There is a chance you read the title of today’s post and thought to yourself, who in the hell would want to make their own laundry detergent if you can just buy it? A valid argument undoubtedly, and I can’t really say much to sway your opinion toward having an interest in how to go about making homemade laundry soap. That is, unless, you’re like myself in the sense you question just about everything and ponder the feasibility of making a homemade version of just about anything, laundry detergent included.
A tremendous advantage that presents itself in the process of making laundry detergent from scratch is that you know exactly what ingredients are going into it, and further, you can avoid a lot of the harsh chemicals and unnecessary additives that are often thrown in with laundry soap. This recipe comes from thespruce.com.
“DIY Liquid Laundry Detergent
If you have extremely cold water, liquid laundry detergent is a better choice because powders can sometimes be difficult to dissolve. This formula is particularly good for anyone with sensitive skin because it contains no irritating dyes or fragrances.
What You Need
- 1 5.5-ounce bar of pure soap or 1 cup of soap flakes
- 4 cups water
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1 cup washing soda (sodium carbonate)
- 1/2 cup borax
- Cheese grater
- Measuring cup
- Saucepan
- Resealable 3-gallon container
- Grate the Soap: Using a regular cheese grater, grate the bar of pure soap (or use 1 cup of soap flakes).
- Melt the Soap: Add the grated soap to a large saucepan with the water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until the soap dissolves and is melted.
- Combine the Ingredients: In a large, resealable container, combine the melted soap flakes, baking soda, washing soda, borax, and hot water. Washing soda is caustic to the skin, so you should wear rubber gloves.1
- Allow the Detergent to Thicken: Stir the detergent mixture until everything is dissolved. Cover and allow it to sit overnight to thicken.
- Use as Directed: Use 2 tablespoons of your homemade liquid detergent per load. This is appropriate for both high-efficiency washers and standard top-load washers. Shake well before each use,” the recipe explains.
The website also provides a recipe for powdered laundry detergent if that is your preference.
ontheedgeofeverything 
