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How to make and use laundry detergent?

Overview

laundry detergent
I will show you, how to make homemade laundry detergent out of bar soap or soap scraps and how to properly use the laundry detergent in a washing machine. It is super easy to make and what is more important, it's friendly to environment.

What you will need

supplies
  • 30 g (1 oz) of powdered soap
    See this page for powdered soap tutorial.
  • 85 g (3 oz) of washing soda (sodium carbonate)
  • 85 g (3 oz) of borax for softening water
    Note: you can change the borax quantity depending of your water hardness. The water hardness higher is, more borax you have to use. If the water is very soft, you need not use the borax at all.
    How to check your water hardness.
  • Jar or other container with a tightly fitting lid.
    Do not use a containers with an aluminum lid or aluminum spoons, scoops etc., since alkaline soap causes aluminum corrosion.

Optional

  • Rubber gloves (for protection against the skin irritation by washing soda)

How to make laundry powder?

mixed ingredients
Mix the ingredients (powdered soap, washing soda and borax, if needed) well in the container. Tightly close the lid, then shake the container to mix the ingredients.

How much powder should I use?

Size of load Washer type
Top load Front load / HE
Small Load
(3-5 kg / 6-11 lbs)		 3 Tbs 1-2 Tbs
Medium Load
(3-5 kg / 6-11 lbs)		 4-5 Tbs
(¼-⅓ cup)		 2-3 Tbs
Large Load
(7 kg / 16 lbs)		 6 Tbs 4 Tbs
  • Use right quantity of detergent, depending on how much the clothes are soiled and how hard the water type is in your area.
  • For hard water or heavily soiled clothes, add the detergent only 50 percent more per load.
    How to check your water hardness.

How to use the laundry detergent without remaining detergent residue?

Front load / HE washers

supplies
  • I recommend dissolving the powdered detergent in warm water before adding it to the washer...
  • ...or add the detergent directly to the drum before loading clothes;
  • Don't use an automatic detergent dispenser;
  • Don't overload your washer with clothes. Load clothes in the drum loosely;
  • Use washer cleaner tablets monthly to remove any remaining soap residue in your washing machine.

Top load washers

supplies
1. Put the detergent into a small mesh laundry bag. Be careful not to spill the detergent.
Don't use an automatic detergent dispenser.
⚠️ If you don't use a mesh laundry bag, dissolve the detergent in warm water before adding it to the washing machine.
step 1
2. Pour water in the washing machine according to the load of laundry and put the mesh laundry bag with the detergent into the water.
Then run your machine for about 5 minutes before you put the clothes in the tub.
step 2
3. After about 5 minutes, the detergent will produce many suds shown in the picture.
Then load your laundry.
step 3

Tips

  • If the suds disappear entirely when you put your clothes in the water, put the detergent into another mesh laundry bag and add it to the water;
  • Don't overload your washing machine with clothes;
  • I recommend that you take the mesh laundry bag out of the tub during the rinse cycle;
  • To prevent the detergent residue on clothes, rinse in cold water twice or add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle to remove the detergent residue left behind on clothes;
  • The laundry detergent does not dissolve easily in very cold water. Use warm water as needed.

How to check your water hardness?

References and Resources