It's no secret I love to save money..... Just not in the bank. lol Maybe I should rephrase that; I love to stretch my money. In one of my grandiose money saving moments, I pinned a recipe for Homemade Laundry Detergent. As I read through the instructions, images of Little House on the Prairie flashed through my mind. I pictured myself in the middle of a field on a sunny day, scrubbing my clothes on a washboard using my homemade laundry detergent. I'm sure it wasn't as glamorous as Laura made it seem.
I forgot all about that pin and the wonderful daydream until my friend mentioned she had made the detergent and was pleased with the results. (I was probably distracted by something chocolaty, or fried, or fried AND chocolaty... oh yeah. Geez, there I go getting all distracted again!) Anywho, It was a LOT easier than I could have imagined and literally took 5 minutes.
Still not convinced?
What if I told you that you can make a years worth of detergent for under $15!!
I have your attention now, don't I?!?
What to buy:
1 - 4lb box of Borax
1 - 3lb box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda - found in the laundry isle
2 - 14.1oz bars of ZOTE laundry soap - (I found mine at BigLots. At only $.90 is was half the price and three times bigger than the Fels-Naptha bar found at the grocery store. If you are unable to find ZOTE, you will need 6 bars of Fels-Naptha or anyother bar soap. Some have commented Ivory Soap works well too.)
1 - 1.5lb tub of Oxy Clean. I also found this at BigLots. (The original recipe doesn't call for this, but I love Oxy Clean. You can omit if you'd like, but I highly suggest using it.)
All together, I spent $13.43
Grate both bars of soap using the small side on a box grater.
Grab a large tub or bucket. Add the entire container of Oxy Clean, 6 cups of Borax, 6 cups of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda and the grated soap. Stir, and stir, and stir....
Transfer into a tub with a tight fitting lid and get washing!
To use:
As your washer is filling, add 1TBS to the water. 2TBS for extra large loads. Add clothing.
Pulse in a blender to get superfine powder & bypass all the stirring - it is super quick & efficient :0)
ReplyDeleteI Carla! Thanks for tip, I'll try that next time... Although I'm sure it's going to be awhile since I made such a large batch!! Lol :)
DeleteAs soon as I have the $ I'm going to get the ingredients to try this. I'm going to add baking soda and purex crystals to it (I found on another site). The site also said you could cut the zote bars (about 5 slices) microwave for about 1 minute. It dries it out and then you can crumble it with your hands. I'm excited about trying this... thank you for posting it.
DeleteAlso, As far as adding the detergent directly to the wash, what do you suggest if I'm using a front loading machine?
Really? I'm trying it, and it doesn't seem to be moving through the blender at all :( How much did you fill the pitcher?
DeleteZote now comes already crumbled! Got mine at Walmart.
DeleteWow! Ok looking for it next time thanks
DeleteCould you add some essential oils for smell or does it already have a good smell??
ReplyDeleteI think it smells good, I'd suggest making up a batch and seeing if you like the smell too. If not, stir in some essential oils. I know that you can buy them in the soap making section at Michaels. Let me know how it turns out! =)
Deleteyou can also use the downy unstoppables or purex scentsy to help with the smells or fragrence
DeleteAt first I thought this sounded crazy, but if it's really this easy and this CHEAP...I'm gonna have to try it!
ReplyDeleteLet me know how you like it =)
DeleteI made the laundry soap yesterday (Fels-Naptha, Borax, Washing Soda, Oxy Clean, Baking Soda). I had a TERRIBLE allergic reaction - huge hives ALL over my body. I had to take an oral Benadryl and an oral Zyrtec plus use cream to get them to stop. Fortunately I did not have swallowing or breathing difficulties. I'm not sure which ingredient was the culprit, but I suspect the Fels-Naptha, Washing Soda or Borax. I'm bummed as I was really looking forward to using this stuff. I don't want to dissuade people from trying this; I just want to warn people who might have severe allergies. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteWOW! I'm sorry to hear that you had such a bad reaction to the soap! I used Zote and fortunately, have not had any problems. Thanks for the allergy warning =)
DeleteIt could be the oxy clean,I used to add this to my laundry and then started getting hives from it. Once I stopped using oxy then the hives stopped
DeleteThat's horrible, but I have to tell you that I'm allergic to Oxy. It causes rash and itching.
Deleteyeah my daughter is allergic to oxy to can not use anything with it
DeleteSounds like it's really concentrated maybe use less and rerinse your clothes thru the rinse cycle since it's low suds and add a 100% essential oils to naturally add scent to this but hey thanks tho for the WARNING (ALLERGIC REACTION SOME PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED)
DeleteI just made some and I am wondering if I am supposed to use 14.1 oz of the Zote or 28.2 oz?
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this, I love saving money!
The 14.1 oz bars. 2 bars of Zote soap.
DeleteI also make my own softener to go along with my homemade laundry soap... Save, save, save... I use 12 cups water, 6 cups white vinegar and bottle of CHEAP hair conditioner. (like suave, any scent, you can use 2 bottles if you want more scent) Last forever!
ReplyDeleteFor the fabric softener, do you just mix the ingredients together and then use? Seems like my laundry is a never ending nightmare and this would great to try!!! Thanks, TNC
DeleteI also use this and it works great. I love it. I also use the own fabric softener.
ReplyDeleteAt a mother of a 16-month-old, I'm always looking for ways to save money. I will definitely have to try this! But I have a question. Does this get out the tough stains?
ReplyDeleteI still pre-treat with a spray or stick :)
DeleteI made this as well and I love it! I also add Gain fireworks to it for the scent. :)
DeleteI made this as the regular recipe states and love it. I do cloth diapering so it works wonders and I save so much $$ not having to buy the special soaps. I am about to make another batch using up my stock of Ivory soap (I bought it in bulk for myself but I just feel like I am showering at a cheap hotel without some scent in my soap, so why waste it?)and am going to take half and use the new downy unstoppable scent beads in it since my husband has a thing for heavily scented laundry. Ha. Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteI ALWAYS use the Downey UN Stopables. My Husband hates anything with strong smells.
DeleteMy granddaughter has alergies and i was wondering if it would be ok to use in her clothes
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't put the Oxy clean in it, the rest has had good results. I like the Fels-Naptha. I haven't had any reactions to it.
DeleteI really want to try this but think it would be a bad idea. I have sensative skin and have to use ultra sensative soap.
ReplyDeleteI am super sensative to soaps and lotions and I made mine with dove for sensative skin(no zote) and have had no problems and I also omit the oxi clean
DeleteI am super sensitive. I used original lever soap(no zote) no dye but has a great smell. No oxi either. I have had no problems. Will be trying the liquid softener.
DeleteDoes this actually get rid of any bacteria in clothes? My husband can sweat through some clothes at the gym. I want to try this but I want to make sure it rids clothes of bacteria that builds up with sweat smells.
ReplyDeletethe best thing for getting the bacteria from clothes (and sheets and towels) is HOT water and a HOT dryer. My husband also works out ...and plays hockey. I have found that no soap will actually kill the odor by itself (may cover it up some) unless I use the hot water wash with it.
DeleteI love to save money...so this suggestions kills me...but my youngest son's clothes always came out of the wash smelling like the gym still. It was like the hadn't even been washed (smell wise) I tried so many things and nothing worked and then I used Tide SPORT and it completely took the odor out. No other Tide worked.
DeleteTide Sport worked for me too! Husband is a plumber and also works out. I would add the pod to washer with regular laundry soap. I am going to try this recipe, would be great if I can use it instead of regular since they are so expensive.
DeleteI have made this for the last two years. My hubby also smells up his clothes with boy things �� this stuff works great at removing odor!
DeleteAmmonia works wonders in the laundry for odors. Gets rid of the nasty mildew smell on wet towels & dish rags too.
DeleteAmmonia works wonders in the laundry for odors. Gets rid of the nasty mildew smell on wet towels & dish rags too.
DeleteI use a similar recepie in my HE machine(LG) with a smell factor added. I decrease the borax by 2 cups and add 2 cups of baking soda, and for smell enhancer 1-2 cups of tide crystals(fabric softener). I put the mix in the soap dispenser of my washer and at least a 1/2c of bleach in the bleach dispenser for every load. My laundry is the cleanest it's ever been, smells great, and feels soft. My machine runs like a dream and I save money. And yes it works for stinky (boys, animals, moldy ) things too.
DeleteThis sounds like a great recipe can't wait to try it. As far as the reaction that stephenie had it most likely was the borax. I use borax on my carpet for fleas as I don't use any flea treatment on my dogs. Borax can cause breathing or skin problems so be careful about inhaling the dust or limit contact with skin,
ReplyDeleteCharlotte
Concerning the bacteria and few things that combat the problem.
ReplyDeleteBorax attacks molds & fungi.
Washing Soda attacks odor causing bacteria & sanitizes.
Soap cleans dirt & oils.
Most oxy-type cleaners attack stains & disinfect
Baking soda can boost the sanitizing also (add 1/2 C per load)
Vinegar (rinse cycle only, otherwise it neutralizes the soap)is a disinfectant and removes residual soap.
how much vinegar do you put in the rinse cycle?
DeleteI use a half cup to a full cup depending upon the smell of the clothes going into the washer. With teen boys you might want to add more til they get older. Just DO NOT put it in with the soap. As one person above said it will undo all the cleaning action of the soap. Put it in the rinse water where you would normally put the fabric softener. I don't use anything that has a smell because of allergies. The vinegar takes care of all my smelly stuff and then rinses out so the clothes don't smell like a pickle jar! Just experiment with it. Good luck.
DeleteWorks great for my teenage boys who play basketball non-stop. They smell so bad that when they get home they head right to the shower & after, I make them run a load of laundry so that the clothes don't sit in the hamper. Only then can they have dinner.
ReplyDeleteI am a new follower but can I just say that the font you have this set on is very difficult to read (at least for me). Love your ideas though!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the exact same thing! This font is obnoxious, I had to zoom in on the page to read it even though my vision is perfect.
DeleteI agree
DeleteThe blender suggestion worked great!
ReplyDeletewhat a bummer too i was really looking for a cheep way to do laundry
ReplyDeleteTurns our borax is self professed to be bad for the environment. here is the material safety sheet from their website if anyone's interested. and what a bummer too I was really looking for a cheap way to do laundry. http://www.hillbrothers.com/msds/pdf/n/borax-decahydrate.pdf. sorry to rain on the parade :(
ReplyDeleteThere are some recipe that you can find that do not use borax.
DeleteI used this and it is better than my store bought. Go figure. I guess it is like anything else, they cut corners to make it saleable. I am trying the softener now. Thank you so much for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteHow long will it last?
ReplyDeleteFor those with sensitive skin: Substituting Ivory soap bars for the Zote laundry bars will make the detergent gentler on sensitive skin or those with allergies. You can also use Dr. Bonner's pure-Castile soap, though it costs a bit more.
ReplyDeleteAddressing the Borax as an environmental hazard: Borax has been found to be toxic to some organs, including the reproductive organs...bad news. I substitute baking soda and OxiClean for the Borax, and it works just as well. OxiClean can up the price, but the oxygen cleaner available at Dollar Tree seems to work just as well for a fraction of the cost. I think you can purchase the Ivory soap there as well.
We made this and we absolutely LOVE it! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWe made this and love it. My husband and children have allergic reactions to most all soaps but free and clear. This recipe has not caused any allergic reaction. I did not use the oxy in my batch to cut down on cost. I do recommend cutting the soap bars up and using a blender. It took my daughter and I forever with a cheese grater to grate the Zote. Never again will I make it that way. Does anyone have some good fabric softener recipes that don't include vinegar? I can always smell the vinegar.
ReplyDeleteTry applecider vinegar instead..
DeleteWhat is the reason behind putting it directly in the drum of the washer instead of the dispenser?
ReplyDeleteFor those with "smelly" gym clothes problems, try using 1/4 to 1/2 cup vinegar in the final rinse cycle to remove any residual odor/bacteria. If the clothing cleaning directions allow, wash in hot water. I too can smell a residual vinegar fragrance and don't like it. I tried adding some fragrance pellets (I used the Downey brand but you could use Gain or Snuggle, whatever floats your boat). About 3/4 cup pellets to one gallon of vinegar works for me. The pellets dissolve in the vinegar and I have to shake before using but it works quite well. Also, make sure you dry your towels completely. In humid areas this is very important or you will definitely develop that old washcloth smell after a while. Hope this helps :')
ReplyDeleteFor those with "smelly" gym clothes problems, try using 1/4 to 1/2 cup vinegar in the final rinse cycle to remove any residual odor/bacteria. If the clothing cleaning directions allow, wash in hot water. I too can smell a residual vinegar fragrance and don't like it. I tried adding some fragrance pellets (I used the Downey brand but you could use Gain or Snuggle, whatever floats your boat). About 3/4 cup pellets to one gallon of vinegar works for me. The pellets dissolve in the vinegar and I have to shake before using but it works quite well. Also, make sure you dry your towels completely. In humid areas this is very important or you will definitely develop that old washcloth smell after a while. Hope this helps :')
ReplyDeleteOkay wow! I made it and it was really good! I used my blender and it got pretty fine but I guess my washing machines pretty old (I moved into a 7 year old house) On my first try I just put some in the compartment and all the clothes smelled fine but still had those big yellow stains. So I tried this and it actually worked: Put some detergent and a tsp of water into a bowl and mix with a skewer, empty it either into the compartment or the drum of the machine. I tried both ways to be sure and the compartment worked the best. I also recommend to cut the soap bars and lob them into the blender! -El
ReplyDeleteZote also comes in flakes so you don't have to do any grating.
ReplyDeleteI make this, but don,t put the oxyclean in it, I am very allergic to most soaps,detergents,etc. but I am not allergic to this. Suspect the oxyclean may have caused an allergic reaction. The pink zote is more for sensitive skin, or so I have been told. Oxyclean is a great product, I use it separately if needed, not in the detergent. I use zote or feels Naptha I think the white zote cleans whites better than the pink .
ReplyDeleteJust had a thought... for those of us concerned with bacteria and odor we could try safeguard soap which is antibacterial!! Some times I amaze myself. Glad I am still in the making process because I have a feeling it will be a while before I need more.
ReplyDeleteI've been using this type of recipe for two years now. I am more or less happy with it. However, my husband gets incredibly dirty in his job, and in my job I get grease and graphite stains. This detergent does not get these stains out well. And I use much more than suggested. I wonder if anyone else has this issue?
ReplyDeleteI have been using this recipe for years. I prefer the liquid version but same recipe. As a mom of four I am all about saving money. My youngest has severe eczema and this detergent has been the only one that does not cause it to flare up. I noticed a lot of you also use the home made softener. Do you add it to the rinse cycle or the dryer? The recipe I found says throw sponges down in the bucket of softener and just wring one out and toss in the dryer with wet clothes. Seems weird but does keep the static down
ReplyDeleteIf you let zote bars dry out (out of packaging) it is much easier to grate!
ReplyDeleteJust bought enough supplies for a double batch (i have 3 boys) the wife is skeptical but I'm going for it. I bought the all white Zote because it says for whiter whites. And i also bougyt the odor eliminator oxy clean to help with said three boys (12, 13, and 19) odors.
ReplyDeleteIs this color safe??
ReplyDeleteIs it color safe??
ReplyDeleteSo I have read the post and all the comments. I am thrilled about having the option of making my own laundry detergent. I used to make my own baby wipes so this is right up my alley. However I am concerned about the Borax being hazardous. Is there a way of tweaking the recipe to make it safer? Also, 1 to 2 tablespoons seems like a really small amount. Is this how much most of you use? I have a large capacity washer and with our family of 5 every load is a full load.
ReplyDeleteI used a salad shooter then the blender to make the zote finer consistency .I didn't have a fine /small cheese grater. Worked great
ReplyDeleteThis is very similar to what I have been doing for a while now. I use one white and one pink zote bar. I use one teaspoon of leomon, lime or orange essential oil for smell and bactieral killing properties.
ReplyDeleteThis is very similar to what I have been doing for a while now. I use one white and one pink zote bar. I use one teaspoon of leomon, lime or orange essential oil for smell and bactieral killing properties.
ReplyDelete