We have been using this DIY natural laundry detergent for a few years now. It is super simple, free of toxic chemicals, and only requires four ingredients!
Laundry detergents usually contain a lot of unnecessary nasty ingredients. If you are becoming more conscious of the chemicals that you are allowing in your home, this all-natural, environmentally friendly laundry detergent that is easy to use as it is to make.
Why make your own laundry detergent?
I have been conscious of cleaning products from a very young age. While I was pregnant in my 20’s, I experienced severe headaches whenever I used commercial cleaning products (and no I wasn’t just trying to get out of cleaning – haha). Chemical cleaning supplies were the first thing that I began to replace over 25 years ago now. We mostly make our own, but every now and then I test new options that are available in the stores after heavily scrutinising the ingredients. There is so much more variety now than there was 25 years ago, that’s for sure!
These days I need a detergent that will clean everything from hi-viz clothes coming from the WA dusty red mines to the muddy clothes my husband comes home with after a day out riding his mountain bike. Not only is this recipe natural, but it also actually cleans.
Hidden Toxins
First let’s start with the hidden toxins that are in the laundry room. Many laundry products contain VOCs (volatile organic compounds). According to the EPA, they can lead to numerous shorter term health effects like headaches, asthma, eye irritation among other things. But there are also long-term effects of VOC’s such as liver, kidney and central nervous system damage, and even cancer, that we can easily avoid by making the switch to natural products.
After taking some time away from these toxic ingredients, when you walk down the laundry aisle at the supermarket, you’ll immediately notice the toxic fumes and may even have a reaction to it. Most chemical products (perfume is the absolute worst) still give me wild headaches. It’s generally the only thing that does these days which is a great little poison detection system my body has developed!
The ingredients in this recipe are simple, with only 4 ingredients that aren’t hazardous to health!
But not only is it safe, it really works to remove dirt and stains and doesn’t leave any residue on our clothes.
What Ingredients to Avoid in a Laundry Detergent:
- Fragrances – Synthetic fragrances contain phthalates, parabens, allergens, or other irritants.
- Bleach (chlorine) – This is a known irritant for many.
- Dyes – They can be contaminated with heavy metals like mercury, cadmium, arsenic, and lead. Dyes serve no purpose in the effectiveness of the cleaning product. They are purely to make a product more aesthetically appealing.
- Phosphates — This is main cleaning agent used in most detergents and other cleaning products. They are known to cause skin irritation among other things.
And these are just a few bad ingredients!
Be careful with so called “natural” fragrances. They still contain VOCs and many of them labelled with natural or even organic still contain as many hazardous chemicals as conventional products with fragrance.
Making our own laundry powder hits so many of my core values, especially the way that it helps our family eliminate unnecessary waste, which hits another one of my core values, conservation! Zero waste is all about making small changes over time.
But it is also better for our overall health. And in our home, we want to avoid as many harsh chemicals as we possibly can. So that is why we have vigorously tested natural options and made our own homemade laundry detergent.
DIY Natural Laundry Detergent Recipe
Equipment
- Measuring cups
- large bowl
- Container with lid
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Epsom Salt
- 1 1/2 cups Sodium Bicarbonate (bicarb soda)
- 1 1/2 cups Sodium Carbonate (washing soda)
- 1/4 cup pink salt
- 20-25 drops Essential Oils optional
Instructions
- This recipe is not overly complicated. And the kids can help to measure out the ingredients too.
- Mix well and be sure to incorporate all ingredients, including essential oils, if using.
- Store in a Mason jar or other glass jar of choice with a lid.
- Use approximately 1-2 tablespoons per load.
Notes
Essential oils are optional. However, certain essential oils such as lemon and tea tree can give your laundry an extra cleaning boost and leave your laundry smelling nice.
Just beware of adding too much which can leave an oily residue on towels, making them a bit musty.
