Most cheap, generic brands of laundry detergent give me hives and on occasion have even caused special midnight trips to the Emergency Room. Experience has taught me to be choosy when selecting a detergent, while my wallet has limited the options. Amy received a large 100 oz bottle of Dreft detergent (designed for babies sensitive skin) as a gift while pregnant with Matthew. Originally intended for Matthew's clothes, bedding, and towels, this delicate detergent began cleansing my clothes, too.
While conversing with my Aunt Zadie about my new vice, she suggested I switch to a homemade detergent and provided a simple recipe:
Homemade Laundry Detergent
1 cup Borax
1 cup washing soda
1 bar of grated Fels Naptha
1 bar of grated regular soap (for fragrance)
After the first use I was hooked! Five years later, my clothes are still clean and my skin is irritation free.
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| Ingredients |
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| Finished Product |
Making your own detergent has multiple benefits: it is healthy, economical, and earth friendly. Many detergents contain toxic chemicals, perfumes, and dies which act as poisons for our skin and body. On average, a name brand laundry detergent cost $0.20 a load while homemade detergent cost approximately $0.05 a load. Those same toxic chemicals that create a film on our fabrics also trickle their way into our water supply.
Last year, per Matthew's advice, we built a clothesline adding another earth-friendly feature to laundry day. Our next laundry venture consist of homemade fabric softener. I will report back with my findings.
Happy Washing!
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