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DIY Homemade Laundry Detergent without Borax: Save Money and Protect Your Family

Moms today are faced with a difficult decision when it comes to laundry detergent: trust store-bought products that may contain potentially harmful chemicals, or try to make their own at home? Fortunately, there is an easy solution.

By making your own homemade laundry detergent without borax powder, you can have peace of mind knowing that what you’re using on your family’s clothes is safe and natural.

homemade laundry detergent without borax

This recipe is simple enough for anyone to make and uses ingredients like baking soda, washing soda, Epsom salt and essential oils – all of which are gentle on fabrics but still effective in getting rid of dirt and grime. Plus it costs just pennies per load!

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Say goodbye to harsh chemicals and hello to a safer clean with this easy, borax-free homemade powder laundry detergent recipe.

Why Should You Make DIY Laundry Soap

Making your own easy homemade laundry detergent is an excellent way to protect your family and avoid using potentially harmful chemicals found in many commercial detergents.

Most store-bought laundry detergents contain artificial fragrances, artificial colors, and chemicals like phosphates, bleach, formaldehyde, 1,4-Dioxane, and more.

commercial laundry detergent with clean towels

By making your own detergent with natural ingredients, you can rest assured that your family is not being exposed to any of these dangerous chemicals.

In addition to being safer for the environment and your family’s health, making DIY laundry detergent powder also saves money. You can make enough natural laundry detergent for hundreds of loads using only a few dollars worth of ingredients.

Plus, you can customize the recipe to suit your needs and create a scent that is perfect for your family.

Finally, homemade detergent is much gentler on fabric and skin than commercial brands – making it great if you have sensitive skin or are washing cloth diapers.

Benefits of Homemade Laundry Detergent 

Making my own laundry detergent powder was something I never thought I would do, until I started cloth diapering my first born. He had very sensitive skin and even “natural” commercial products often left him with a painful rash.

I knew I had to find something safer and gentler that would still clean our diapers effectively. That’s when I discovered the benefits of making my own laundry detergent! Not only did it save money, but it was also much gentler on his delicate skin.

Since then, I’ve perfected my recipe for homemade detergent and I’m excited to share it with you.

This recipe use natural ingredients like baking soda, washing soda, Epsom salt and essential oils to create a powerful and effective detergent.

These ingredients are safe for your fabrics and skin, while still being effective in tackling dirt and grime.

Plus, they are gentle on sensitive skin or cloth diapers – making them an excellent choice for any household.

Is Borax harmful in laundry detergent?

Borax, a naturally-existing mineral compound, has been utilized for generations as an efficient household cleaner.

With a pH of around 9.1 and its alkaline nature, it is ideal for eliminating acidic stains on clothing such as ketchup or mustard before putting them in the washing machine.

Despite being organic however, borax should not be considered safe; since it is exceedingly basic in composition, contact with skin might lead to irritation.

homemade laundry detergent without borax ingredients - baking soda

What You’ll Need to Make Detergent

Making your own homemade laundry detergent without borax is much easier than you may think. All you need is a few ingredients, some essential oils and a food processer.

Here’s what you’ll need to make enough detergent for up to 30 loads:

Baking Soda

Baking soda is an incredible natural cleaning agent that has been used for generations to clean, deodorize and remove stains. It’s a must-have ingredient in any homemade laundry detergent because of its powerful cleansing and deodorizing properties.

Baking soda acts as a natural pH buffer, which helps to neutralize the acidity in the water, making it easier for detergents to wash away dirt and grime. It also helps to soften hard water, which can make laundry cleaning more effective.

Washing Soda

Washing soda is another powerful natural cleaner that has been used for generations as a multipurpose product. You can usually find it in a large yellow box in the laundry aisle of the grocery store.

Its alkaline properties help to dissolve dirt and remove stains from clothes, while its hygroscopic properties help to soften the water – making it easier for laundry detergents to do their job.

Epsom Salt

Epsom salt is another powerful natural cleaning agent that has been used for centuries. It’s a mineral compound made up of magnesium and sulfate, and it has some fantastic cleaning properties.

Epsom salt is highly effective at removing dirt and grime from clothes by binding with dirt and oils so they can be washed out of fabrics.

Salt

Salt is proven effective against blood, gravy, wine, ink, mildew and grease stains. I’ve also found that it’s great at getting out set in stains that make white fabrics dingy.

Essential Oils

Finally, adding essential oils to your laundry detergent will help to add a pleasant fragrance while also imparting the beneficial properties of some oils like energy from citrus, relaxation from lavender, and tea tree for germ fighting.

Step by Step Directions 

To make the detergent, you’ll need to combine all of the ingredients in a food processor. This will ensure that the ingredients are mixed evenly and thoroughly.

Once everything is combined, you can add your choice of essential oils to give your detergent a pleasant scent. I recommend using lavender or lemon for a light, refreshing smell.

Next, you’ll need to store your detergent in an airtight container. Mason jars work great for this!

To use, add 1-2 tablespoons of the detergent to your washing machine per load. Adjust according to water type and soil level.

This recipe is based upon use in my balanced water. If you have soft water, you may actually need more Epsom salt. If you have hard water, you may need less.

Remember, this recipe won’t create suds, so don’t use that as a basis for whether the Epsom salt is making your water too hard. Determine how you will adjust the recipe based upon if the clothes look and smell clean after a wash cycle.

If you find that your laundry is still not as clean as you would like, try adding 1 cup of white vinegar directly to the wash cycle. This will help to dissolve any mineral deposits from hard water and give your detergent a boost of cleaning power.

homemade laundry detergent without borax

Homemade Laundry Detergent Without Borax

Yield: 30 loads
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Save money and protect your family with this easy-to-make homemade laundry detergent without borax.

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 c Baking Soda
  • 1 1/2 c Washing Soda
  • 1/2 c Epsom Salt
  • 2 Tbsp Salt
  • Essential Oils

Instructions

    1. To make the detergent, you’ll need to combine all of the ingredients in a food processor. This will ensure that the ingredients are mixed evenly and thoroughly.
    2. Once everything is combined, you can add your choice of essential oils to give your detergent a pleasant scent. I recommend using lavender or lemon for a light, refreshing smell.
    3. Next, you’ll need to store your detergent in an airtight container. Mason jars work great for this!
    4. To use, add 1-2 tablespoons of the detergent to your washing machine per load. Adjust according to water type and soil level.

Notes

This recipe is based upon use in my balanced water. If you have soft water, you may actually need more Epsom salt. If you have hard water, you may need less.

Remember, this recipe won't create suds, so don't use that as a basis for whether the Epsom salt is making your water too hard. Determine how you will adjust the recipe based upon if the clothes look and smell clean after a wash cycle.

If you find that your laundry is still not as clean as you would like, try adding 1 cup of white vinegar directly to the wash cycle. This will help to dissolve any mineral deposits from hard water and give your detergent a boost of cleaning power.

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Tips for Optimal Cleaning With Homemade Laundry Detergent 

Making your own detergent is a great way to save money and reduce the amount of chemicals you are using on your fabrics. However, there are a few tips that can help you optimize its effectiveness.

Wash Dirty Laundry ASAP

The sooner you can get your laundry in the wash, the better. This will help to prevent stains from setting and reduce the amount of dirt and grime that needs to be removed.

Pre-Soak Smelly Laundry with White Vinegar

If you have a really dirty or smelly load, consider pre-soaking it in vinegar and water for at least an hour in the washing machine before washing. This will help to dissolve dirt and grime, while also eliminating odors.

Pre-Treat Stains Before Washing

For tough stains, it’s best to pre-treat them before washing. Simply apply a paste of laundry detergent and water to the affected area and let sit for five minutes before laundering as usual. You can also use other natural stain removers like baking soda, lemon juice, or table salt. This will help to break down the stain and leave your fabrics looking good as new.

Add White Vinegar to Your Rinse Cycle

Adding a cup of white vinegar to your rinse cycle can help to soften fabrics and rinse away excess detergent. It can also reduce static cling and replace your fabric softener.

jeans on clothesline - Dry Laundry on the Clothesline

Dry Laundry on the Clothesline

Hanging your laundry outside to dry is a great way to save energy and extend the life of your fabrics. The sun’s UV rays can also help to naturally whiten whites and brighten colors.

FAQs About Homemade Detergents 

Still have questions about making your own homemade laundry detergent? I’ve compiled a list of my most frequently asked questions. Feel free to ask any additional questions in the comments below.

Does powdered laundry detergent work as well as liquid soap?

Yes, powdered detergents can be just as effective as liquid. However, liquid detergents tend to dissolve more quickly and can leave less residue on fabrics.

Is homemade laundry detergent effective?

Yes, homemade detergents can be just as effective as store-bought brands. However, it’s important to adjust the recipe according to your water type and soil level for optimal cleaning results.

Can I use baking soda instead of washing soda?

No, baking soda is not a substitute for washing soda. Washing soda has a higher pH level and is more effective at removing dirt and grime from fabrics.

Can I use regular salt instead of Epsom salt?

No, table salt will not work as a substitute for Epsom salt. Epsom salt contains magnesium sulfate which helps to harden soft water and make detergents more effective.

What’s the difference between laundry detergent and laundry soap?

From Chris Woodford on Explain That Stuff, “Often we use the words ‘soap’ and ‘detergent’ interchangeably, but really they’re quite different things. A detergent is a chemical substance you use to break up and remove grease and grime, while soap is simply one kind of detergent.”

Soap is typically made with natural ingredients such as animal fat, vegetable oils, and lye.

While this recipe also uses natural ingredients, I’ve classified it as a detergent because it does not contain any soap.

Is homemade laundry detergent safe for HE washing machines?

Yes, homemade laundry detergent can be safely used with HE washers. However, it is important to use the correct amount of detergent as too much can leave residue on your fabrics and damage the machine over time.

This recipe in particular is great for HE washers because it does not contain soap nor does it create suds.

Can I mix this with water to make liquid laundry detergent?

Yes, you can mix this with water to create a liquid detergent. Simply dissolve two tablespoons of the powder detergent in one cup of warm water and use as you would any other liquid laundry detergent.

Does this recipe work for cloth diapers?

Yes, this homemade detergent is safe for cloth diapers.

Final Thoughts

Making your own laundry detergent is an easy, cost-effective way to keep your garments clean and fresh. Plus, you’ll know exactly what ingredients are in your detergent – no more worrying about potentially harmful chemicals or artificial fragrances. It takes just a few minutes of prep time to mix up the ingredients for this detergent, and the results are well worth it. Give it a try today!

Good luck with your homemade laundry detergent journey! Be sure to let us know how it turns out. If you have any questions or need help troubleshooting, please feel free to reach out. We’d love to hear from you.

Viola

Sunday 29th of August 2021

do you have to use a food processor for this?

Lisa Bachiller

Friday 3rd of September 2021

Hi Viola. You need to use food processor to blend all the ingredients until they're combined.

Anonymous

Sunday 30th of September 2018

I made this recipe, but it caked and became hard. I like the way it cleans, but this caking is making it difficult to use. Any suggestions?

Bonnie

Friday 12th of October 2018

How are you storing your detergent? It will absorb moisture from the air, so it needs to be stored in an airtight container. It also helps to use it up within a few weeks of making it.

Coccinelle

Thursday 26th of July 2018

Hi! I'm looking forward to finally start making my own laundry detergent and I'm really curious to know where you got your information that epsom salt is a surfactant. I can't seem to find this information anywhere. Thanks!

Bonnie

Tuesday 7th of August 2018

First, let me apologize for taking so long to apply. I wanted to make sure I researched and got you accurate information. The website I originally got that information from is no longer a working site, and I couldn't find the information about it breaking the surface tension of water anywhere else either. I'm going to update this post to remove that information.

What I was surprised to find is that Magnesium Sulfate is actually a common ingredient in commercial detergents (learn something new everyday). I've seen the reasons why ranging from it increasing the viscosity of water (increased friction) to it improving the effectiveness of other ingredients.

Here are some of the more interesting links I came across: http://www.gileschemical.com/docs/MGSO4TYP.pdf http://www.kali-gmbh.com/uken/industrial_products/news/news-20110823-mgso4-washing-powder.html https://www.lenntech.com/periodic/water/magnesium/magnesium-and-water.htm

Charles Johnson

Sunday 8th of July 2018

WOW! lovely like this post. What a great review. it’s really amazing.

Claris

Sunday 1st of July 2018

Hi I’ve a just gotten all the ingredients in the list but am wondering if this detergent formula is good with indoor drying ? As I’m afraid if the cloths would turn musty.

Bonnie

Sunday 1st of July 2018

It shouldn't smell musty as long as there is good air circulation. I also use white vinegar in my rinse cycle, which can help with smells.

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