12/05/2013

Homemade Laundry soap and Fabric softener - A DIY Laundry Room

DIY all things Laundry

I use the same items in my laundry room as I do in my other DIY green cleaning around the house..

Remember measurements do not need to be exact, that’s part of the beauty of DIY cleaners there is no exact science just mix it the way it works best for you.

+Natural & Frugal: Raising 6 kids

Some of the things you need for DIY laundry are:
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A DIY laundry room How to: Green & healthy, but is DIY as effective as commercial laundry products?
In my home they have been put to the test time & time again & the DIY products never fail us & as an added plus do not bother any of my sensitive skinned family.
If you are one of those people who wants natural & green but not DIY check out this post, where I have a review of Tropical Traditions laundry powder & have a DIY recipe using it as well.

To pin this blog post on Pinterest

My husband is a metal fabricator in a factory where he gets almost totally black & DIY products do an awesome job getting them clean, before this job he worked for 5 years changing oil & DIY worked like a charm. And with 6 kids I have removed every stain imaginable using DIY, I have a few times been referred to as the stain removing queen lol, I don't know about that but I do get many even set in stains out. All these recipes are used in my HE machine. Store all recipes in seal tight containers.
As I have pointed out before when you wash with commercial toxic laundry products they get on your clothes then absorb into your skin & weaken your immune system as a result of the toxins.
Go here for more info on commercial products vs DIY for a better immune system.

 If you do not want to make your own laundry soap/detergent you might want to check out the awesome SmartKlean Laundry ball here.

 To keep mixtures fresh longer & to add sanitizing power add colloidal silver
For recipes that call for Washing soda you can cheaply make your own here , for info on DIY cleaners go here, here, here & here

Laundry soaps

With DIY laundry soaps, powders can be made into liquids by adding to simmering water on the stove & stirring until dissolved, & adding more water to thin as needed (example recipe one would be 2 to 3 gallons of water total once made) Also amounts are subjective & can be different for each person depending on washer brand, HE machines & Brand, & types of water, so it may take a bit of trial & error to get the right amount for you & to not add to much.

To much soap actually cleans the clothes worse than to little does & too much gives clothes a dingy look as well. So start off with a very small amount of soap rather liquid or powder & build up to what works best. A great test to know if you are adding too much soap to your laundry loads is to add about 3 to 4 towels on a large load with the normal amount of soap you use for a large load. Let the washer run through all the cycles until done, then restart the washer on a small load with no soap, during the wash cycle when water is agitating check to see if any soap bubbles are forming, if they are you are using to much soap. Towels are great for this test because they are absorbent.
fels naptha soap

Laundry soap #1 (powdered)
2 cups Borax
2 cups Baking soda
2 cups Washing soda
1 bar grated or shaved Zote or Fels naptha soap
1 cup Epsom salt (optional, but works great to help soften to help stop fading & removes some stains)
Mix well, use 1 to 2 tbsp. per load, adjust up or down to your need

Laundry soap #2 (powdered)
4 bars of  grated or shaved Zote or Fels naptha soap(or use Octagon, castile bars, homemade bars or other natural bars soap)
1 78 oz. box of Borax
6 cups. baking soda
8 cups Washing soda
2 tbsp. of lavender essential oil
2 tbsp of lemon essential oil

Mix together breaking up any clumps, store in airtight container, use 1 to 2 tbsp. per load. (if you do not want to add the bar soap leave it out & use 2 to 5 tbsp. per load.
DIY liquid Landry
Laundry soap #3 (powdered)
2 bars of grated or shaved Zote
2 bars of grated or shaved Fels Naphtha
6 cups baking soda
6 cups washing soda
1 cup Epsom salt
Mix together & use 1 to 2 tbsp. per load.

Laundry soap #4 (liquid)
3 Tablespoons Borax
3 Tablespoons Washing Soda
1 cup natural liquid soap
20 drops eucalyptus or lavender essential oil

Dissolve the borax & washing soda in 3 cups of warm water, then mix with soap in gallon jug  fill all the way with water. , might need to shake to mix before each use.  use 1/2 cup to 1 cup per load.

Fabric softeners

Avoid DIY softeners that use hair conditioners, conditioners have questionable ingredients
 Some people toss tennis balls or other rubber balls into the dryer with clothes.  I’m not a huge fan of this method since the heat of the dryer can cause the rubber to off-gas onto your clothing.  If you have an allergy to latex, this is definitely not the method for you.  Plus, I wouldn’t choose this method if you’re drying delicate clothing items. (8 Toxins Lurking in Your Fabric Softener & 6 Natural Alternatives)

 Fabric softener #1 (rinse cycle)
Choice of one or more of the these
1 cup of white vinegar
1 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup peroxide
1/2 cup Epsom salt
1/4 cup salt
1/2 cup borax

Fabric softener #2 liquid (rinse cycle)
4 cups white vinegar
2 cups lemon juice
20 to 30 drops of lavender essential oil
Add to gallon jug & fill the rest of the way with water, add 1/2 to 1 cup per load

Fabric softener #3 liquid (rinse cycle)
2 cups of baking soda
1 cup salt
20 drops of your favorite essential oil
Add 5 cups of water to a sauce pan & gradually add salt & baking soda, bring to simmer & stir till clear, you may need to add another cup or 2 of water. allow to cool & add to gallon jug, add essential oils & top of with cool water. add 1/2 to 1 cup per load.

Fabric softener #4 powdered (rinse cycle)
2 boxes baking soda
1/2 cup corn starch
1 cup Epsom salt
20 drops of your favorite essential oil
Mix together breaking up any clumps, store in air tight container, use 1/2 cup per load

DIY fabric softener balls, here, here & here, Scented vinegar rinse here

Fabric softening crystals
2 pounds of Epsom salt
30 to 40 drops of your favorite essential oils
Mix up & use 1/4 to 1 cup per load.

Fabric softening for dryer: after clothes are almost dry as dryer starts cooling down or on a cool settings take a dry washcloth & add about 5 drops of your favorite essential oils & leave in until dryer is done.

Other


Bucket or tub Soak

Natural Laundry pre-soak, stain remover, brightener, & to remove odors First fill bath tub half full of hot water, before adding the clothes add 1 cup of baking soda (whitener, stain remover, odor remover) 1/2 cup of salt (for stains) 1/2 cup for colors to 1 cup for whites of peroxide (whitener, brightener, stain remover, odor remover) 1/2 to 1 cup of lemon juice (whitener, brightener, stain remover, odor remover)

Now add the clothes & make sure that they are wet, soak 4+ hours or overnight, then drain & wring out (do not rinse) add to washer as normal.
Options to add to mixture 1 cup of distilled white vinegar (whitener, brightener, stain remover, odor remover) 1 cup of Borax (whitener, brightener, stain remover, odor remover) 1 cup of Lime juice (whitening, brightening) 20 drops of eucalyptus essential oil (odor remover, adds more germ fighting power) Any other essential oil You can also add more baking soda, lemon juice &/or peroxide for really bad stains, odors or dingy clothes Can be done in the washing machine (presoak) if you prefer.
I have never had this mixture fade clothes, but if you are concerned about fading, do a color check & use warm water instead of hot

 DIY Color safe Bleach alternative
2 cups peroxide
2 cups fresh lemon juice or lemon juice concentrate
Add them to an empty gallon milk/vinegar jug & fill the rest of jug with water.
A Color safe bleach alternative that disinfectant. sanitizer, is antibacterial, odor remover, & also can be used as fabric softener. For white loads add 1/2 cup to 2 cups
 for colors add 1/2 cup to 1 cup. Store jug when not in use in dark spot because of the peroxide in it. Options: *I sometimes use 1 cup each peroxide & lemon instead of 2 cups *I sometimes use some lime juice to make it lemon/lime
*You can also add 20 drops lemon essential oil to mixture for a more lemony scent & more disinfectant power (or other essential oil) What I do is add it to the bleach cycle & the rinse cycle on towels. whites etc for extra brightening/whitening & softening power plus odor eliminator.

 DIY oxy clean
1 box of baking soda
1/2 cup of peroxide
Mix into  a crumble, for a liquid version add more peroxide & some water

 To set the colors in towels or new clothes
Add clothes to washer on small load
run cold water with 1/2 cup of salt
1 cup of white vinegar
Let soak overnight then run washer as normal

This blog post originally was part of my DIY cleaning the whole house blog series posted here

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The information on this site it intended for general inquiry, research & informational purposes only & should not be considered a substitute or replacement for trained medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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Cheree of Natural & Frugal: Raising 6 kids
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