Laundry Love! DIY Laundry Soap & Softener
Life is Like Laundry,
Loads of Fun!
Okay I'm the first to admit, Laundry Day isn't always FUN but, you can brighten the task by EOs! Add some LOVE to your laundry with DIY laundry soap!
My all time favorite DIY Laundry soap is one I've tweaked. The recipe comes from my sister Jillee, of One Good Thing by Jillee. Her "Make a Year's Worth of Laundry Soap for $30" is my favorite by far!
This is one of my Tweaks...
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Here's why! The original soap used in many DIY Laundry Soap recipes is Fels Naptha, I love the stuff but the scent is strong. Since becoming an avid EO user, I prefer to scent my laundry with essential oils. Plus, I can change things up...and this is the 2nd tweak!
When I want calm, I grab my Lavender EO, when I'm feeling bright, a citrus EO!
For a more manly scent ~ Sandalwood!
If I'm washing Bart the puppy's bedding and need to remove pet odor, I grab Eucalyptus or Melaleuca.
The skies the limit!
Last summer, I walked into Jillee's laundry room. Angels were perched on the appliances and a lilting scent was wafting from stacks of brilliant white stacks of folded laundry, not an armpit stain to be found! Her latest laundry creation was born...
"A Year's Worth of Laundry Soap"
Fills {4 to 5} half gallon mason jars!
1 box Borax ($5.85 - 76 ounces)
3 bars Fels Naptha Soap (1.33 x 3) or, Dr. Bonner's Unscented Mild Baby Soap (3.50 x 3)
1 box Washing Soda ($4.07 - 55 ounces)
2 cups of Baking Soda ($0.53 cents)
2 containers of Dollar Tree Oxyclean (Family Dollar store…SUN Brand…$4.00 each)
**1-2 containers of Purex fabric softener crystals ($6.97 - 28 ounces)
**I choose to omit the fabric softener crystals and use a white vinegar and lavender rinse instead.
More on that in a minute!
Use 4 tablespoons of DIY Laundry Soap for a Large Load of Laundry!
Photographic Tutorial {CLICK HERE}
On to Fabric Softener!
{ Naturally soft, naturally fragrant fabric softener }
Not everyone likes to add fabric softener because of chemicals etc. My Mike doesn't like the feel of fabric softener, he prefers crispness to his clothes (the man is a purest!).
Alas, if you're a comfort and fragrance freak like I am, there's a great chemical-free option for us!
A, make your own fabric softener that's as simple as buying a quart of white vinegar...
To a quart of white vinegar, add 40 drops of Lavender essential oil or any other EO you prefer.
Add 1/2 cup of your natural fabric softener to the rinse cycle or to a fabric softener ball that you throw in with the wash.
You'll love it!
Interesting note! While the laundry soap recipe is quite LARGE I didn't believe it could last a year! I may have to eat my words because six months later, I still have plenty of mean, green and clean laundry soap in the pantry :))
Enjoy!
As always, enjoy a 10% savings on all Spark Naturals orders!
coupon code: campwander
As always, enjoy a 10% savings on all Spark Naturals orders!
coupon code: campwander
posted by Rebecca @ 9:30 AM
14 Comments
14 Comments:
Can this laundry soap be used in HE machines?
yes, it can be used in HE washers..its low to no sudsing. I have made this now for 2 years and have had to do 2 batches a year but still WAY cheaper than store bought. ( I think that because I gave a bunch away for people too try is why I needed so much) but Love this laundry soap.
I was wondering if both can be used in an HE washer. Also my boys have sensitive skin are these ok for them to use?
I have used this for over a year now and have had to make 3 batches. I have two males in my house that are very big mess makers and work hard, then two girls. I love this stuff! I do not use the softener crystals. I make softener with epson salt and crystals. I just mix and entire container of epson salt with two lids of crystals. I put two Tbls of this epson mixer per wash cycle. If you ever have a stain or smell arm pits make a paste and rub into the problem for extra stain fighting.
Could you give us container sizes. The end product could be much different based on what size containers we use.
Tina, we have very sensitive skin in my home and the Dr. Bronnars is the only soap we use. Absolutely no problems and we never use fabric softener, don't need it with the Dr. B's. You could use an extra 1/2c of baking soda in addition to the soap and make sure to use the vinegar to remove any residue that might be left, it also softens your clothes very nicely.
If this is the first time your using this it might take a few washes to get the full effect of this soap. Your stripping the chemicals and old detergents off of your clothing and you will notice a difference after that. If you take an article of clothing that was washed in your last detergent ad place that n a bowl of warm water with a little vinegar, you will see how much residue is on your clothing. This is the culprit for most skin problems.
Wonderful advice, thank you so much! How is the detergent on getting car grease out of jeans? My husband works on cars and gets pretty dirty :-)
Tina,you're welcome! My husband works construction so I know a little about grease. I have to say that you'll need a little extra something for that. I use Dr.Bronners SalSuds. I wet the really bad parts of his clothes with water and then apply the SalSuds full strength. ( it's highly concentrated) I will then take a hand scrub brush and work this in. I let it sit for a couple hours or sometimes overnight, then wash as usual.( you could also add extra borax depending on the softness of your water) You can add a 1/4 of SS to the wash cycle along with the laundry soap. Depending on how you feel about Dawn that can be made into a pre-treater and works very well. Make sure to use the hottest water temp possible to remove grease stains. Dr. Bronners granddaughter has a web sight and there's some great info on there. Hope I was able to help
We lived in a brand new home with toxic mold and we all have compromised immune systems so everything in my home has to be as natural as possible. We can't handle anything with artificial fragrances, dyes etc... EO's have been a God-Send to us.
Like you Rebecca, I love Jillee's laundry soap recipes (although I'm one who likes LIQUID laundry soap). I also think Fels Naptha has a strong scent. So, I found Kirk's Castile Coconut Soap at Meijer (regional grocery/general merchandise store). Problem solved! I get to use Jillee's recipes and don't end up with the strong scent of Fels Naptha...BONUS The coconut soap is made with coconut oil! Yes, I'm a happy camper!
Win Win!! :)
Can you use the Dr. Bronner's All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Soap, Lavender?
Sure!
That is great advice!! Thank you for the help.
We have a water softener and an HE machine. Would I use less of this ? And can you omit the baking soda? I heard it's harsh on the clothes ?
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