Making My Own- Laundry Detergent | Occasionally Crafty: Making My Own- Laundry Detergent

Monday, January 28

Making My Own- Laundry Detergent


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Before I get to my latest Making My Own post, I wanted to remind you about the new link up series we're starting THIS Wednesday! It's called Make it Work, and you get to come up with a craft just using your leftovers. That's right, no quick trip to Michaels, this one is going to cost you nothing. We'll do this once a month and you can link up the projects you've done without running to the store! So search your archives or get going on your Make it Work project and be ready to share it with us on Wednesday!

Also- Valerie made it into week four of So You Think You're Crafty!  So, head over and vote for your favorite "Upcycled" project, and please share the word with your friends!

Now, Making my Own Laundry Detergent.

Yup. I went there. With all these things I've been making on my own, laundry detergent was always in the back of my mind. When my current detergent was almost out I knew I had to give it a go. I am really trying to be more frugal and this is yet another cost efficient thing you can do on your own.

Let me start by saying that doing all the Making My Own series is something that I love to do. Do NOT ever feel like you are failing because you buy store bought instant oatmeal or a packet of taco seasoning, ok? I am not in the business of trying to make you feel like you should be doing all of these things. When we moved back to America, real life hit us hard. It was time to scrimp and save and this is how I do it.

So onto laundry detergent. This is one I was super hesitant about. I pictured my clothes coming out crispy hard or smelly or something, but so far I haven't noticed a significant difference than my previous detergent. Hooray!

I found my 'recipe' on the TLC website (no longer available- email me for the recipe!). It was simple and straightforward, and only a little bit time consuming. It took about an hour.


I found all of my ingredients at Wal-mart in the laundry area.



Here's my soap all shredded up and ready to be boiled.



Here's the mixture of shredded soap, washing soda, borax and water.

All I have to do is stir my detergent before use and put 1/4 cup into my wash. I did the math and I can do 144 loads of laundry if I use 1/4 cup every time. All of my ingredients pictured above, including the bucket that I won't have to buy again, cost $11. I still have enough washing soda and borax to do 2 more batches of laundry soap, and only have to buy the soap to shred again (99 cents). That means I could theoretically do 432 loads of laundry for $13. I'm game for that!

I will keep you posted as I keep using it to see if there are any negative effects or anything I change from the recipe, but so far so good!! Please comment if you make your own detergent and have any tips for me!

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4 comments:

  1. wow! that savings will be huge. Please let me know how this goes. I am definitely interested!

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  2. I make my own dry detergent.

    http://www.homeecathome.com/2/post/2013/01/homemade-laundry-detergent.html

    Thanks for sharing.

    Faith

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  3. I've made it before. It worked fine. I wonder if you use as much in a high efficiency washer?

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  4. I have been making this for the past two years and have only bought the washing soda and borax once. I make a batch every six months, so I have gotten 4 batches out of the washing soda (I will have to buy a new box in six months when it is time to make it again).

    ReplyDelete

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