natural DIY laundry detergent
making your our cleaning products can seem daunting right? like how are you supposed to understand how to make something that cleans effectively because of all the chemicals inside them? we're not all scientists are we?!
well what if we told you, you can make cleaning products without chemicals, and they are still just as powerful? no need to understand chemicals, and no need to clean your house with nasties!
there's a few reasons people may want to go for all natural cleaners. maybe they just don't like the chemicals on their surfaces or in the air of their houses, maybe they have small children at home that touch these surfaces and they want to reduce the chemicals which touch their skin, or maybe they want to give up plastic bottles and purchase the loose ingredients in bulk and refill bottles to use.
whatever your reason for wanting to make the switch, this powerful D.I.Y laundry detergent is full of natural ingredients.....and it's borax and bar soap free!!
over the years we've tried and tested various recipes and this one definitely hits the mark - it cleans lights and darks, soiled and everyday loads and its super easy to make! it's also so versatile that you can add whatever fragrance oils you like best, I really like a fruity oil with a mix of peppermint - and can even add lemon or orange rind for an extra boost of freshness!
make sure you keep it in an airtight container to keep it fresh. you'll only need 1 tablespoon of laundry powder for everyday loads, and 2 tablespoons for heavy loads.....or if you are washing those sweaty gym bits!
here's abit about why we've included these particular ingredients, so you know exactly what and why you're using this recipe:
bicarbonate of soda (baking soda works fine too!) - this gets into the fabric and helps to deodorise and balance the ph of your load. essentially it neutralises any smells and helps clean dirt!
washing soda - this is a powerful booster that helps to get rid of stains from your washing - you can also rub a small amount in to stains as a pre-wash stain remover.
himalayan salt - this acts as a natural fabric and water softener.
essential oils - helps to freshen the load
epsom salts - this recipe is designed to be a "low-sudsing" recipe so we add Epsom salts to help balance the water. however if you live in an area with "hard water" you may want to halve the amount of Epsom salts initially, or remove it all together.
you can tailor this recipe and play around with it until you get a recipe you like - that's the whole fun in Make Your Own and DIY recipes - you start with tips and can make it perfect for you!
all the ingredients are easily and cheaply available at bulk food shops.
here's the volumes you'll need:
1.5 cups washing soda
1.5 cups bicarbonate of soda (or baking soda)
0.25 cups of himalayan salt
0.5 cups of epsom salts
25-30 drops of essential oils of your choice
half a lemon rind (totally optional!)
you literally just throw everything into a bowl, give it a good stir, then keep it in an airtight container.....simple right?!
