How to Make Homemade (and Cheap!!) Laundry Detergent

About a year ago, I started making all of my own cleaners for our house and I have been so happy with the results. First of all, they are SO cheap to make and they clean just as nicely as the store bought ones, but my main reason for making my own is to avoid the chemicals. I truly don’t think that people realize what they are spraying into their house when they are using popular cleaning products.

By stocking up on a couple super cheap and easily found ingredients, you can make nearly anything! I plan to do an in depth post on all my cleaning products later, but today I want to share with you the thriftiest cleaning recipe I have, Laundry Detergent!

Here is the cost breakdown:

Fels Naptha: $.97 for a 5.5 oz bar. My recipe uses about 1/2 of a bar which makes the cost about .50 cents.

Washing Soda: $3.00 for a 55 oz. box. Since you use 8 oz. of soda (1 cup) that is .44 cents a batch.

Borax: $3.50 for a 76 oz. box. Since you again use 8 oz., this comes out to .34 cents per batch.

So here we go .50+.44+.34= $1.28!!!! You use 1 tbsp. per load and this batch lasts us about 2 months!! Seriously, you cannot beat that price!!

Here’s the recipe:

Laundry Detergent
1 cup soap flakes (just use a box grater to make fine flakes)
1 cup Borax*
1 cup Washing Soda
-Mix together and store in an airtight container. Use 1 tbsp. per load and one batch lasts us about 2 month. I like to double the recipe so that I only have to shred soap once!

*Borax is not the same as Boric Acid and is only harmful is swallowed in large amounts.