Introduction
Welcome to my kitchen and another episode of Live Simply Well! In this series, we’re learning how to enhance our slow and simple lifestyle with natural, low-waste tips, tricks, DIY projects, and recipes together. In this episode, I share how I make my own own natural, liquid laundry detergent.
I forget exactly where I found this receipt.* It has been almost a year since I’ve been making my own laundry detergent this way. I make 5 gallons at a time, and it lasts my family of five (plus a dog) about 6-8 weeks washing at least one load every single day. That’s about a dime per load. It’s an economical, wholesome alternative to the leading name-brand detergents.
*Update: I remembered where I found the recipe! Mine is loosely based on “Large Family Laundry Soap | How to Make Your Own Liquid Laundry Soap” by Hopewell Heights.
Ingredients & Basic Materials
To make this laundry detergent, you will need:
- 5-gallon bucket
- 2 bars Castile soap, chopped or grated
- 1 cup washing soda
- 1 cup borax
- essential oil, several drops (optional, for a fragrant detergent)
Directions
After you finely chop or grate your Castile soap…
- Pour four cups of water in a pot to boil. (You’ll be adding the Castile soap to the pot to dissolve in a bit, once the water’s boiling.)
- While the water in the pot is heating up, start to fill your 5-gallon bucket with water. I usually fill mine up about 5-6 inches from the top. You’ll want to leave enough room for the dissolved soap mixture, as well as splash prevention space when transporting your laundry detergent after it’s made. Early on, I learned the hard way not to fill it up so full that it starts splashing out everywhere when you’re transporting it, even with the lid on; my particular bucket’s lid is just a push-on without any sort of seal.
- By the time the bucket’s done filling up, the water should be boiling; so, it’s time to add the Castile soap to the pot, turn the heat down to a simmer, and give it a good stir.
- While the Castile soap is dissolving on the stove, I like to go ahead and add my washing soda and borax to the bucket and give that a stir until it’s dissolved.
- Next, it’s time to check on the pot of water and Castile. It usually takes about 10 minutes for it to fully dissolve on low heat. Once the Castile has dissolved, turn the stove off and pour the liquefied soap into your bucket. (It’s fine if there’s a few small pieces of soap that haven’t quite dissolved.)
- If you want to add essential oil, now is the time to add it to your bucket. I’ll usually add about 20 drops to ours. I’ve been using a clean linen scent, which smells so good. Personally, I prefer tea tree oil, but my family loathes it entirely; so, compromise, right?! Then, give your detergent another really good, final stir.
It’ll be a bit watery, but it will thicken overnight depending on your storage climate. I store mine in our laundry room, and it’s usually “congealed” by the next morning, when it’s time to start another load in the wash. From there, I do like to stir my detergent occasionally before use to keep the mixture homogenized, but it’s really not necessary – it’s still just as effective when it’s a bit thick.
Conclusion
And that’s it! With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you now have an effective, natural liquid laundry detergent that costs about 10 cents per load. It’s a great way to save money, reduce waste, and avoid the harsh chemicals found in many commercial detergents. Plus, there’s a certain satisfaction in knowing exactly what goes into the products we use every day.
If you try this recipe, let me know how it works for you in the comments below! Thanks for joining me today, and until next time, keep living simply well!
Simply Amber Marie 