Make your own homemade laundry detergent with your favorite Southern Natural soap! The process is easy and fun. All you need are a few simple ingredients, a food processor or grater, and a container for storage.
Why Make Your Own Laundry Soap?
Here are just a few reasons you might want to make your own laundry detergent.
- Save Money – Store-bought formulas can be expensive compared to our DIY recipe. You can make it in bulk for the best cost savings.
- Non-Toxic Ingredients – Traditional laundry detergents are often petroleum-based or contain unhealthy chemicals like sulfates, phosphates, and more. By making your own formula out of natural soap, you know exactly what is in your detergent.
- Skin Sensitivities – Wholesome, healthy ingredients are also gentler on your skin. This is especially important for those of us with sensitive skin or allergies. We recommend our Castile Goat’s Milk Soap as a base for those with delicate skin.
- Eco-friendly – Petroleum-based laundry detergents don’t break down properly in sewage systems, adding pollution to our waterways. You’ll also produce less waste in the form of plastic packaging.
DIY Laundry Detergent Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 bar of your favorite Southern Natural goat milk soap
- 1 cup Borax
- 1 cup washing soda – NOT baking soda
- 1 cup Epsom salts
The soap does the majority of the cleaning. Borax and washing soda both soften the water and boost the cleaning power of your soap. Epsom salts help to protect dyes in clothing and serve as a fabric softener.
Instructions
Finely grate the soap with your food processor or cheese grater. Mix together with Borax, washing soda, and Epsom salts.
How to Use Homemade Laundry Soap
A little goes a long way! You only need 2-3 tablespoons per load in a top-loading washing machine or 1 tablespoon per load for a high-efficiency machine. This amount may seem small, but it's enough to remove dirt from your clothes and rinse out clean, preventing buildup that can harm your washer or clothing. Commercial detergent often has fillers (including water) to bulk up the detergent and drive sales, so you're getting a great deal with homemade laundry detergent.
Use warm water with this laundry soap. This will thoroughly dissolve your laundry detergent and prevent buildup in both your machine and your clothing.
Vinegar makes a great natural replacement for liquid fabric softeners and it helps to remove odors and grime. Add ½ cup Vinegar to your rinse cycle. The vinegar scent will fade as the clothes dry.
There are so many great reasons to make your own laundry soap at home. Our DIY recipe is quick and easy to make and lasts a long time. You'll save money and cut down on the use of toxic chemicals in your household. Make it your own with your favorite Southern Natural soap!