Have you ever found the perfect time to do your laundry, only to suddenly realize you’re out of laundry detergent? Are you sick of spending money trying to determine which detergent brand is the best, only to get mixed results every time? Do you wish there was another way to maintain your laundry detergent supply without driving to the store? If any of these questions describe you, you can start improving your detergent situation by learning how to make your own laundry detergent. Keep reading to learn why and how you should use this DIY laundry practice.
Why Make Your Own Laundry Detergent?
By making your own laundry detergent, you save time and money traveling to the store to get more of the same product. If you’ve always been skeptical about what goes into mass-produced laundry detergent, making your own is the best way to ensure what’s in it. It’s also a more environmentally friendly alternative to most laundry detergent products. Continue reading to learn how to make this effective, homemade solution.
How To Make Your Own Laundry Detergent
If you follow these steps to the best of your ability, you will surely see excellent results from using the laundry detergent you made yourself. You’ll learn how to make your own laundry detergent in powder form. Here are the steps involved in how to make your own laundry detergent.
1. Gather The Ingredients And Equipment
You can’t make your own laundry detergent without the correct supplies, so make sure you have all the ingredients and tools you need to complete this project successfully. The main ingredients you’ll need are borax, washing soda, baking soda, and either a bar of soap, castile soap, or soap flakes. An optional ingredient is an essential oil of your choice if you want a specific scent for your laundry detergent. Some recipes will utilize hydrogen peroxide instead of washing soda and require water, but we will focus on the ingredients mentioned earlier for simplicity.
The equipment should already be in your home and not require any additional shopping trips. You’ll need rubber gloves, a box cheese grater, measuring cups, a wooden spoon, and a mixing bowl. If you plan to make more of this detergent, find a resealable container to keep it. Once you have all these items, you’ll be ready to start.
2. Grate The Soap (Or Add Soap Flakes)
If you’re using a bar of soap or castile soap, use the box cheese grater to grate the soap into a mixing bowl. The amount of soap you use should be 5.5 ounces. If you have soap flakes, add one cup to the mixing bowl. Ensure you’ve researched the best soap possible to make your laundry detergent beforehand.
3. Mix Soap With Baking Soda, Borax, And Washing Soda
After grating the soap or adding the soap flakes, it’ll be time to add the other ingredients. To protect yourself from the washing soda, put on rubber gloves first. Once the gloves are on, add one cup each of baking soda and washing soda. Next, add half a cup of borax, after which you’ll use a wooden spoon to mix these ingredients together.
4. Optional: Add Essential Oils
If your idea of how to make your own laundry detergent includes making it scented, you’ll then add an essential oil of your choice to the mix. Nothing more than twenty or thirty small drops is required, as a small drop can go a long way. After mixing this in, wait for your laundry detergent to dry before using and storing.
5. Use And Store
Now that you’ve completed all the steps in how to make your own laundry detergent, it’s important to store it in a labeled, resealable container for future use. When it comes to actually using it, you only need to add half a cup to a standard top-load washer. For high-efficiency top and front load washers, only two tablespoons are necessary.
Appliance Repair Miami Can Help With Your Washer And Dryer!
Knowing how to make your own laundry detergent will hopefully put your mind at ease the next time you run out of detergent. You can also take pride and comfort in making this detergent and knowing exactly what went in it. Sometimes, you might encounter laundry issues that have more to do with your washer or dryer than the products you’re using. If you suspect your appliances are facing any problems, contact us at Appliance Repair Miami for immediate and efficient services.