So it was getting to be about that time to buy another jug of laundry detergent and fabric softener,
and as we were planning our budget for the month, we weren't to thrilled that these products were on the lists of things to buy. Even with coupons, they aren't too "cheap."
The Mrs. remembered coming across blogs and websites in the last year or 2 of people making their own laundry detergent. She thought it was neat, but never really gave it a second thought.
Well, last weekend we decided to go ahead and "give it a second thought." We googled "homemade laundry detgerent" .... and were enlightened about a whole 'nother world out there we never knew existed! ha It turns out.. laundry detergents have paired up with fabric softeners and dryer sheets to form the #1 evil toxin villain team behind global warming and all other horrible things in life... whoa, snap out of it, sorry we were in "pretend" mode with Wyatt for a second (this happens all the time to Mr.). Seriously though, there are some pretty weird things (toxins and chemicals) in these products that enter our bodies through our skin via our clothes.
So when we learned we would 1) save money 2) change our whole laundry process to all natural and 3) help save the environment.... we figured, why not give it a shot?! So off we went to Target and HEB to gather ALL 3 ingredients we would need to make our laundry detergent. 3 things people, it doesn't get any easier than that!
All you need is Borax, Washing Soda, and Soap (Our grand total for these items was $7.68)
We mixed together 2 cups of Borax and 2 cups of Washing Soda
Then added 2 bars of grated soap!
Just stir and store!
(Empty formula can wrapped in scrapbook paper)
This is the powder version but you can also melt the soap and add water and make a liquid version. We use 1-2 tablespoons per load. Based on our smaller (test) batch, it looks like this batch will last us about a month. And there is still plenty of Borax and Washing Soda! We will just need to buy more soap, that 3 pack of Ivory only cost $1.15.
As for the fabric softener, we just ditched it! No more fabric softener to be seen in this house! And the dryer sheets (the leader of the toxic villian team!)... never again will we fall into Snuggle's cuddly little trap! Instead, we just put a couple drops of lavender oil on a washcloth and throw it in the dryer with the wet clothes.
The results..... We haven't had any issues with static cling, which is what dryer sheets are supposed to do. (But even if we did experience static cling, there are tricks for that too!) Our clothes are just as clean as before. The only thing different is they don't have the strong "laundry" smell that comes from all the extra
(; toxic) ingredients. We're never goin' back! So long Tide and Snuggle!
Here's a few websites that we used along the way:
NOTE: Let it be known that we are NOT tree huggin' hippies, just penny pinching poor people. Hence, the reason we embarked on this crazy adventure of making our own laundry detergent.
-Mr. and Mrs.
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