I’ll be the first to admit: I’m not a super active person. I wouldn’t call myself lazy, but I don’t generally go out of my way to make things more complicated or complicated than they need to be. I like to find ways that work for me and stick to them until someone or something convinces me of a better way.
So, I surprised myself by trying to make laundry detergent at home. I thought we recommend lots of household cleaning products Here at The Spruce I can test one out. And it luckily coincided with laundry day and two new sets of sheets.
Here’s how I made the detergent, and why the results really surprised me.
How to Make Homemade Detergent
As far as homemade cleaning products go, this was probably on the harder end of obtaining items. Of course, I mean I had to go to two different grocery stores (one was without borax).
Material
The Spruce / Ulyana Verbitska
- 1 5.5-ounce bar of pure soap (or 1 cup bar of soap)
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1 cup washing soda (sodium carbonate)
- 1/2 cup borax
Method
In a large bowl, I grated the bar Castile SoapI used Dr. Bronner’s citrus-scented strips for added scent, but the unscented one works just as well. I put all my ingredients in the bowl – taking care washing soda Carefully because it is caustic – and mixed them together with a gloved hand.
So simple: I was done in less than 10 minutes, and it would have only taken me two minutes more if I had used bar soap instead of bar soap.
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Result
After spending about $20 on supplies, I was feeling pretty down. A store-bought liquid detergent It would usually cost me about $7, and it doesn’t take any effort on my part to make. But I wasn’t ready to give up yet.
In total, I made one quart of detergent. If I use two tablespoons per load, I get about 30 or more washes out of my total effort. This easily competes with the 32 loads I get from my 42 ounce store-bought liquid detergent. And, if I wanted to make a full quart again, it would only cost me $4 bar soap to do so.
So, logically, it has its place. But what about the actual cleaning results?
I will say that this load of laundry was indistinguishable from any other load I have ever done. They were thoroughly washed, felt and smelled clean and remained that way. It was just another regular day at the laundromat, which was not what I was expecting.
Initially I was worried about my laundry not smelling good, not coming out soft and fresh, or possibly the colors being damaged for any number of reasons. But everything went off without a hitch and I felt very good about its success.
Would I do it again?
The final test comes down to whether I would do it again, and the answer is really, really, In fact I was surprised: yes.
If it requires $4 of Castile soap to make detergent for another 30-ish load, I’m going to take it. I get a sense of success and accomplishment from making something myself, I know I’m not adding anything to the machines that could clog them or harm them, and I can even personalize my detergent with different scents. I can do it!
So, I will continue to make the detergent, I will definitely recommend it to others, and I will think again before doubting our household cleaning products,
