Your Guide to Homemade Laundry Detergent

In a world where sustainability and self-sufficiency are increasingly valued, making your own household products has become a popular endeavor. Among these, homemade laundry detergent stands out as a practical and eco-friendly alternative to store-bought options. 

If you’re looking for an exclusive recipe on how to make your own homemade laundry detergent, you’ve come to the right place! We’ll also share the best alternatives for your additional laundry needs such as laundry sheets and more. Start cleaning your clothes more sustainability now! 

Benefits of making your own laundry detergent 

Making your own laundry detergent has helpful benefits for both your home and for the environment. You’ll have more control over the ingredients in your laundry detergent. On average, liquid laundry detergents are made up of 60 to 90 percent water. If you choose to make your own detergent, you can control how much cleaning solution is added. 

In the same way, if you or your family members have sensitivities or allergies to certain chemicals, you have control over what should be added and what shouldn’t. Lastly, according to Green America.org, conventional detergents are made from synthetic chemicals that are harmful to the environment and can pollute waterways. Making your own homemade laundry detergent can help combat this environmental impact. 

How to make homemade laundry detergent 

To make your own homemade laundry detergent, there are three main ingredients you don’t want to leave out: borax, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. According to Martha Stewart and our own twist on this recipe, here’s what you’ll need for your recipe for homemade laundry detergent: 

• 1 bar of laundry bar soap 
• 4 cups of baking soda 
• 1 box, 65oz of Borax 
• 1 box, 55oz of Washing soda (Arm & Hammer works).  
• 1 bottle, 32 oz Downy Unstoppables or 55 drops of essential oils for scent. 

Instructions: 

1. Grate the bar of soap using a cheese grater or food processor to make barred soap into a powder. If you’re having trouble breaking down the soap, try microwaving your bar of soap in one-minute intervals, until soap is poofy. Then let your soap cool completely and toss it back into your blender or food processor. 
2. Once you’ve blended your soap, add borax, washing soap, baking soda, and essential oil or Downy Unstoppables and mix until combined.  
3. Store in a cool and dry place for up to a year.  

To use, add 1-2 tablespoons per load. 

*This recipe makes a years-worth of detergent. To start, we recommend making at least 1/4 of this recipe to test and see if it works for you.

Best eco-friendly laundry detergent (according to us) 

When it comes to selecting the best eco-friendly laundry detergent, several factors come into play, including ingredients, packaging, and overall environmental impact. According to us, here are the best plastic-free eco-friendly laundry detergents: 

CLEAN PEOPLE – CLEAN PEOPLE laundry detergent pods work on all washing machines and is kind to septic tanks too. If you’re a fan of recycling, CLEAN PEOPLE is looking to rid the world of single-use plastics by using 100% recycled plastic packaging.  

Blueland – Ditch the traditional plastic-wrapped laundry pods and go for this eco-friendly solution. Blueland’s dry-form tablet lifts stains and dirt like the miracle worker and free from bleach and chemicals. And best yet, their packaging is 3x smaller than the equal load-sized container. 

Super Bee HexaWash – This company offers a laundry detergent substitute for your cleaning needs! With magnesium as their main cleaning ingredient, their cotton cleaning pouches offer zero synthetic chemicals that can be used over and over again. When you mix these pellets with water, they provide the perfect PH level for cleaning clothes, giving a unique cleaning experience. 

Meliora – Meliora offer plastic free laundry powder for all your laundry needs. In terms of packaging, their laundry powder comes in steel containers that you can refill! All Meliora’s components are animal cruelty free, and their products are safe to be around kids. 

Eco-friendly laundry alternatives 

Now that you have what you need to make your own homemade laundry detergent, why not give other eco-friendly laundry products a try? Here are our suggestions for the best laundry alternatives and why you should consider making the switch: 

Eco-friendly fabric softener 

Like laundry detergent, fabric softener also falls victim to not being a friend to the environment. Fabric softeners usually have chemicals like parabens and synthetic fragrances. They also come in plastic bottles that are not sustainable and do not break down easily when thrown away. 

As an alternative, eco-friendly fabric softeners come in easily recyclable packaging. Some eco-friendly fabric softeners are made with natural plant based ingredients for an extra sustainable punch. Here are our picks for the best eco-friendly fabric softeners: 

• Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day – This company prides themselves on making laundry products that is simply “down to earth” and they mean it! Made from cruelty free formulas and garden inspired scents, Mrs. Meyers doesn’t disappoint. 
• ATTITUDE – Also using naturally sourced ingredients for their products, ATTITUDE offers EWG VERIFIED™ dermatologically tested components. 
• Ecover Fabric Softener – Ecover is one of the most popular fabric softeners. This liquid fabric softener is made with a nontoxic formula with ingredients sourced from plants only. Most conveniently of all, the Ecover brand can be found in in your local grocery stores like Walmart and more. 
• Eco-Max – Not only does Eco-Max use natural ingredients in their products, their company and day to day office life goes the extra green mile too. The office and production plant of Eco-Max operates entirely on renewable energy. Thus, you’re not just purchasing an eco-friendly product, but it’s also produced in the most sustainable manner possible. 

Eco-friendly dryer sheets 

If you’re looking to ditch bottled fabric softener completely but don’t want to sacrifice the feel of your clothing, fabric softener sheets are a great option! Fabric softener sheets are incredibly easy to use. Simply toss one or two sheets into the dryer with your laundry without the mess or waste of detergent.  

However, similar to bottled fabric softener, dryer sheets re loaded with chemicals and fragrances that can harm both you and the planet. To help combat this, give eco-friendly dryer sheets a try! Here are our favorite options for eco-friendly dryer sheets: 

Grab Green – Made from non-toxic ingredients, Grab Green’s dryer sheets are amazing. In the same way, this company has paved the way for innovative tech from their Velcro closure pouches to their detergent pod delivery system. 

Molly’s Suds – Molly’s uses the purest of ingredients to formulate products without carcinogens or known human toxins.  

Eco-Shark – Eco-Shark aims to keep your clothing fresh and clean without synthetic fragrances and dryer-clogging chemicals. 

How to make your own homemade fabric softener sheets 

Other eco-friendly laundry practices 

If you can’t make your own homemade laundry detergent or our eco-friendly suggestions don’t work for you, no worries! Here’s how you can make your laundry practices much more eco-friendly: 

1. Wash Full Loads: Washing full loads reduces water and energy usage per garment, making your laundry routine more efficient and eco-friendly. 
2. Use Cold Water: 90% of energy used for washing clothes comes from heating water. Washing clothes in cold water instead of hot or warm water can significantly reduce energy consumption.  
3. Air Dry When Possible: Whenever feasible, skip the dryer and air dry your clothes instead. Hanging clothes on a drying rack or clothesline not only saves energy but also extends the life of your garments and reduces wear and tear from the heat of the dryer. 
4. Choose Energy-Efficient Appliances: When it’s time to upgrade your washing machine and dryer, opt for energy-efficient models that are designed to use less water and electricity. Look for appliances with Energy Star certification, which indicates they meet high energy-efficiency standards. 
5. Avoid Over-Drying: Be mindful not to over-dry your clothes in the dryer. Remove garments promptly once they’re dry to prevent unnecessary energy consumption and reduce the risk of shrinkage and damage to fabrics. 

In the quest for sustainability and self-sufficiency, homemade laundry detergent emerges as a practical and eco-conscious alternative to commercial options. Whether through homemade solutions or consciously chosen products, embracing eco-friendly laundry practices contributes to a cleaner, greener home and planet.