It only takes about five minutes to make a batch that will last a month. It's cheap, easy and can be adapted to suit your skin type. I use no name pure laundry soap but if you have skin allergies then use a soap that suits your skin.
Here is the recipe -
1 bar of pure laundry soap ( or soap of choice )
1 cup of bi carb of soda
1 cup of Lectric soda
Grate the bar of soap with a grater using the fine zesting side. It should look like a fine powder when it's grated. Alternatively cut the soap into slivers with a sharp knife and wizz it in the food proccessor.
Into a medium bowl place the grated soap. Measure out the Lectric soda and bi carb. and add it to the bowl Mix all ingredients together with a whisk until well combined. Store in an air tight container.
Use 1 tablespoon for a full load in a top loading washing machine.
Use two teaspoons in a front loader washing machine.
NOTES -
*Bi carb can be bought in bulk at cleaning supply places and pool shops. It 's also called ph Buffer which is used in pools. It is not suitable for cooking and baking.
* I cut 4 - 8 bars of soap at a time into slivers and wizz in the food proccessor.. I only make one or two batches at a time and the leftover grated soap is stored in a container ready to make up in the future.
* This laundry powder is great for soaking soiled items. Together with the Miracle Spray, it keeps my washing clean.
* Treat soiled items as soon as possible.
* This laundry powder will not give you lots of suds in the washing machine. Do not be tempted to add more to get the suds.
* If you need a fragrance, add a few drops of essential oil to the powder and mix well.
* If you still have shop bought laundry powder to use, add it to the one you made and mix well.
* This laundry powder costs about 3 cents per load.
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| The finished products |
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| The ingredients needed |
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| Grated soap I keep in a bucket |
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| Whisking the ingredients together |
ReplyDeleteVix9 August 2014 21:49
Love this recipe. I've been using it on and off since you first appeared on ACA
Hi Wendy
ReplyDeleteI'm almost out of laundry liquid and was wondering if you can use this in a front loader (my washing machine is eco friendly but is a top loader which uses front loader detergent) dont know what the difference is.
Also, does it turn your whites grey after a while.
Thanks in advance
Deb
Hi Deb. It works fine it top loaders and front loaders. If you are concerned, dissolve it in a little hot water first. Be aware, if you are using the eco cycle it doesn't wash all the detergent out- powder or liquid..
DeleteI'm not aware of the powder making my whites grey any faster than other products. I always wash my whites ( and lights ) seperate from the colors. It's worth bleaching your whites every now and then.
I just made some on the weekend and can't believe how well it cleans the clothes. I used your recipe but multiplied it buy 4, using all the laundry soap up. I grated the laundry soap up in the food processor as I have a wrist injury, so the soap isn't as finely grated as a zester would make it. I just mix it with some hot water in a small jug until the soap dissolves ( less than a minute) and tip it into the machine that's filling up with cold water! Thanks for sharing all your tips. I've also started following the Cheapskates website you have linked on your blog....wow! Thanks Wendy. Cheers Donna Z :)
ReplyDeleteDonna, I've been a member of the Cheapskates Club for over 4 years. One of the best decisions I've ever made. and money well spent. I thought I was really frugal until I joined Cheapskates. I've learnt so much more from them. It's a great community. Cath is the one who got me into television. I'll be forever grateful to her.
DeleteYay thanks for putting this up Wendy im going to make this as soon as my laundry liquid is used up :) I also follow Cath's blog debtfreecashedupandlauging that's actually how I found your blog. I only joined the newsletter part on cheapskates, is it worth paying the money for the full website or do you get most of the information from Cath's blog? Thanks Kayla :)
ReplyDeleteKayla, IT IS SO WORTH IT to pay the money and join Cheapskates. I signed up for the free newsletter first but then I wanted all the recipes and tips. I was only going to join for a year and print off everything I could to get my monies worth. How wrong was I ? I joined the forum and have made some great friends ( some I've met in real life ).
ReplyDeleteThe recipe file has so many great recipes and the tip store has over 10,000 tips in it.. You get the monthly journal as well. By using just a few of the tips and recipes you'll get your money back in savings many times over.
Oh wow I will have to join up on pay day :) Thanks Wendy!
DeleteDepending on how frugal you want to be, Cath has sales on her membership prices from time to time. If you can't wait for a sale then just go for it. You won't regret it. Remember you'll only get out of it what you put in. The forum is great there too.
DeleteI love this recipe thanks to you Wendy, and Cath. It lasts so well and makes my washing smell lovely. I was adding essential soluble oils for the rinse cycle but its unnecessary due to the gentle scent of the soap saving me money. I've also made some dishwashing machine tablets which work so well I'm one happy woman! So easy to make and I am saving so much more now. The tablets I was using have gone up $3 a box making them more expensive, one more item to cross off the grocery list.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you like the washing powder. I will never go back to store bought. I'm also glad to hear the dishwaher tablets worked so well for you.
DeleteI love the laundry powder. I'm a bit of an organic girl, but even I've had to resort to SARD in an effort to keep sheets and towels crispy white sometimes. Not anymore - the Miracel spray is fantastic. They are being bundled as the best Christmas Gift ever - little hand made thoughts from a friend. Most of us have too much "stuff" as it is. I would love the recipe for the Tablets - that would mean I don't buy any "Pre-made" cleaning products at all. Thanks for the great information, advice and mostly the inspiration.
DeleteWould love the recipe of dish tablets
DeleteI'm currently using Purity Sensitive Laundry liquid in a blue bottle. It is costing us $6.30 per month when on special. I use it in the front loader. We do around 10 washes per week. This works out to about 43 washes per month based on 4.3 weeks per month. So I estimate it costs around 15 cents per load. How well has the home made one worked for you in you front loader readers?
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy,
ReplyDeleteCant wait to try and make this laundry powder but i am wondering where you buy your bi carb soda from?
I bought a big bag from Clark Rubber many years ago. It's also known as ph Buffer. ( for pools ) Wholesale cleaning companies sell it cheap too.
DeleteIs it okay to use cooking bicarb ? I have been using a heavy duty laundry powder that contains borax for my husbands clothing but am unable to buy Borax locally any more Until I am able to see if a couple of major hardware stores still carry it I will need to find an alternative powder
ReplyDeleteCooking bi carb is fine to use. It's just dearer than the ph buffer you can get at pool shops.
DeleteHi there Wendy, I had a go at making the washing Powder, and I was quite happy with it. What I do want to ask though I have a 9.5kg washing machine, would I have to use more than a 1 tablespoon for my washes or just leave it.
ReplyDeleteMy washing machine is an 8kg one. Maybe add just a little more if you are doing a full load and less if it's a very small load.
DeleteHi Wendy can your laundry detergent remove tough stains?
DeleteThe laundry powder works better than store bought. It isn't bleach though so you need to treat the stains first with Miracle Spray and a toothbrush. Pre soaking is good too.
Deletewhere do u get Lectric soda?
ReplyDeleteIt's in the laundry aisle in the supermarket.
DeleteWhat is miracle spray?
ReplyDeleteIt's a home made multi purpose cleaning spray. The recipe is in the cleaning section up the top.
DeleteThank you!
DeleteHi Wendy, I like reading your blog because of the frugal ideas you share. I have made laundry soap in the past and plan to make it again when we get moved into our house in about another month. We are in a tiny apartment now and so many of our things are in storage. i want to look into the Cheapskate membership also. Didn't realize about that. How much is it? Thanks for sharing. Nancy
ReplyDeleteHi Nancy. The Cheapskates memberships are $36.50 a year and is SO WORTH IT !!! You get that money back many times over in savings from all the tips and recipes.
DeleteHi Wendy,
ReplyDeleteI have found when using the home made washing powder after a while the whites tend to grey a bit. I also don't find that some of my husband's yard clothes aren't as clean as a bought powder. I'm keen to use the home version but I don't want to compromise the look of the washing. Julee
Hi Julee, I find whites go a little grey over time no matter what powder / liquid I've used over the years. The best way to keep whites white is to hand wash them separately. I do this for my husband's white tshirts and use my homemade laundry powder.
DeleteI do use diluted Dynamo for really dirty clothes.
Hi Wendy
ReplyDeleteI've been using Rhonda's recipe from DTE for laundry liquid for a number of years. However, I can no longer buy borax locally so will give your recipe a try within the next week. I already use your miracle spray and wondered how you use it to treat stains on clothing? Is there any clothing it reacts with?
Thanks, Melissa
Hi Melissa. I spray Miracle Spray on the stains as I'm sorting the laundry. Extra stubborn stains get a squirt then a rub over with a toothbrush. But the best method is to spray the stain as soon as it happens. Some readers use double strength Miracle Spray. I've used it on all sorts of fabrics.
DeleteGood evening Wendy, would you know whether this recipe is appropoappr for using when cloth nappies? Alot has been mentioned in relation to not using soap as it can cause build up on the cloth nappies. I have loved this recipe and have been using it for a long time. Just wanted to know what your view was on using this recipe for cloth nappies. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHomemade laundry powder uses more natural ingredients than store bought and it would be hard to have soap build up due to the small quantity needed.
DeleteHi Wendy, I am keen to give this a try. Have you ever had any problems with the soap leaving soap scum, or blocking up your machine?
ReplyDeleteIt has only left soap scum when there is not enough water in the washing machine. It doesn't block up the machine.
DeleteHello and thank you for the recipe :) laundry bluing is an American thing. It's cobalt blue and used as a whitener, comes in little squares or balls. Two brands I know of are Anil and Penguin. I have some and have been meaning to see if it works.
ReplyDeleteyou can buy it as Bluo here in Australia. I remember my mum using it. Bluo can be found in the laundry aisles
ReplyDelete