1 liter of cleaning solution.


4 tbsp of vinegar
4 cups of water

3) I use a spray bottle with a 50/50 mix water and vinegar to clean my kitchen counters.

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Dishwasher Detergent

From The Naturally Clean Home by Karen Siegel-Maier

I found them in Mother Earth News Dec 11/ Jan 12 issue page 82.

1) Super Easy Automatic Dishwasher Powder  This is the recipe I currently use.

Easy to store- so you can make it in bulk! 

The box I use over and over.

2 cups washing soda

1 cup borax

1 cup baking soda

Use 2 tablespoons per load. (If your dishes develop a residue use 1 1/2 tablespoons).

Tip: I put all the powders into a bowl and mix them together. Then I transfer it to the box using a soft/ collapsable funnel so I can squeeze the tip of the funnel to break up any clumps.

2) Citrus Sparkle Automatic Dishwasher Powder

2 cups washing soda

2 cups borax

6 tablespoons citric acid powder*

25 drops grapefruit essential oil

Combine all the ingredients in a plastic container or tub and mix well. Use 2 tablespoons per load.

*citric acid (aka "sour salt") is available in powdered form from many health food stores, stores that cater to home-brewers of beer and wine, soap-making supply outlets, and online sources.

3) Herbal Liquid Dishwashing Blend

10 drops lavender essential oil

8 drops rosemary essential oil

4 drops eucalyptus essential oil

liquid soap

fill a clean 22-ounce squirt bottle with liquid soap, add the essential oils. Shake the bottle before each use. Add 1 to 2 tablespoons per load.

(personally, i think putting essential oils into dish soap is a waste of oils. as long as my dishes are clean i dont care if they smell like roses.)

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Static Guard

Grab an empty 16 oz spray bottle and add 2- 4 tablespoons of liquid fabric softener (adjust accordingly for larger or smaller bottles if you want) and fill the rest with water. Close it up and shake it well. Spray it on whatever tends to get static-y!