Homemade Powdered Laundry Detergent

DIY: Homemade Powdered Laundry Detergent

Most laundry detergents that are commercially available are not only expensive but also come with a cost to the environment. Homemade detergents, on the other hand, can get your clothes just as clean and are less toxic to the environment. You can easily make powdered laundry detergent at home. Read further to learn.

Ingredients Required

• Bar of soap – 1 (you could either get an unscented one or one with your favourite scent such as lemon or lavender)
• Washing soda – 1 cup (this is also referred to as sodium carbonate or sodium ash and can be easily bought from grocery stores. If you do not find it in your local grocery store, you can easily make it in your house, by spreading baking soda on a cookie sheet and putting it in the oven at 400 degree)
• Borax – 1 cup (borax is a naturally occurring mineral that can be bought in a powdered form from the local grocery store)
• Baking soda and essential oil (optional)

Method

Step 1- Grate the bar of soap


Take a vegetable and cheese grater and finely grate the entire bar of soap. You may also cut the bar into small pieces and grind it in the food processor to get a fine consistency. Once you ground the bar, make sure that no chunks remain. The soap should be fine enough to be easily mixed with the rest of the powders.
Step 2- Mix the ingredients



Now, mix washing soda and borax. Place this mixture in a big bowl. Ensure that the bowl won’t be re-used for food purposes. Now, mix the ingredients well using a spoon.
Step 3- Add the grated soap


Finally, add the grated soap to the washing soda – borax mixture.
Step 4- Add baking soda/essential oil



This step is optional. Baking soda assists freshen up the clothes that have been carrying a strong smell. Essential oil adds a fragrance to the clothes once they have been washed in the laundry detergent. Just a few drops of the oil are enough to make your clothes smell as fresh as new.
Step 5- Store the homemade laundry detergent


Now, it is time to store the homemade laundry detergent in an airtight plastic container. You could also put a measuring cup inside for your comfort. You might need to prepare a great quantity of the homemade detergent, if you tend to do loads of laundry.