DIY Homemade Laundry Detergent

Okay, people. What's a chore that nearly every human has to (or should) be doing on a regular basis? You got it! Laundry. Everyone needs clean clothes and washes laundry. (If you're not, well I'm sure we can find a blog for you too.) How much do you spend a month on detergent to wash all of those clothes? $15? $20? $30? I suppose it depends on how clean you like your clothes and  how big of a family you have. What if I told you that you could wash the same amount of laundry for just $1 or $2?

*Gasp*!!!!! What?!

Yup. Think of the money you'll save! Last minute trips to the store begone! And as an added perk (like most homemade products) it's even healthier for you and your machine and the environment. Alright, so are you ready to hear this amazing news? Homemade Laundry Detergent. I know, I know, it sounds daunting; but it's not I promise. It just takes a few minutes and you can adjust the recipe to however you'd like. Have a soccer player with some really questionable jerseys? Make your detergent a bit stronger. Two year old with a night terror problem? Now you can actually afford to wash those sheets everyday. Single and mellow? Cut the recipe down to fit your needs.

I have researched and researched to find you guys the best possible recipes there are. And as a bonus. . . I have options for you. :)  So, whether you're a powdered or liquid detergent type person. Check out below to see if one here will fit your needs.

Homemade Liquid Detergent #1
1/2c-1c per load
This one of the most popular versions that I was able to find.

Ingredients:
1 bar Fels Naptha (or other soap) grated
1 cup Borax
1 cup Washing Soda
5 gal water
Large canister(5 gallon bucket)

Instructions:

1. Boil 6 cups of water on the stove. Turn heat down and add grated soap gradually. Stir until all of the soap has been dissolved into the water. (Do NOT let water boil while soap is in it.)
2. Pour hot soapy water into your canister. Add the Borax and Washing Soda and additional 6 cups warm water. Stir until dissolved.
3. Add remaining amount of water. Stir until it is thoroughly mixed.
4. Put lid on container and let sit for 24 hours.
5. After this time it should be "set."

***Look for tips at the bottom of the page***

Homemade Liquid Detergent #2
1/2c-1c per load

This recipe popped up at the last minute and I decided variety and options are always a good thing.

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp liquid dish soap (i.e. Dawn)
3 Tbsp Borax
3 Tbsp Washing Soda
1 Gal Water
Gal sized container

Instructions:

1. Add the Borax and Washing soda to the container.
2. Pour in a small amount of boiling/extremely hot water. Swirl until borax and soda are dissolved completely.
3. Add in the dish soap.
4. Fill the container the rest of the way with cool water.


Homemade Powdered Detergent
1Tbsp - 3Tbsp per load (yes that says Tbsp)

This is the only recipe I was able to find, worth anything, for powdered detergent.

Ingredients:

1 bar Fels Naptha grated
2 cup Borax
2 cup Washing Soda
Container

1. Mix all ingredients together and put in container.

Well that one was ridiculously easy. But one thing that is not easy is grating soap, so below I have some tips on how to complete that successfully(because who wants to do something difficult?) and some other handy tricks for making your laundry efforts. . . effortless.




*** TIPS***
- These recipes call for Fels Naptha soap. It can be found in the laundry isle near the washing soda and borax. However, you can use whichever type of soap you prefer. There's several different kinds, I would not recommend using one with a moisturizer though, they tend to leave a residue on your clothes and machines.
- There are a couple different ways to grate the soap. You can A.) Use a cheese grater. B.) Cut into smaller chunks and put in a food processor or my favorite C.) Cut into smaller chunks and microwave for a minute. It will puff up and just crush into fine particles beneath your fingers.
- Most of these ingredients can be found in your laundry isle at your nearest super market however.
- To me 5 gallons of liquid detergent is seems a bit much so I cut the recipe down to 1 gal and divide the other ingredients accordingly, this is where individual preferences come in.
- Yes, these are all natural ingredients so these detergents are safe for HE washers. At least, no one has said otherwise.
- The powdered detergent should have no problem dissolving in cold water washes. If you have a problem though, add the detergent to your machine first with a little bit of hot water to dissolve it then add your clothes and cold water.
- Adding a small amount of vinegar(1/4c-1/2c) to your rinse cycle with neutralize any remaining detergent so there is absolutely no chance of residue and will help keep your washer from getting that "funk" smell that machines tend to get occasionally
- Most people with skin sensitivities are able to use these recipes because there are no extra additives or perfumes. If still receiving a small reaction, try the vinegar tip above.
- You can still use your stain boosters/removers for particularly tough stains just like you would with any other detergent. I would suggest trying baking soda as a more natural substitute to all the chemicals.


So, there you have it my homemaking mommas (and dads.) DIY Homemade Laundry Detergent. All the benefits of store bought detergent (clean clothes) with less money spent and less chemicals exposed to your family.

Give it a try. Let us know below in the comments how your experiences have went or if you have any of your own tricks!

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20 Reasons to DIY Compost

You see quite a bit in the news and online about global warming and environmentalists speaking about the world going south and how we need to save it. I know a lot of people roll their eyes and change the channel or keep on scrolling. However, here I have 20 reasons for you to start this easy activity that will not only help you reduce your footprint on the environment but will also improve that homegrown backyard garden of yours. Here are 20 reasons for you to start DIY composting.

20 Reasons to Compost:

1. Adding finished compost to your ground soil will add nutrients without polluting the ground water like chemical fertilizers.
2. The nutrients that you put there will stay there. The nutrients you find in compost will not be washed away by rainfall like chemical fertilizers.
3. Compost can completely replace chemical fertilizers, which is not only better for the environment and your plants but your checkbook as well.
4. It keeps organic materials out of landfills. Some researches show that over 60% of landfill waste is organic but it's buried so deep the oxygen needed to turn it into something valuable cannot reach it.
5. Composting at home is an all natural process. No fossil fuels are used to break it down like in factories that mass produce the compost you buy from stores.
6. Plants grow healthier and stronger with the nutrients you are adding to your soil with not risk of "burning"as with chemical fertilizers.
7. Promotes microbial activity in the soil.
8. Improves the soil structure, which in turn protects the topsoil from erosion.
9. Soils that are fed with compost retain more rainwater. This allows you to use less water and irrigation systems.
10. The compost you create is safe to use to nourish plants that sustain human health.
11. It improves soil aeration by allowing small air pockets to form. 
12. Doing it yourself generates rich, diverse and affordable compost.
13. DIY composting supports organic and sustainable farming.
14. Instead of one large shot of nutrients, compost gradually releases nutrients to your plants throughout the season.
15. Healthy soil fights and helps prevent plant disease and reduces the need for chemical fungicide.
16. Composting at home minimizes the amount of methane released into the environment, most commonly to zero.
17. Composting embraces the natural cycle of life and decay. In nature there is no waste, everything is used for a purpose and then returned to the earth to serve a different purpose. Composting embraces this ideal.
18. Contrary to some myths you can compost anything that has lived or grown recently.
19. Composting requires very little work, it's a natural process.
20. Avoid wasting valuable organic material. 

So there you have it. Why keep using chemical fertilizers and fungicides and everything else that major companies tell you is necessary to grow a decent garden. It's nonsense. Nature provides you with the very best nutrients for your plants whether it's a bed of marigolds or a field of tomatoes. Stop wasting your money. Stop killing the ground. Stop poisoning your plants. Embrace what nature gave you by starting DIY composting.

Check out here for great tips on composting!