With a closet full of clothes waiting for baby’s arrival I struggled with how to wash them. I used to use strong scented laundry detergent for my own clothes along with fabric softener. I knew I wasn’t going to wash the baby’s clothes the same way, but I wasn’t exactly sure what I was going to use.
I considered the advice of my girlfriends who suggested various name brands of baby detergents. One thing they all had in common was a high price tag. I do a lot of laundry and although I don’t mind spending the extra money on my baby, I couldn’t justify just washing his clothes in the special detergent. Both my husband and I would be in contact with him and our clothes should be free of those chemicals as well.
The simple, cost-effective solution I found was just to make my own! Yep! For just pennies on the dollar I now have laundry detergent for the whole family that will last me quite possibly for the whole year! There are several recipes out there but the one I’m sharing cleans so effectively that even my husband’s smelly referee clothes come out spic and span smelling so nice!
For a fabric softener I use 1/3 cup of white distilled vinegar to the rinse cycle.
Mom’s Homemade Laundry Soap
1 bar Fels Naptha soap (pure soap!)
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing soda (Not Baking Soda)
Publix Stores sell both the Fels Naptha and the Washing Soda. Walmart carries neither!
Grate the soap with your cheese grater. It doesn’t have to be extra fine. Just press on the bigger grated flakes when you’re done until they break down a little finer. Add the washing soda and the borax and put all ingredients together in a big container with a tight lid. Shake until well mixed. (Sometimes I also add 1 cup of Oxy-Clean.)
I usually make 2 batches at a time and store in a clear plastic cereal container with a screw on lid. Put a little coffee scoop in the container. Scoop out 1 1/2 – 2 T. per load. All clothes come out perfectly clean!
Do you/ would you consider making your own laundry detergent?
