Homemade Detergent

This blog is for you if you’re interested in fragrance-free laundry detergent.

Back story,

I’d say that the lightbulb went off for me when I read the back of a laundry detergent that I was buying from the co-op. It was a seemingly clean, natural, and expensive detergent… until I realized that I was duped. Yep, I was green washed, believing a product was a clean and healthy choice due to it’s branding. My how todays brands are tricky!

Now, I had been using this detergent to clean my clothes for months. During that time, I was also receiving an influx of comments on the way that I smelled. I was attracting attention, and it wasn’t my pheromones. 

“Is that Patchouli?” the gas station clerk asked me. Amazed at the precise nose on the gal, I excitedly said “yes it is!”

At the coffee shop, the barista closed her eyes and inhaled a big breath of air, saying “I smell Patchouli!”. 

What began as my own astonishment turned into suspicion. Something smelled off, and it wasn’t the patchouli.

I finally read the ingredient label for this hippy detergent. Under the impression that this brand of detergent used essential oil, I was in for a surprise. And there it was. The one word that I’ve proudly slashed out of the majority of products that I consume. And let me tell you (IMHO), this ingredient has no room in your home and on your body if you’re aiming to live a toxic free lifestyle… FRAGRANCE. (insert intense eye brow furrow).

So, you may wonder, what’s the big deal with fragrance? Oh, I don’t know… because fragrance is composed of thousands of chemicals created in a laboratory. And those very same chemicals are considered allergens, hormone disrupters, neurotoxins and carcinogens. 

What does clean smell like? An ocean breeze? A bouquet of flowers? Citrus? To answer my initial question, clean doesn’t smell like anything. It’s void of scent. That being said, laundry detergents only job should be to remove built up and stains without imparting a fake scent. Because just because something smells like “clean”- it doesn’t make it clean.

That’s why I was (and am) so happy to have discovered a laundry detergent recipe that I can easily make myself, void of any fragrances. This recipe originally comes from Steph over at Hopewell Heights. I’ve made a few adjustments, like using liquid castile soap instead of bar soap, and increasing the measurement from 6 oz to 1 Cup.

I buy the liquid castile soap from Azure Standard. And I pick up the Washing Soda and Borax from Walmart, over in the cleaning product aisle. Although my local Walmart also carries the liquid castile soap over in the health & beauty section, I like using Azure Standard because it’s a wholesome-feeling way to purchase goods for the home.

I’ve made multiple batches of this laundry detergent from one pick up of these ingredients, which makes this laundry detergent an economical choice.

Recipe for Fragrance-Free Laundry Detergent

Ingredients:
1 cup fragrance-free liquid castile soap
1 cup Borax
1 cup Super Washing Soda 
4 cups water, boiling
Additional piping hot water (read notes below)

I’ve found that this recipe is best done in a bathtub to avoid a mess on the floor. 

Method:

In a large 5 gallon bucket, stir together the borax and washing soda until mixed together.
Pour boiling water into a bowl and add in castile soap. Stir.
Pour the soap & water mixture overtop of the washing soda & borax. Stir until no lumps occur.
Fill the 5 gallon bucket half way full with hot water. Perform a final stir for good measure 🙂

*you can skip this step if you wish to keep the detergent in the 5 gallon bucket with a lid*

Now gently pour detergent into mason glass jars and screw on the lid.
Store away for all your laundry needs!

For laundry, eyeball about 1/2 cup of the detergent and wash as you normally would. *separation does occur. Simply give the detergent a good shake or stir before using.

*I’ve found that the final measure of water does need to be piping hot! When I top off the detergent with lukewarm water, the detergent clumps. Adding almost boiling water does not impart separation.

Final thoughts on this detergent,

It actually works! I’ve removed blood from light fabric pants.

It’s fun to give this detergent away as gifts. Especially when stored it in a cute jar.

It’s cheap. Equaling about $1 or less a gallon, depending on prices of your store for the three ingredients that it requires.

It’s simple. Who doesn’t love reading a simple ingredient label, with ingredients you can count on one hand.

Lastly,

You can feel good about it. Switching over to this detergent is an empowered move you can make for yourself and your family to nourish their health through cleaning clothes without harmful ingredients. The skin is our largest organ, and anytime we saturate our clothing with harmful ingredients, it leaches into our bloodstream.

xo,
Paula