FTC Disclosure: Delicious Obsessions may receive comissions from purchases made through links in this article. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.Read our full terms and conditions here.
{Note from Jessica: Today’s post is shared by my sweet friend, Raia, author of Raia’s Recipes. Raia is a homeschooling, stay-at-home mom of five crazy kids. After the birth of her third child, she was diagnosed with celiac disease. This discovery turned her bread and pasta-filled life upside down and set her on a mission to find out what healthy meant for her family. Aspiring to encourage other moms, she started her blog filled with simple, easy, healthy dishes. Stop by Raia’s Recipes to get plenty of real food, gluten-free recipes and much more!}
Even though I had always thought I was healthy, when I found out I was gluten-intolerant almost four years ago, I began to realize just how unhealthy my “healthy food” was.
So out went the gluten and the GMOs, the pure white store-bought eggs, processed meats, refined sugar, and ultra-processed dairy. In came the grass-fed meat, fridgefuls of fresh fruits and veggies, farm-fresh eggs, and lacto-fermented goodness.
But the cleaner I got, the more I realized it wasn’t just what I put in my body that was important. What I put on my body mattered, as well.
So I tossed my toothpaste in exchange for bentonite clay.
I traded my shampoo for baking soda and my conditioner for apple cider vinegar.
I gave up on makeup altogether.
I tossed my Ivory and Dove bar soaps and picked up Kirk’s Castile instead.
Amazingly (please read that sarcastically), I still felt clean even without everything the “professionals” thought I needed! My skin began to stop being constantly dry and itchy. My *ahem* body odor began to be less noticeable.
Another change I made was going from store-bought laundry detergent (all be it the “free & clear” kind) to homemade.
Today I’m sharing the liquid laundry soap I make for my family. It might sound daunting, but it really is easy!
I love knowing that my clothes are getting clean without a whole bunch of unnecessary ingredients and toxic chemicals, and the addition of essential oils leaves them smelling great too!
Please note that while this recipe will not kill you, I wouldn’t suggest letting your 2-year-old eat it. Soap is still soap and it tastes nasty.
Not that I have personal experience with a 2-year old eating it… Well, maybe a little…
Delicious Obsessions Trusted Product Recommendations for Homemade Laundry Soap
I am always asked about my favorite ingredients and what I use in my own kitchen. I have linked to the products from my affiliate partners that I personally use and recommend. And now, here are the special coupon offers that select affiliate partners are currently offering:
- Thrive Market: If you sign up through this link, you will get 15% OFF your first order.
- Amazon, of course, has everything you need for this recipe. Their prices are often very good, though I love to shop around and sometimes find that Thrive Market has better deals. If you like saving money, it’s good to shop around! 🙂
For more information about the essential oils I use for myself and my family, click here.
For even more DIY health and body care recipes, check out this page.
How to Make Your Own Non-Toxic Laundry Soap
Today I’m sharing the liquid laundry soap I make for my family. It might sound daunting, but it really is easy!
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup grated Kirk’s Castile Bar Soap
- 1/2 cup washing soda
- 1/2 cup borax
- 2 gallons water
- 1/2 teaspoon essential oil of your choice
Instructions
- In a large stockpot, heat 6 cups of the water.
- When warm, add in grated soap.
- Stir until melted, then add in washing soda and borax.
- Stir until dissolved.
- Remove from heat and add in 4 cups of hot water.
- Pour in the remainder of water (1 gallon + 6 cups) and essential oils.
- Pour into whatever container you will store it in, stirring every now and again until the mixture starts to gel.
- Let the soap sit overnight before using. If the soap doesn't look completely gelled after letting it sit overnight, that's ok. It'll still work just fine. 😉
- Before each load, stir the soap (or shake it, depending on what you have it stored in).
Notes
Use about 1/4 cup for a medium/small load, 1/2 cup for a large load. This recipe lasts my family of 6 about 6 months.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.
Have you ever tried making your own laundry soap or home / body care products? How did it go? Do you like it better than commercial products or not? Leave a comment below!
Delicious Obsessions is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.Read our full terms and conditions here.
In your making your own laundry soap recipe, is “washing soda” baking soda?
Nope, Linda, it’s not the same thing. 🙂 It’s usually found in the laundry section of places like Walmart – it usually comes in a big box, like the borax.
I made a very similar recipe for years, too, until I realized how toxic washing soda is. 🙁 It also made our clothes incredibly dingy. I like soap nuts or just plain castille soap now.
Hi M – Interesting. In my research, I have not found that, but I will continue to dig. Thanks for stopping by!
Hey M. It’s always good to do what you’re most comfortable with, but as far as the toxicity of washing soda, it’s right below the level of what makes chemicals toxic. Not that I would recommend eating it, of course (even though it’s actually in Raman noodles – nasty). You can actually make your own washing soda from baking soda by altering the pH level. Andrea over at It Takes Time shows you how here, if you’re interested.
I have a front loading washer – can you put this in the detergent compartment or should it go on directly in the washer? Thanks for sharing!
Hi Veronica – I am not completely sure. I’ll see if Raia can stop by and answer!
I would think either would be fine, Veronica. Though I don’t know all the particulars of front-loaders… 🙂
Yes, you can use it in your he front loader – it doesn’t have all the extra sudsing chemicals – but I don’t anymore. When I started doing this over 10 years ago, the ripe called for 1 cup each of borax & washing soda, & 1 bar of Kirk’s. I can’t imagine why you’d want to deal with a part of a bar of soap.
Anyway, it turns out that it works just as well in powder form. Just grind the soap up really well in the food processor stir in the rest, and then use a couple of TBS per load. Much quicker & simpler to make, works just as well, and doesn’t take up as much space (we store it in a big yogurt container. Also no longer have to lift the big heavy 2 gal container up to the top of the front loader.
Thanks for the tips Bridget! 🙂
Any recipes for liquid body wash?
Hi Diane – Yes, I have one on my site here: https://www.deliciousobsessions.com/2012/09/homemade-coconut-milk-shampoo-and-body-wash/
What is the item you use for toothpaste? Here to the pu get it
Hi Beverly – The author of this article uses bentonite clay as toothpaste, which you can read about here: https://www.deliciousobsessions.com/2013/10/use-clay-skin-hair-care-bentonite-french-green-rhassoul/. I like to make my own toothpaste, which you can learn about here: https://www.deliciousobsessions.com/2012/12/make-your-own-homemade-coconut-oil-toothpaste-recipe-featured-on-coconutoil-com/. Hope that helps! 🙂
I have done the same as you on all fronts! I think the most amazing thing I found was that I (having previously had shingles which displayed on a right-side neural path of my body) was having neuralgia along my entire right side as well as terrible eczema patches, as well as gagging after brushing my teeth and heightened tooth sensitivity (This occurred for a number of years)……I started using the bentonite toothpaste and within 2 days ALL of the symptoms I note, completely disappeared and have not returned. I think conventional toothpaste is something everyone just buys not realizing how many awful chemicals are in it and that, if you are sensitive or allergic to these chemicals, they almost immediately impact your system. I’m so much happier/healthier with my (cheaper) natural and DIY products. Thanks for all of your great tips, recipes and info – Keep doing what you’re doing!!!!!!!!
Hi there! Thank you for taking the time to stop by and share! I totally agree that we are so often not aware of what we are putting in and on our bodies. All of our skin and body care products are so full of junk. I’m glad that the info shared on this site is helpful! Thank you so much for your readership! 🙂
I see Borax as one of the ingredients how is this chemical free (I’ve been taught that borax is caustic) i once used borax to get rid of fleas and my baby wound up having breathing problems from breathing in the particles but I’m open minded please explain how it is safe and chemical free.
Hi Andrea – There are a lot of mixed opinions about borax. Some natural living folk consider it safe, others do not. You need to do what you feel is best for your family. Wellness Mama wrote a great post about the safety of borax that might be helpful for you: http://wellnessmama.com/26407/borax-safe/. I personally side with her in regards to borax. Also, if you do a Google search for “is borax safe” you will find a TON of blog posts from natural living bloggers about the topic. Hope that helps! 🙂
Is this safe for HE washers?
Hi Jennifer – I’m assuming it would be fine. I don’t have an HE washer though so I have not personally tried it.
How can 1 gallon of homemade laundry detergent last your family of 6, 6months.?? I use a gallon every two months for two of us!
Hi Gina! I don’t know! I’ll have to ask Raia (the author of this post). 🙂