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There a number of ways to do this and various recipes depending on personal preferences. The most popular method is to grind together the following ingredients in a food processor then add two tablespoons of the mixture to each load of laundry.
- 1 bar natural, quality soap (Dr. Bronner’s)
- 1 cup washing soda (sodium carbonate)
- 1 cup baking soda (sodium bicarbonate)
- 1 cup Borax (hydrated sodium borate)
There are many other additions to make to a homemade detergent. Instead of a bar of soap, try adding Soap flakes, a natural blend of vegetable oils and purified water. Scent is another important factor in the cleaning process, so why not add a few drops of your favourite essential oil into the mix (mandarin, lavender, fir).
Vinegar is another great, inexpensive ingredient to add to laundry cycles to get clothes clean, bright, and not even remotely smelling of vinegar! Add half a cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle and it can act as a fabric softener, lint reducer, and even eliminate excess detergent residue on clothing. (Note that vinegar should never be mixed with bleach as the fumes produced can be toxic)
Whichever option you decide on, remember that this small change can have a big impact on the body, local water sources, and the planet!
