DIY cleaning solutions might seem like a step toward cost-effective, sustainable living, but this approach may fall short when it comes to laundry care. In fact, homemade laundry detergent can ruin clothing, pose environmental and health risks, and even damage your washing machine, among other consequences.
HOW THE INGREDIENTS WORK TOGETHER
Washing Soda: The science behind washing soda is that it is made of sodium carbonate. Sodium carbonate is used as a cleaning agent, which softens the water. When the water becomes softened with the sodium carbonate, it allows other cleaning ingredients to “lift” soil from the fabrics.
The washing soda basically “grabs” the metals and minerals in the water and keeps them from adhering to the clothing. This allows soap to work much more effectively.
Washing Soda gets a 3 rating on the ThinkDirty App for potential mild skin irritation.
Important Tips: If your clothes are not well rinsed, the residue from the reaction between washing soda and minerals and metals can be left on clothing. This would make clothing feel rough and typically not very comfortable.
In your Washing Machine: This type of compound is in most laundry detergents and is considered safe for your washing machine.
Baking Soda: Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. Because this is food grade it is considered 100% safe in terms of products and chemicals. Baking soda helps regulate the pH level in your washing machine’s water by keeping it from being too acidic or too alkaline.
Important Tips: The type of water you have in your washing machine makes a big difference when it comes to your clothes.
The baking soda essentially makes any soap or detergent work more effectively and also reduces bacteria.
In terms of your clothing, it acts as a softener. The baking soda in any rinse cycle will suspend detergent and mineral deposits within the water. This keeps them from re-depositing onto clothing, which would make them feel stiff.
In Your Washing Machine: Baking soda is a great way to reduce suds and soap in your washing machine. It helps minimize any excess soap and is great for HE washing machines.
Bar Soap: Bar soap like Castile or Zote Soap or Fels-Naptha is just that, a soap. NOT a detergent. Detergent is different. The main difference is that detergent contains a surfactant. Surfactants are substances that reduce the surface tension of a liquid, allowing a liquid to be dissolved better.
Surfactants break up stains and suspend the dirt into the water, which prevents it from redepositing the dirt back into your fabrics. (Thus the concept of a rinse cycle). Basically, dirt does not normally dissolve in water, is made dispersible by the surfactants so it can be removed by rinsing and washing water cycles.
Bar soaps are generally made of oils and fats, which means they don’t dissolve in cold water very well. If you’re using bar soap, you will want to wash it in hot or warm water. Soap is less soluble and can become embedded into fibers, so they must be rinsed out thoroughly.
Important Tips: A lot of these soaps get a mid rating grade on the Think Dirty App due to the ingredients, fragrances and dyes. Make sure your choosing a soap that is really chemical and toxin free.
In your Washing Machine: These bar soaps typically do not produce a lot of lather and are therefore safe for all washing machines.
Borax: First, let me preface this with Borax being one of those debated ingredients. Some say it’s safe, others say it’s toxic. The Think Dirty App gives it a half and half rating.
Borax is found deep within the ground, and is a sodium borate decahydrate, a mineral compound. The pH of Borax is 9.5, which means it increases the effectiveness of other soaps and bleaches in the water.
In Your Washing Machine: Borax is a powder and is considered safe to use in the washing machine.
Affordable Non Toxic Laundry Detergent You Can Buy
With the season of life I’m currently in, I no longer make my own homemade laundry detergent. Three little monkeys who are adventures outside, at meals and at the craft table means I’m doing SO. MUCH. LAUNDRY. I literally do at least one load of laundry every day and so I’ve had to take a simpler route in terms of laundry detergent.
Over the summer I was able to try out Dropps laundry detergent pods and I was IMMEDIATELY sold. The trick here is to get their Unscented pods, which they offer in ALL of their product lines. I ended up doing their subscription for laundry pods because it was not only so cost effective, but they got an A rating from EWG. Plus, it’s just too easy — just toss in a non toxic laundry detergent pod and be on your way. (Also – this makes it incredibly easy for kids to help with laundry too — no more measuring or spills).
I packed a few pods to take with us on vacation this last spring so we didn’t have to bring dirty laundry home, and it was SO CONVENIENT. It’s going to be hard to convince me to do anything else but Dropps anymore.
For your first order, use code HHOTB25 for 25% (Use code HHOTB15 for 15% off any orders after that).
Because laundry is a daily occurrence in my house, it really does matter what I’m putting in my washing machine and on our clothes. Clothes are next to our skin all day long, surrounding our body and we lay on laundered sheets while we sleep. This means whatever is in our laundry detergent is around us constantly, potentially exposing us to toxins on a regular basis. Whether you choose to go the route of homemade laundry detergent or purchasing your own, just make sure you’re eliminating as many toxins as possible. It will be a huge benefit to the health of you and your family.
Make Your Own Laundry Soap ~ Save Money & Reduce Toxins
FAQ
Are homemade laundry detergents effective?
Is it cheaper to make your own laundry detergent or buy it?
How much do you save by making your own laundry detergent?
How long does homemade laundry detergent last?
Can homemade laundry detergent save money?
Given these potential risks, the use of homemade laundry detergent is not the best way to save money or to provide a safer, more natural alternative to commercial detergents. Reduction of waste and money saving are often primary drivers of an interest in making homemade detergent.
Should you make your own laundry detergent?
Commercial cleaners are expensive, especially if you have to buy extra-large iterations for your family (and you know how fast it goes). Making your own detergent also makes laundry time more eco-friendly, since it reduces the amount of plastic you have in your home and will eventually have to dispose of.
Why should you use homemade laundry detergent?
The latter also helps neutralize odors and soften wash water, which will make each cycle more effective, says Balanzat. Here are our experts’ steps for making homemade laundry detergent:
How much does laundry detergent cost?
It is also an inexpensive alternative to store-bought detergents, typically costing less than $0.10 per load, as compared to commercial laundry detergent brands like Tide (approx. $0.20/load), Seventh Generation (approx. $0.28/load), and Dropps (approx. $0.28/load).