Since I last posted about making homemade detergent and softener, I've experimented and found something that I like better. Here are the recipes that I'm currently using:
Homemade Laundry Detergent
1 bar Laundry soap (Zote, Fels-Neptha,Castile)
4 c. Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
4 c. Borax
2c. all fabric bleach(non- chlorine)I use OxiClean
1c. baking soda
Using a food processor or a Microplane, grate your soap and mix with remaining ingredients. Store in an air-tight container. I use approx 2 TBL of this detergent per load, although I might be able to get away with less.
Fabric Softener
1 bottle Suave Naturals Conditioner 22.5oz
1 1/2 cups white vinegar
8 cups water
1 TBL glycerin
.75 oz Downy fragrance oil
Mix all ingredients together and use as you would normally use fabric softener. I like to use my stick blender to mix it. I kept an old gallon vinegar jug to store mine in. As you can see it's fairly inexpensive compared to Downy; cost is approx $3.00 for 3/4 of a gallon.
Such an easy way to save money.....remember, we're cheap!
you amaze me!
ReplyDeleteplease tell me where you get the downy oil. I really should look it up but sometimes I feel as though I am going in 50 different directions. Thanks
ReplyDeleteHolly, I purchased mine on ebay. I ordered enough to last me a very long time ;-) I've seen other sites that sell fragrance oils, but ebay had the best price and it smells so good!
ReplyDeletethe only 'softner' I use is white vinegar. Works great whether line or machine dried. No vinegar aroma once dry.
ReplyDeleteWhat soap do you use for the degerent? I have made a different recipe of detergent before and had to stop using it because our clothes were getting dingy and dull. I would love to give your recipe a try and see how it works for me. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteLori, I've used Dove, Fels-neptha, and currently I use my homemade crockpot soap. It works well. I heard someone else complain that homemade detergent made their clothes dingy, but I haven't personally experienced it. I have a front loader and I wonder if that is the reason it works so well for me. Give it a try and let me know how you like it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the info...I will give it a try. I have a HE top-loader but I've often wondered if it wasn't our water that is the problem (even though we have a whole house filtration system it has rusted out some of our appliances!).
ReplyDelete