Difference between revisions of "Make Your Own Laundry Detergent"
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| − | + | If you're looking for new ways to cut costs, you can make your own laundry detergent at a cost of just a few cents a load. Homemade detergent gets your clothes just as clean and is less toxic to the environment. Read on to learn how to make either powdered or liquid detergent. | |
| − | [[Category:Laundry Cleaning Products]] | + | [[Category: Laundry Cleaning Products]] |
== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
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#*A bar of castile soap. Choose either unscented or buy a bar with your favorite scent, like lavender or lemon. | #*A bar of castile soap. Choose either unscented or buy a bar with your favorite scent, like lavender or lemon. | ||
#*A box of washing soda. This is also called sodium carbonate or sodium ash, and is available in grocery stores. | #*A box of washing soda. This is also called sodium carbonate or sodium ash, and is available in grocery stores. | ||
| − | #*A box of borax. This is a naturally occurring mineral that comes in powdered form, and is also available in grocery stores.<ref>http://wellnessmama.com/462/how-to-make-nautral-homemade-laundry-detergent/</ref> | + | #*A box of borax. This is a naturally occurring mineral that comes in powdered form, and is also available in grocery stores.<ref name="rf1">http://wellnessmama.com/462/how-to-make-nautral-homemade-laundry-detergent/</ref> |
#Finely grate the bar of soap. Stand it in a bowl and use a cheese grater to crate the entire bar. You can also put it in a food processor to grind it to a nice fine consistency. When you're finished, no large chunks should remain; you want it fine enough to mix with the other powders. | #Finely grate the bar of soap. Stand it in a bowl and use a cheese grater to crate the entire bar. You can also put it in a food processor to grind it to a nice fine consistency. When you're finished, no large chunks should remain; you want it fine enough to mix with the other powders. | ||
#Mix two parts washing soda and two parts borax. Place them in a big bowl that you won't be using for food purposes, and mix them well with a spoon. | #Mix two parts washing soda and two parts borax. Place them in a big bowl that you won't be using for food purposes, and mix them well with a spoon. | ||
#Add one part grated soap. If you used 3 cups of washing soda and 3 cups of borax, mix in 1 1/2 cups of grated soap - you get the picture! | #Add one part grated soap. If you used 3 cups of washing soda and 3 cups of borax, mix in 1 1/2 cups of grated soap - you get the picture! | ||
| − | #Add baking soda or essential oil. This is an optional step that you can choose if you wish to personalize your detergent to meet your family's needs. Baking soda helps freshen clothes that have heavy smells that need to be removed, and essential oils add an extra scent that you might enjoy. A few drops will suffice.<ref | + | #Add baking soda or essential oil. This is an optional step that you can choose if you wish to personalize your detergent to meet your family's needs. Baking soda helps freshen clothes that have heavy smells that need to be removed, and essential oils add an extra scent that you might enjoy. A few drops will suffice.<ref name="rf1" /> |
#Store the detergent in a sealed plastic container with a measuring cup. If you tend to do extra large loads of laundry, plan on using 1/4 cup per load. For smaller loads, use 1/8 cup. | #Store the detergent in a sealed plastic container with a measuring cup. If you tend to do extra large loads of laundry, plan on using 1/4 cup per load. For smaller loads, use 1/8 cup. | ||
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# As an option add downy Unstoppables to make a scented soap but this is not necessary. | # As an option add downy Unstoppables to make a scented soap but this is not necessary. | ||
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== Tips == | == Tips == | ||
