Homemade washing powder & laundry detergent
Step-by-step guide on how to make a homemade laundry detergent
Not only is it important to adopt a sustainable approach to fashion, but you should also wash your clothes with an environmentally friendly laundry detergent and on the correct program. With eco wash programs and the correct amount of laundry detergent, you will not only protect the environment, but you can also save on electricity and water. You can also make your own eco-friendly laundry detergent. In this guide you will find simple step-by-step instructions on how to make homemade laundry detergent for light, dark and delicate fabrics.
Ingredients needed to make a DIY laundry detergent
If you want to make your own laundry detergent you can find various methods, but most of them are very similar. The exact amount of ingredients varies, but the basic ingredients are usually always the same:
Soda crystals will removes stains
Curd soap has an effective cleaning power
Baking soda can help soften water and remove odours
Citric acid powder has a slight bleaching and decalcifying effect
Gall soap is optional, but it works well on stubborn stains
Essential oils such as lavender, lemon or orange to add fragrance to your laundry detergent, but this is optional
Tip: If you want to make your own liquid laundry detergent, you will also need water.
To store your DIY detergent, you can use clean jars for washing powder or you can reuse empty glass bottles or tubs for liquid laundry detergent.
The advantages of homemade laundry detergent
By making your own laundry detergent, you can decide which ingredients you will use and how much essentials oils you would like to add. If you tend to be allergic to fragrances or you have particularly sensitive skin you could leave this bit out.
Making your own homemade washing powder for light fabrics
In no time at all you can make your own heavy-duty laundry detergent. Using the following ingredients you can make a homemade washing powder by using soda crystals, some grated curd soap, bicarbonate of soda and some citric acid powder. This detergent has a slight bleaching effect and is therefore better suited to light fabrics.
Ingredients:
150 g soda crystals
150 g baking soda
100 g curd soap
100 g citric acid powder
(Optional) essential oils
Method:
Using a grater grate the curd soap into fine flakes.
Mix all the ingredients together in a clean bowl.
Pour the homemade laundry detergent into a jar with a swing top that is airtight. Alternatively, you can pour the mixture into a jar so that the powdered ingredients do not go everywhere.
Tip: You can add some essential oils to your homemade washing powder for a bit of fragrance, but you will need to add them separately before each wash.
What you should keep in mind when making your own washing powder
When making homemade laundry detergents you should be careful when handling these products. Baking Soda can irritate your skin, eyes and respiratory tract and citric acid can also be an irritant. Therefore, you should wear gloves if you have sensitive skin and avoid contact with your eyes. Try not to breath in any of these substances as it can irritate the inner lining of your nose. Be careful when using the different ingredients as they are very fine like dust and can quickly become messy.
Homemade laundry liquid detergent: great for light and dark fabrics
If you want to make your own liquid laundry detergent for coloured and dark fabrics, you should avoid using citric acid. This type of laundry detergent is a little trickier than washing powder, but it's still easy to make.
Ingredients:
20 g curd soap
20 g gall soap
5 tablespoons of washing soda
2.5L – 3.0L water
(Optional) essential oils
Tip: If you would like to make a vegan laundry detergent use 30 g to 40 g of vegan curd soap instead of gall soap.
Method:
Grate the curd and gall soap into fine flakes and mix thoroughly with the soda crystals in a bowl.
Pour some water into a big pan.
Then add the grated soap and the soda crystals.
Mix all ingredients together using a whisk and let the mixture boil for a couple of minutes. Be careful as it can quickly start to foam and overboil.
Stir the laundry detergent well until the soap flakes have dissolved.
Leave your homemade laundry detergent to cool for about an hour and then bring it back to the boil again for a couple of minutes so that the ingredients are well mixed.
Using a funnel pour the cooled homemade liquid laundry detergent into a clean bottle.
You can also use your liquid laundry detergent for a handwash as it dissolves very easily.
Before buying curd soap double check the ingredients as a lot of curd soaps contain palm oil or animal fats. For Vegans they should use plant-based alternatives and generally make sure that the soaps only use palm oil from an approved organic control body or other oils such as olive oil.
Homemade wool and delicates detergent
You can also make a detergent for a delicates and wool. Soda crystals and baking soda would cause delicate fabrics such as wool and silk to swell, therefore a different ingredient needs to be used to help remove grease and dirt. DIY laundry detergent experts recommend using a high percentage alcohol such as methylated spirits for this.
Ingredients:
250 ml water
100 ml methylated spirits
50 g curd soap
Tip: You can also add some essential oils.
Method:
Grate the curd soap into small flakes.
Mix the grated curd soap and water together in a pan and then bring to the boil.
Take the pan off the heat and leave the mixture to cool.
Then add the methylated spirits to the mixture and mix well.
Once cooled put the wool and delicates detergent mixture into a clean bottle.
The methylated spirits can make your homemade wool and delicates detergent smell strongly of alcohol. By using some essential oils you can create a more pleasant fragrance. Using the measurements from above you should add around 10 drops of essential oils.
How to use homemade detergents
Using homemade detergents are no different from shop bought detergents, but you may need to give it a few goes in order to find the correct amount needed for doing a wash. However, this all depends on the hardness of the water, the amount and weight of the washing and how dirty the washing is. The following amounts can be used to help give you an idea:
Homemade washing powder: use around 1 to 3 tablespoons (30 to 50 g) depending on how dirty the washing is and the hardness of the water.
Homemade laundry liquid detergent: use around 100 bis 200 ml depending on how dirty the washing is and the hardness of the water.
Homemade wool and delicates detergent: use around 50 bis 100 ml depending on how dirty the washing is and the hardness of the water.
When using liquid laundry detergents make sure to give the mixture a good shake before use in case the curd soap has separated.
It’s recommended that you pre-treat stubborn stains with curd or gall soap. You can also remove larger stains or unpleasant odours by soaking the laundry overnight in a bucket of water with dissolved soda crystals.
Safe handling of DIY laundry detergents
Both shop bought detergents and homemade laundry detergents can cause deposits to form in your washing machine, especially if you have hard water in your area.
Therefore, it is important to regularly clean your washing machine with a descaler or with a suitable washing machine cleaner. You need to make sure to clean the inside, the detergent drawer, the door seals, the lint filter and if necessary the waste water hose.
You should also put a 60 or 90°C wash cycle on at least once or twice a month to kill any bacteria in the machine and to remove any detergent residue. It is often recommended not to use any harsh products such as vinegar essence because it can damage the seals, hoses and metal parts of the washing machine. For the best tips on keeping your washing machine clean and working check the manufacturers handbook on which cleaners or descalers are recommended.
Tip: It is recommended to follow the instructions on the back of the product when using cleaning products or descalers.
Conclusion: making your own DIY laundry detergent with just a few ingredients
Laundry detergents are easy to make and are therefore an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional detergents. A big advantage is that you know exactly what is in your own homemade laundry detergent, which is particularly important for allergy sufferers or vegans. Making your own laundry detergent with ingredients such as citric acid and baking soda gives you an insight into how different environmentally friendly household cleaning products are made.
______________________________________________
References and further information:
https://www.asustainablelife.co.uk/homemade-plastic-free-washing-powder/
(Last accessed on 06.04.2024)
https://bootsandhooveshomestead.com/diy-natural-laundry-detergent/
(Last accessed on 06.04.2024)
https://www.netmums.com/life/easy-and-cheap-homemade-laundry-detergent-recipe
(Last accessed on 06.04.2024)
https://thehouseandhomestead.com/homemade-laundry-detergent-recipe/
(Last accessed on 06.04.2024)
The image sources in this text are in chronological order:
All images in this text are from C&A
