I got a stubborn grease stain on one of my favorite shirts. So, I went online to try some DIY remedies. Each one I tried only made things worse! I pretty much resigned that this stain was here to stay but then thought well I'll wash it one more time but first I'll put a glob of my DIY Liquid Laundry Detergent on it and let it sit for a day. After washing it, I couldn't believe my eyes - No trace of the stain! From now on I will only need to make the laundry detergent and use it as a stain remover also.
You may wonder why I even bother to make my own detergent. Well, have you ever even looked at the ingredient list?(And they don't even have to list everything because it can come under the term of a trade secrets) These hazardous ingredients can cause cancer, eye irritation, kidney, liver and respiratory problems.
We do need some chemicals to clean our clothes. But by making my own detergent, I can eliminate a majority of the synthetic chemicals so cutting down the amount toxins. By adding certain essential oils, I am able to naturally have a detergent that offers increased protection from germs, unwanted pathogens, seasonal and environmental threats, and mood uplifting. I have also discovered that it takes very little time to make the detergent. It works better and the bonus is that it is way cheaper than commercial detergents!
Liquid Laundry Detergent
What you will need:
- 2 gallons HOT water + 1 gallon cold
- 4 cups grated soap flakes, about 1 bar of Fels-Naptha (find in laundry isle)
- 1 cup washing soda (Arm & Hammer in laundry isle)
- 1 cup borax (20 Mule Team in laundry isle)
- Essential Oils - 30 drops lemon, 30 drops wild orange, 20 drops Tea Tree
- a funnel
- containers for detergent
Directions:
- To make grating easier, place unwrapped Fels-Naptha bar in microwave in high for about a minute. It will look like this, a puffy rectangle.
- Grating will be much easier! Trust me on this. While it was a good workout for my arms,
it was a long and laborious process. Here's what it looks like grated after microwaving 
Dissolve the soap in hot water, this requires stirring- Add washing soda and borax, and mix well.
- Add essential oils, mixing them in well
- Add the 1 gallon cold water
- Use a funnel to pour into mixture into containers. (I leave room at the top because sometimes I will add more water to make it more liquid.)
- As this mixture cools it will get gelatinous and will need to be shaken. If the consistency of the soap is not to your liking you can adjust the soap and water ratio. (why I leave room at the top of bottles) Here's proof
- To use add 1⁄2 -1 cup to load of laundry. I use this ratio even if I have added as much half again water. It still cleans very well even though there are next to no suds.
NOTES:
- Safe for high efficiency washers (low suds)
- You can use different essential oils, just remember it may change some of the benefits of the detergent. I use the following oils because they have high ratings in these benefits.
- Lemon Essential Oil - Cleanses and purifies, Promotes a positive mood and cognitive ability, Helps ward off free radicals with its antioxidant benefits
- Wild Orange Essential Oil - Powerful cleanser and purifying agent, Protects against seasonal and environmental threats, High in antioxidants, Uplifting to the mind and body
- Tea Tree Essential Oil - Renowned for its cleansing and rejuvenating effect on the skin, promotes healthy immune function, Protects against environmental and seasonal threats, Helps purify and freshen
- Not all essential oils are of the same quality. Some are even synthetic or may say pure but also contain some synthetic essential oil or toxins. To learn more, watch my FREE video HERE
Isn't wonderful that we can create a healthier life for ourselves and save money too!
By the way if the DIY isn't really your thing, I have found the doTERRA On Guard Liquid Laundry Detergent works amazingly well! Check it out HERE
Blessing on your living a Healthy Lifestyle,
Kathy
P.S. Would love to hear your thoughts below on what you do to create a healthier lifestyle.