I have been getting many people ask about a homemade laundry detergent, so for those interested, here is the one I have used for over 2 years.  Again, this is a repost of my previous blog. This is so cheap and has no chemicals!

Ingredients:
1 large container for mixing and storing
1 box Borax (76 oz.)
1 box Baking Soda (64 oz.)
1 box Washing Soda (55 oz.)
3 bars mild (preferably homemade) soap, finely grated

Directions:
Combine all ingredients and stir well.
Store in a tightly shut container away from the kid-os.
For HE washing machines, as well as homes with soft water, use 1 tablespoon per load.
For homes with hard water (like myself) use 2 tablespoons per load.
For cloth diapers, use half of the amount of detergent you would normally use.

Tips and Sidenotes:
I store my detergent in a 5 gallon bucket I got for free at my usual grocery store. In the bakery section of many grocery stores they will give these to you for free, all you have to do is ask… And then clean the bucket… And also smell frosting the entire drive home while trying to convince yourself not to turn around to buy a red velvet cake with cream cheese icing… Luckily I only live 5 minutes away!

This is an unscented detergent so don’t expect the same smell as you would with your normal detergent. The “clean” smell we associate with laundry is usually the chemicals. Now, the clothes do not come out smelling dirty, they just smell like, well nothing really. By all means feel free to experiment with essential oils, but that will raise the price, of course. You can also buy a laundry “booster” from the store, but just be aware that those are not all natural and you may not want to use that for children and certainly not cloth diapers. I actually do that for option my hubby… Compromise is a beautiful thing in a marriage people.

For cloth diapers, try using melaleuca to keep the smell away.  Also, experiment with lavender or citrus oils for a refreshing scent.  Lemon essential oil can be used to take the “stink” out of towels you forgot you left in the washer 3 days ago.  I love dōTERRA essential oils and you can order them at http://www.mydoterra.com/amandagerber 🙂

This detergent usually lasts my family of 5 about 5 months and costs around $15.

What are your thoughts on homemade detergent? Do you have a recipe or laundry tip you would like to share?