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I mentioned in a recent vlog that I wanted to share my laundry recipes on my blog, and the response was a very positive one. I started making my own laundry detergent and fabric softener about a year ago and have absolutely loved it! It’s inexpensive and powerful…a little goes a long way!
// Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe
Recipe
Recipe via One Good Thing By Jillee
- 3 bars of Fels Naptha Laundry Soap (you could also use Kirk’s Natural Castile Soap or Grandma’s Pure Soap)
- 1 box borax
- 1 box washing soda
- 2 cups baking soda
- 2 (55 oz.) boxes of OxiClean (I use OxiClean Free)
- Optional: scent crystals or essential oils (I don’t use either)
- This Laundry Soap Kit on Amazon makes this recipe super easy!
You basically blend all of this and then toss it together in a trash bag, but you can read the full instructions here on the One Good Thing By Jillee site. If you’re concerned about borax, read this article. If you’re still concerned about borax, don’t use this recipe. 😉
Usage
To use, toss 2 tablespoons into the drum of your washer or powder drawer. It’s safe for HE washing machines. This batch will last about a year! I made this big jar pictured above about one year ago, and this is how much we have left. So awesome! Plus, our clothes are sparkling clean. I don’t have to use any laundry boosters because this gets my whites bright white but doesn’t fade my darks. I love it.
Storage
I store my laundry detergent in a two gallon glass jar (mine’s from Walmart) and scoop it out 2 tablespoons at a time with a 2 TBSP coffee scoop. It looks charming and is super functional!
// Homemade Fabric Softener
“Recipe”
- White vinegar
Usage
Add 1/4 C of white vinegar to the fabric softener well in your washer. Your clothes will NOT smell like vinegar, but the vinegar will help soften your clothing and remove smells.
Storage
I store my white vinegar in a glass bottle like this one. It’s easier to store and manage that way.
Other options
If you’re not into my “recipe,” here are five other homemade fabric softener recipes you can try.
// Dryer Options
I bought a giant box of eco-friendly free and clear dryer sheets like these (pictured above), and they’ve been great. Once my box runs out, I will purchase dryer balls. When washing sheets or towels, I add a damp flannel square with a few drops of Purification or Lavender essential oil on it to add a light, nontoxic scent.
// Money savings
I estimate that I was spending roughly $182/year on laundry supplies before making my own. By making my own supplies for about $30, I’m saving about $152/year. That adds up over time!
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Just ordered all of the items! Can’t wait to make it. I also found a great bundle that saves about $10 on amazon (4 bars fels soap, borax, and washing powder for $28). Thank you!
Yay!!! You’ll have to let me know what you think. And I just added that Laundry Soap kit to my post for other readers. Thanks for cluing me in!
I’ve been excited about this post since you mentioned it on your vlog. Yay!
Confession: I’ve always been nervous about homemade laundry detergent. I sweat A LOT when I workout. Needless to say, I would advise anyone to stay away from my workout clothes! Do you think this homemade laundry detergent will work well with sweaty, unpleasant smelling workout clothes? Also, can you tell me more about the flannel square? Did you buy it somewhere? For the fabric softener, do you add 1/4c of the vinegar with every load of clothes?
Thanks so much for sharing!!
Hey Tiffany! 🙂 Thanks for reading! I’m not sure whether this recipe would work well for getting the stink out of workout clothes, though both baking soda and vinegar are deodorizing, so it may work great! If you add a drop or two of Purification essential oil to your vinegar in each load, I bet you’d be golden.
The flannel square was gifted to me by my go-to oil girl, Kelsi. You could easily make your own or purchase one online (here are similar options: http://amzn.to/2yshHkh). I get my square damp and add about 3 drops of Purification or Lavender to it. As it dries, it steams in the dryer and infuses the garments with a lovely, light scent. I love, love, love doing this for sheets and towels especially!
And yes, I add the 1/4 C of white vinegar to every load. I don’t measure anymore, I just free pour it. My machine has a fabric softener well in it, so I fill that with vinegar. Does that help? xoxo
Yes, that helps a ton. Thank you!
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Wow, thank you so much! 🙂
Thank you for this recipe! We have to do homemade gifts for my in-laws every year (which I am the absolute worst about) and this will be perfect, practical gift for my mother in law!
Oh, I’m so glad! This would be a fun gift for my MIL, too. Thank you so much for the idea!
Do you have like a home binder that you use to keep all of the recipes for your homemade cleaning products in, if so I would love to read a post on how you set that up etc.
Hey Blair, I’m recently getting in to more natural and organic home products,as well as organic essential oils so I’m finding your blog super useful (especially the links to amazon as being from wales in uk some of the ingredients are called slightly different things here!) what type of essential oil and how many drops would you recommend to go along with this recipe please? Thank you as I know you must be busy in and dated with questions!!
Really loving the blogs and how simple and pretty they are to follow! Xx
This is great ! As long as you don’t ingest the Borax obviously someone should be fine with it being in the detergent right ? 🙂 I love all your helpful tips ! You are so awesome ! And such an inspiration I’m trying really hard to get more frugal and do better with cleaning / time management. I work full time and have a hubby and cat baby at home so I’m trying to get better and your videos from Youtube as well your blogs help for money saving as well as just in general on everything ! Thanks for doing what you do !
Sorry might previous comment sent without finishing typing!
I was going to say, regarding Borax, that it’s quite safe to use. In fact many women are now using it to treat thrush (sorry if that’s TMI). But it’s known to be safe as long as not ingested. It’s also already in a huge amount of products we’re buying on a regular basis.
Love your website!