DIY Laundry Detergent

    Last week I posted a recipe for dishwasher detergent. (Here's the link: http://christinekenyon.blogspot.com/2015/04/diy-dishwasher-detergent.html)

    Following up is this recipe for laundry detergent that you can make yourself and is better for you, your clothes, the environment and is more economical than commercial laundry detergent. If you're like me, you're jumping straight to the recipe. 

    For those still reading, here are four of the most toxic chemicals in commercial detergent:
1. Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and/or sodium laureth sulfate (SLES)2. 1,4-dioxane
3. NPE (nonylphenol ethoxylate)
4. Phospates

    I'm not an expert in this, but I think that the prevalence of these toxins in so many cleaners and bath products (soaps, shampoos, liquid soap, etc.) is partly responsible for the spate of skin disorders and asthma.
    So, here's the recipe for Homemade Laundry Detergent:

1 (4 lb. 12 oz.) box of Borax
1 (3 lb. 7 oz.) box of Super Washing Soda
1 (3 lb.) container of  OxyClean
2 (14.1oz.) bars of Zote or Fels Naptha soap, grated
1 (4 lb.) box of baking soda
2 (55 oz.) bottles of fabric enhancer crystals--optional

Grate the soap, mix the ingredients together and store in a large bucket or double bagged garbage bag. To mix it more easily and evenly, spoon a layer of Borax, then Washing Soda, etc. and stir. Repeat this until it's all mixed. 

For top-loading machines, use 2-4 tablespoons; for front loading, use 1-2 tablespoons. 

I make laundry soap bars of 100% coconut oil and use that instead of Zote or Fels Naptha. The coconut oil soap bars are naturally highly cleansing and double as stain remover sticks. I also add eucalyptus essential oil, which is purported to help with grease and oil stains. Our clothes look and smell cleaner.

If you try this out, let me know what you think. 

And, happy Soaping!

P.S.--I have this detergent for sale on Etsy: 
https://www.etsy.com/listing/227841004/eucalyptus-laundry-soap-laundry?ref=shop_home_active_22

Sources:   http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-worst-ingredients-in-laundry-detergent.html/2

http://smartklean.com/html/the_truth.html