Washing Soda Archives - Live Simply https://livesimply.me/category/natural-cleaning/cleaning-ingredients/washing-soda/ Embracing the simplicity of natural living and real food Tue, 23 Jan 2024 02:07:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://livesimply.me/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/cropped-Live-Simply-Site-Icon-clear-96x96.png Washing Soda Archives - Live Simply https://livesimply.me/category/natural-cleaning/cleaning-ingredients/washing-soda/ 32 32 DIY Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent (3 Ingredients) https://livesimply.me/homemade-liquid-laundry-soap-all-natural-detergent/ https://livesimply.me/homemade-liquid-laundry-soap-all-natural-detergent/#comments Sun, 16 Apr 2023 19:10:00 +0000 http://livesimply.me/?p=5120 Want to make an all-natural laundry detergent as effective as commercial detergent? Your search is over. Here’s how to make the best DIY homemade laundry detergent. And all you need is 3 key ingredients and 15 minutes. This recipe is non-toxic, fights stains better than commercial detergent, and is cheap! I’ve been making this liquid laundry detergent...

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Want to make an all-natural laundry detergent as effective as commercial detergent? Your search is over. Here’s how to make the best DIY homemade laundry detergent. And all you need is 3 key ingredients and 15 minutes.

This recipe is non-toxic, fights stains better than commercial detergent, and is cheap! I’ve been making this liquid laundry detergent for over 11 years (originally created in 2014) because of its extraordinary cleaning power.

Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

10 years ago, I started making the switch to natural cleaning products, including laundry detergent!

At that time, the majority of recipes online called for a bar of fels naptha, washing soda, and Borax. The first time I made this original recipe, our clothes came out with chalky white spots.

The second time, I made a simple swap: liquid Dr. Bronner’s castile soap instead of the fels naptha soap bar. This time, the detergent worked just as good as Tide. Today, I’ll show you how to make this game-changing recipe.

Key Takeaways

  • Simple Ingredients – The key ingredients you’ll need are castile soap, borax, and washing soda. The DIY detergent ingredients brighten, remove dirt, and fight off stains.
  • Save Money – It costs about $20 to purchase the ingredients, which make multiple batches of homemade detergent and clean many loads of laundry. Castile soap alone has over 24 different uses.
  • Non-Toxic – Many commercial detergents are made with fragrances and harsh chemicals that can irritate sensitive skin (source). The ingredients used to make this recipe are safe and well researched.
  • Quick & Easy – You only need 10-15 minutes of hands-on preparation time to make this easy recipe.
  • Good for 1 Month – Store this liquid laundry soap for up to 1 month.
Ingredients needed to make homemade laundry soap.
Simple ingredients: liquid castile soap, borax, washing soda, water, and essential oil (optional).

Before You Get Started: What You’ll Need

Ingredients

This recipe, made with simple ingredients, makes 1 gallon of homemade soap.

  • 1 cup borax – freshens, deodorizes, and lifts dirt and stains
  • 1 cup washing soda – freshens and deodorizes
  • 1 cup liquid castile soap or Sal Suds – the main cleaning agent, lifts dirt and cleans
  • 50 drops essential oiloptional for a scent
  • 15 cups water – distilled water, found in any grocery store, is best as it doesn’t contain containments found in tap or filtered water

Equipment

  • Large saucepan or Dutch oven – enough to hold 1 gallon of liquid, 15 cups
  • Storage Jars – such as 2 half gallon-size glass mason jars, 1 gallon-size jar, or reuse an old detergent bottle

Thicker Detergent Tip: This recipe calls for 15 cups of water. If you’d like a thicker, more concentrated soap, use 10-12 cups of water.

How to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent: Step By Step Guide

  • Step 1 Boil 6 Cups of Water: In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, bring 6 cups of water to a slight boil. Once the water begins to boil, turn off the burner.
  • Step 2 Add Borax, Washing Soda, More Water, and Castile Soap: Add the Borax and washing soda. Stir to dissolve. Then add 9 cups of room-temperature water and 1 cup of liquid castile soap. Give the ingredients a stir to combine.
  • Step 3 Cool for 5-10 Minutes: Allow the soap to cool for a few minutes before pouring into one large gallon-size jar or smaller containers, like quart-size jars. Make sure your jar(s) are heat-safe. If not, wait until the soap is cool, then spoon the soap into the jar(s).
  • Step 4 Add Essential Oil For Scent: Add an essential oil of choice (if using) to the soap (now in the jar) and stir to combine with the detergent.

What to Avoid Doing

  • Baking Soda – Don’t use baking soda in place of washing soda. Washing soda has a different chemical composition and will not work in this recipe. It is NOT a substitute.
  • Dish Soap – Don’t use other dish soaps in place of the castile soap. Dish soap will cause the soap to have too many bubbles in the wash.
  • Lack of Suds – Don’t assume that a lack of suds and bubbles means the soap isn’t effective. Suds and bubbles don’t equal clean.
  • Plastic Containers – If you’re reusing an old detergent bottle for storage, make sure the laundry detergent is fully cool before adding to a plastic container.
  • Heat-Safe Glass – Use a heat-resistant glass jar (if using glass for storage), and also allow the detergent to cool a bit (about 10 minutes) before adding it.
  • Essential Oils – The essential oil will add a subtle fragrance, but shouldn’t be added until the soap cools as heat will cause the essential oil to evaporate.

How to Prevent The Detergent From Becoming Chunky

After a few days the liquid laundry detergent may clump or gel. This is a completely normal chemical reaction that is usually caused when the outside temperature is cooler. There’s no way to completely prevent this from happening; however, one option is to use more water (2-3 cups more) to make a less concentrated soap.

The laundry soap is 100% usable if it gels up (l actually love this form). Simply scoop the detergent from the container and add to the washer.

Key Takeaway: Whether the laundry detergent gels up or remains liquid, it’s 100% effective and usable in both forms.

Stain on shirt on the left and no stain after using the detergent.

How to Use This Liquid Laundry Soap

The detergent is ready to use immediately after making. And may be stored for later use.

  • Give the jar a good shake or stir (with a long spoon) before use.
  • Use this detergent just as you would any laundry soap to clean clothes.
  • This homemade liquid laundry soap is highly concentrated, which means you need only a tiny amount to get a dirty job done.
  •  For top-loading washer machines, use 1/8-1/4 cup. 
  •  For an HE front loader, use 1-2 tablespoons.
  •  Add the detergent directly to your washer or the laundry soap compartment.

Can I use this in an HE washer?

I do, so I can only speak to my personal experience. I use 1-2 tablespoons per load. If it’s in gel form, add it straight to the washer on top of the clothes.

Always consult your machine’s user guide before using any laundry detergent to know what your machine can and can’t handle.

How long does this recipe last?

FAQs

  • Can I use a castile soap bar instead of liquid castile soap? Yes, you can. Use a cheese grater to grate a bar of castile soap into the hot water (along with the borax and washing soda). Stir and continue to boil the ingredients to dissolve fully (takes about 10 minutes). I also use a bar of castile soap to make powder laundry soap.
  • Is it normal that it’s more watery than soapy? Yes, this is normal. For a thicker, more concentrated detergent, there are two options: use Sal Suds instead of castile soap OR reduce the water to 10-12 cups for a more concentrated detergent.
  • The detergent is chunky (or gelled) after cooling, is that normal? Yes, this is normal. Depending on your home’s temperature, the soap may be more liquid or even chunky (like a gel). Both are normal and usable!
  • My laundry soap didn’t gel. What happened? If your environment is cooler, your laundry soap may gel after cooling. Or it may not. This is normal. Both forms are 100% good and usable. A reader recently shared this tip you can try as well, “I also like the the detergent to be more gelatinous and I use my immersion blender for a few seconds after it is cool to whip it. It turns white and jelly.”
  • Is borax safe? Borax is a debated ingredient in naturally-minded circles. I personally don’t see any reason to avoid it. This borax article from Wellness Mama has fantastic information.
  • Can I use this soap to lift stains? Yes, you can. You can either add the garment to the washer or add the garment to your kitchen sink with the soap and water and soak the garment to lift the stains. Or, apply the soap directly to the stain and scrub. If you’re dealing with tough stain, I recommend using this homemade stain remover before washing the garment.
  • Does this soap work with hard water? Yes, it does. I have hard water and this soap works great. You may want to use this laundry softener recipe as well.

Conclusion: Does this detergent work?

People always ask me, “Will homemade soap work as well as a store-bought product?” The answer, “YES! It will.”

My daughter’s chocolate stain on the left and after using this detergent in the wash. The stain lifted and the shirt was saved. If you need need extra help lifting a stain, you can also use my homemade stain remover first.

DIY Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent Soap
Ready to use detergent, made in less than 20 minutes.

The Best Natural Laundry Detergent Brands: I’ve researched and tried many different laundry soap brands and narrowed down the best 11 brands!

Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent
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Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe

With four simple ingredients and ten minutes, you can make your own homemade laundry soap. Nothing fancy, just simple ingredients that freshen, deodorize, fight stains, and remove dirt.
Course DIY, Homemade
Cuisine Cleaning
Keyword diy liquid laundry detergent, homemade laundry detergent, homemade liquid laundry detergent, homemade liquid laundry detergent recipe, homemade liquid laundry soap, laundry detergent recipe, Laundry Soap, make your own liquid laundry detergent
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 16 Cups
Author Kristin Marr
Cost $5 per batch

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, bring 6 cups of water to a slight boil. Once the water begins to boil, turn off the burner.
  • Add the Borax and washing soda. Stir to dissolve. Then add 9 cups of room-temperature water and 1 cup of liquid castile soap. Give the ingredients a stir to combine.
  • Allow the soap to cool for a few minutes before pouring into one large gallon-size jar or smaller containers, like quart-size jars. Make sure your jar(s) are heat-safe. If not, wait until the soap is cool, then spoon the soap into the jar(s).
    If you're reusing an old detergent bottle, make sure the soap is fully cool before adding to a plastic container.
  • Add an essential oil of choice (if using) to the soap (now in the jar) and stir to combine with the detergent.
    The essential oil will add a subtle fragrance, but shouldn't be added until the soap cools as heat will cause the essential oil to evaporate.
  • As the soap sits, the mixture may form into a gel and become chunky. There may also be liquid and gel separation, simply stir or shake. This is normal.

How to Use

  • For top loading washer machines, use 1/8-1/4 cup. For a front loader, use 1-2 tablespoons. Add the detergent to the liquid soap compartment of the washer.
  • Stain Treatment – Use a small amount of soap directly on the stain, scrub or rub the stain with a cloth. Repeat as needed, then wash the garment. Or use this stain remover spray.
  • Laundry Softener – This laundry detergent may be used with a fabric softener. I use vinegar added to the softener compartment or this salt scent booster & softener added directly to the wash basin before running a wash cycle.

Notes

  • A reader recently shared this tip, “I like the the detergent to be more gelatinous and I use my immersion blender for a few seconds after it is cool to whip it. It turns white and jelly.”
  • Give the jar a good shake or stir (with a long spoon) before use.
  • Use this detergent just as you would any laundry soap to clean clothes.
  • This homemade liquid laundry soap is highly concentrated which means you need only a small amount to get a dirty job done.
  • With the leftover castile soap, make over 24 different household products, from all-purpose cleaner to stain remover to homemade face wash!
Free RECIPE Cheatsheet

8 Natural Recipes for Your Laundry Room

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Homemade Oxi-Clean Like Laundry Booster https://livesimply.me/homemade-oxi-clean-like-laundry-booster/ https://livesimply.me/homemade-oxi-clean-like-laundry-booster/#comments Thu, 13 Aug 2015 14:36:21 +0000 http://livesimply.me/?p=14540 Okay, guys! It’s time for some laundry talk. For the past four weeks I’ve talked a lot about laundry, everything from a stain remover to homemade bleach alternative. I promise, I won’t talk about laundry forever. Just one more week of laundry talk? One more? Awesome, I knew you would say yes! I recently snooped...

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Homemade OxiClean Laundry Booster. Ditch the Oxi-Clean and get those whites white with this homemade oxygen bleach!

Okay, guys! It’s time for some laundry talk.

For the past four weeks I’ve talked a lot about laundry, everything from a stain remover to homemade bleach alternative. I promise, I won’t talk about laundry forever. Just one more week of laundry talk? One more?

Awesome, I knew you would say yes!

Homemade OxiClean Laundry Booster. Ditch the Oxi-Clean and get those whites white with this homemade oxygen bleach!

I recently snooped around the blog pretending to be a reader. During my pretend session, I clicked on the main menu, categories, and the sidebar. My desire is for Live Simply to be a reader-friendly space– posts are easy to find, pictures are big (well, not too big) and beautiful, and the words written communicate encouragement and love. As I clicked around, one major “issue” jumped out at me: The laundry subcategory has been seriously lacking. At the time the only posts available for reading were my homemade laundry soap and Kelly’s dryer balls (a dryer sheet alternative).

I’m all about simplicity, so one laundry soap and dryer ball post was perfectly fine, but I think most of us know the cold truth about laundry–it’s not a simple job. Oh yes, there’s the washing and folding.  But what about the mysterious black stains that magically appear on my favorite white shorts? Or the new white towels (by the way, I’m a huge advocate for white towels!)  that after only three washes feel like you’ve been using them for ten years. Laundry problems, my friend! Problems that need more than just soap and dry balls.

Homemade OxiClean Laundry Booster. Ditch the Oxi-Clean and get those whites white with this homemade oxygen bleach!

Over the years, I’ve experimented with various homemade laundry solutions. I’ve experienced countless failures. Through those failures I’ve discovered that while laundry may be complicated, the homemade solutions that fix those problems don’t have to be.

After peeking around Live Simply that day, I decided my tried-and-true laundry solutions needed to be shared, so over the last four weeks we’ve sat down to a cup of coffee, our computer screens, ignored the big pile of laundry calling out in the corner, and spent a few minutes each week talking about homemade laundry solutions!

To wrap up this laundry marathon (There are a few more solutions to share, but I’ll switch back to beauty and home for a few weeks.), let’s talk about oxygen bleach.

Homemade OxiClean Laundry Booster. Ditch the Oxi-Clean and get those whites white with this homemade oxygen bleach!

Oxygen bleach is a laundry booster that can be used directly in the washing machine to help clean soiled clothing and improve the performance of laundry detergents. For years, I used this product in my home until I finally decided to do a little research into the ingredients. After reading the ingredient list and articles online, I realized the expensive oxygen bleach powder I purchased to provide my laundry with a sweet little boost was nothing more than a special ingredient called Sodium Percarbonate. From my research I learned Sodium Percarbonate is made by bonding two ingredients together: hydrogen peroxide and washing soda. Mind-blown! Talk about simplicity!

It was at this moment in my research that I realized the expensive product I was purchasing from the store shelf each month could easily be made at home. I played around with several variations of a homemade Oxi-Clean like product: mixing equal parts hydrogen peroxide and washing soda, reducing the hydrogen peroxide, etc. Each attempt only led to disaster.

As it turns out, washing soda and hydrogen peroxide form some kind of chemical reaction after sitting for 24 hours in a container. The two ingredients form a crystal-like hard substance. It’s actually pretty fascinating, and that’s as far as I get with the technicality of it all. Hard rock-like crystals are no bueno for a mom in need of a homemade laundry boost.

Finally, I figured out my problem. I was over complicating the whole process.

Since that light-bulb moment, I’ve been happily using a homemade laundry boost. I simply keep a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and a glass jar filled with washing soda near the washing machine. When our laundry is on the dirtier side or I’m washing a load of towels, I simply add equal parts of washing soda and hydrogen peroxide to the machine as the water fills up, swish the ingredients in the water with my hand, pour in the laundry soap, and add the clothes! Viola!

Before I share this simple recipe with you, let’s take a look at the two ingredients:

Homemade OxiClean Laundry Booster. Ditch the Oxi-Clean and get those whites white with this homemade oxygen bleach!

Hydrogen Peroxide: The primary job of this household ingredient is to remove stains and naturally-brighten clothes. This ingredient is also used in my homemade bleach alternative, which also uses washing soda and the power of lemons to whiten dingy garments.

Homemade OxiClean Laundry Booster. Ditch the Oxi-Clean and get those whites white with this homemade oxygen bleach!

Washing Soda: This is the cousin of baking soda. In fact, you can actually make washing soda from baking soda–I tell you how to do that in my DIY Natural Cleaning Challenge eBook. When it comes to cleaning clothes, washing soda is preferred over baking soda due to washing soda’s higher PH level (PH 11). Washing soda can help soften hard water. It also works as a degreaser and stain remover.

Homemade OxiClean Laundry Booster
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Homemade Oxi-Clean Like Laundry Booster

Oxygen bleach is a laundry booster that can be used directly in the washing machine to help clean soiled clothing and improve the performance of laundry detergents. 
Course DIY, Homemade
Cuisine Cleaning
Keyword Oxi-Clean Like Laundry Booster
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 1 load
Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Turn on the washing machine, allow the water to fill the basin 1/4-1/2 way full. Add each ingredient to the water (preferably hot water), along with the laundry soap, and swish (use your hand or a wooden spoon).
  • Continue filling the washer with water until you reach the desired level.
  • Once the ingredients are dissolved, add the clothes. Proceed to wash the clothes according to your washing machine's cycle.

Notes

  • For soiled or extra stinky clothes (not ones that require extra whitening or stain removal–this recipe isn’t a complete stain remover), soak the clothes in the solution for 30 minutes -1 hour before adding the laundry soap and running the washer.
  • This recipe is used in my house as a regular laundry booster (to aid my laundry soap in getting rid of dirt or odors). For clothes that need extra whitening, I use my homemade bleach alternative.
  • For clothes with stains, I use my homemade stain remover, then toss the clothing in the washing machine (along with other clothes, if possible) with this formula. The laundry booster helps lift the stain, if the stain remover needs a bit more of a boost.
Homemade OxiClean Laundry Booster. Ditch the Oxi-Clean and get those whites white with this homemade oxygen bleach!
Free RECIPE Cheatsheet

8 Natural Recipes for Your Laundry Room

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Homemade Bleach Alternative: A 3-Ingredient Whitening Solution https://livesimply.me/homemade-bleach-alternative-3-ingredient-whitening-solution/ https://livesimply.me/homemade-bleach-alternative-3-ingredient-whitening-solution/#comments Sun, 19 Jul 2015 15:47:39 +0000 http://livesimply.me/?p=14055 Recipe Update: This recipe has been updated from the original recipe (which used lemon juice with the ingredients), because I discovered a simpler and easier recipe that doesn’t require a blender and works just as awesome! The modified recipe (fully updated below) even removed a 6 hour-old red wine stain from our white IKEA slipcover couch (the...

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Homemade bleach alternative: natural whitening solution. Your clothes and lungs will thank you!

Recipe Update: This recipe has been updated from the original recipe (which used lemon juice with the ingredients), because I discovered a simpler and easier recipe that doesn’t require a blender and works just as awesome! The modified recipe (fully updated below) even removed a 6 hour-old red wine stain from our white IKEA slipcover couch (the slipcover was removed and soaked in the whitening solution).

If you’re interested in the original recipe (which works great, but when a simpler version is available why not use it instead?): 2 gallons of warm/hot water, 2 lemons (quartered), 1 cup hydrogen peroxide, and 1/2 cup washing soda. Blend the hydrogen peroxide and lemons in the blender (yes, hydrogen is safe to use in a blender since it’s a great disinfectant–just wash it out after making the solution). Pour the lemon mixture and washing soda into the warm/hot water and soak your garment for 30 minutes. The garment will probably look yellow from the lemon juice, but I haven’t had any issues with the lemon juice remaining on garments once washed in the washing machine. Wash the garment in the washing machine with warm/hot water and laundry soap. 

How does it feel to wear white again?

AMAZING, right?!

Who knew the secret to spotless whites (and colors) could be found in three ingredients most of us already own, or can easily obtain: glycerin, castile soap, water, and lemon. If you’re totally lost right now, I highly recommend skipping over to last week’s laundry recipe post featuring an effective and simple stain remover spray. Once you’ve grabbed that recipe you’ll want to come back here for today’s easy peasy recipe. Trust me, your clothes will be forever changed.

Since we are all in a good laundry mood around here thanks to last week’s stain remover spray, we might as well just deepen the laundry love. Let’s talk about laundry again, okay?

For the first few years of our marriage (we are coming up on the big 10 next month!), I was a chlorine bleach fanatic. If the bathroom was dirty, I reached for the bottle of bleach. When the ice cream from last night’s outing decided to visit with my favorite white shorts, the bottle of bleach was put to use. When our linoleum floors went well past a cleaning appointment (with me!), bleach came to the rescue. I think you get the picture: I loved bleach. And truthfully, I’m not really sure how that love was developed since my parents rarely used this strong whitening and disinfecting agent in their home. Maybe it was the cheap price or the POW  job it seemed to perform? Whatever it was, my love was a bit extreme.

I see you cringing over there. Trust me, I cringe at the very thought of my intense use and love for bleach. Oh yea, and then the smell? I don’t even want to think about the number of brain cells I probably killed by inhaling so much chlorine bleach. The thought is just depressing, so let’s not go there. The good news is the happy turning point of my bleach saga happens right about now…

Homemade bleach alternative: natural whitening solution

From the start of our marriage Dustin was the “healthier” one. When I’d be chowing down on Edy’s ice cream late at night, he would reach for a container of strawberries. While I continued to feed my sugar and coke addiction, Dustin usually reached for water or juice (sure, the juice probably contained just as much sugar). And when it came to bleach, Dustin always made a point to say, “I wish you wouldn’t use that stuff! It hurts my lungs.”

I really hate to admit this next point about myself, but here it goes: I tend to be a pretty stubborn person. Yep, it’s not my most flattering quality, but somewhere deep inside there’s this little voice that wants to do it my way until I’ve been proven wrong about a million times. Like I said, not a great quality, but we’re all about truth around here.

Despite Dustin regularly pointing out the whole “I don’t like bleach” plea, I continued to use it for two reasons: 1/ I was stubborn 2/ I couldn’t find a better alternative. The “bleach alternative” from the store just didn’t cut it.

For the sake of not boring you this morning, let’s just skip ahead to the really good part of this story…

Almost ten years into our marriage, I’m excited to finally share that 2014 was my year for giving up bleach once and for all! Granted, I had cut back on my use of this product many years before, but I still used it on occasion for a tough job and white clothes. As it turns out, a homemade bleach alternative existed right under my nose–a nose that desperately needed a break from bleach!

Homemade Bleach Alternative: Whitening Recipe--Only THREE ingredients

Three ingredients are used to make my homemade bleach alternative: water, hydrogen peroxide, and washing soda (thanks to a much higher PH level than baking soda). These ingredients are inexpensive and, when combined, create a super effective deodorizing and whitening agent.

Homemade bleach alternative: natural whitening solution. Your clothes and lungs will thank you!

Are you ready to tackle some laundry? Awesome!

Let’s do this!

Homemade bleach alternative: natural whitening solution
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Homemade Bleach Alternative

Three ingredients are used to make my homemade bleach alternative: water, hydrogen peroxide, and washing soda (thanks to a much higher PH level than baking soda).
Course DIY, Homemade
Cuisine Cleaning
Keyword Bleach Alternative
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 1 Load
Author Kristin Marr
Cost $5

Ingredients

  • 2 gallon warm water
  • 1 cup hydrogen peroxide 3%
  • 1/2 cup washing soda

Instructions

  • Add the ingredients to a large bucket or sink.
  • Whisk the ingredients into the water to dissolve the washing soda. 
  • Soak your garment for 30 minutes in the solution. Wash the garment in the washing machine with warm/hot water and laundry soap. 

A Few Helpful Notes:

  • This solution is intended to be a one-time use recipe. I make this bleach alternative as needed. You can use the solution multiple times during the day if you’re doing a quick soak (not hours of soaking) for the garments; just remember that hydrogen peroxide is light sensitive so its effectiveness will fade the longer it’s exposed to light. This recipe can be doubled.
  • Need a quick stain remover for a small area? Treat stains with my homemade stain remover. Need to treat a larger stain? Recently Dustin spilled red wine all over our white IKEA slipcover couch and didn’t realize it until several hours later (the glass had been pushed behind a throw pillow before spilling). I mixed together this solution and after a couple of hours, the wine completely was gone!
  • “Is this solution color-safe?” I don’t use this solution on delicate clothes. If you want to use this solution on colored fabric, I recommend testing a small area first before soaking the entire garment, especially if it’s a favorite shirt or pair of pants! I soak our black and white chevron print kitchen rug in this solution without any issue.
Homemade bleach alternative: natural whitening solution. Your clothes and lungs will thank you!
Free RECIPE Cheatsheet

8 Natural Recipes for Your Laundry Room

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Easy DIY Dish Soap https://livesimply.me/easy-diy-dish-soap/ https://livesimply.me/easy-diy-dish-soap/#comments Sat, 04 Apr 2015 22:47:17 +0000 http://livesimply.me/?p=11982 “Sorry, Mama!” Those were the two words I heard as I walked from the hallway into the bathroom where the kids were taking a bath. “What happened, Piper?” “I dumped out your shampoo!” I looked at Piper and Londyn splashing around in the tub now filled with shampoo bubbles, “Why did you dump out the...

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A super easy and effective DIY dish soap recipe! This actually cleans dishes, deodorizes, and cuts grease! Natural, homemade, and easy!

“Sorry, Mama!”

Those were the two words I heard as I walked from the hallway into the bathroom where the kids were taking a bath.

“What happened, Piper?”

“I dumped out your shampoo!”

I looked at Piper and Londyn splashing around in the tub now filled with shampoo bubbles, “Why did you dump out the shampoo?”

“We wanted bubbles, but it’s okay, you can make more, Mama!”

A super easy and effective DIY dish soap recipe! This actually cleans dishes, deodorizes, and cuts grease! Natural, homemade, and easy!

It was at that moment that the act of Piper dumping my expensive, store-bought (more natural) shampoo in the bath-tub quickly fled from my thoughts as I chuckled about his comment, “It’s okay, you can make more, Mama!”

I chuckled about this simplified life that’s become so normal to him. One where toothpaste comes in a clear, reusable tube and body wash comes from a mason jar. I’m excited (and if I’m honest, a bit nervous) about his first year of kindergarten next year. “Mrs. Jones, why is this hand soap blue?” or “It’s okay, Mrs. Jones, my mom can make some hand sanitizer for you!” You know, totally normal five year-old stuff. Maybe Mrs. Jones and I should have a talk before the big first day?

A super easy and effective DIY dish soap recipe! This actually cleans dishes, deodorizes, and cuts grease! Natural, homemade, and easy!

Now, on to the DIY or as Piper would say, “You can make more, Mama” project of the day.

I think you’re going to love today’s DIY as it’s become one of the most requested homemade recipes around Live Simply. Today is finally the day for DIY Dish Soap! So gather the supplies and fire-up the stove-top, we’re going to make an effective homemade dish soap that’s tough on germs and grease. In other words, this stuff actually works!

First, let’s take a look at the ingredients…

A super easy and effective DIY dish soap recipe! This actually cleans dishes, deodorizes, and cuts grease! Natural, homemade, and easy!

A super easy and effective DIY dish soap recipe! This actually cleans dishes, deodorizes, and cuts grease! Natural, homemade, and easy!

1. Washing Soda: Just like baking soda, washing soda has the cleaning power to cut tough dirt, stains, and even grease. Not only does this ingredient take care of the unwanted stains and grease,  it also deodorizes. That Tupperware of two week-old spaghetti is no match for this stain-fighting and deodorizing ingredient.

2. Borax: This ingredient has been highly debated in the natural community. Some believe this ingredient is toxic, while others, like myself, hold strong to the belief that borax is just as natural as baking soda. If you’re on the fence about this ingredient, I highly recommend reading this well-researched article from Wellness Mama. Then, add this ingredient to your homemade dish soap for its grease-fighting power. Borax also helps to fight against hard water spots and residue.

3. Sal Suds: One of my favorite multipurpose DIY ingredients. Castile soap is a concentrated vegetable-based soap with easy to recognize ingredients.  I use castile soap for everything from  homemade laundry detergent to hand soap and face wash. While I love castile soap, I purchase castile soap’s cousin, Sal Suds, for tough cleaning jobs. Sal Suds is tougher on grease and stubborn stains than castile soap.

4. Essential Oils: Peppermint and tea tree essential oils are known for their natural cleaning power (antibacterial and antiseptic) which is why both are added to this recipe. Peppermint essential oil also adds an amazing fresh scent to this soap.

5. Optional Ingredients: I like to add glycerin and a nourishing oil to this dish soap recipe for moisturizing benefits. Trust me, your hands will thank you! You can add these ingredients or skip them, either way you’ll still create an effective dish soap.

This DIY Dish Soap can easily be doubled or even tripled, if desired. I suggest first trying this recipe and testing it out to see if you like homemade dish soap, as we all have our preferences when it comes to cleaning products.

A super easy and effective DIY dish soap recipe! This actually cleans dishes, deodorizes, and cuts grease! Natural, homemade, and easy!

Before I leave, remember, if your kids decide to enjoy an afternoon of bubbles in the sink, “You can always make more, Mama!” thanks to this super easy DIY Dish Soap recipe.

DIY Dish Soap
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Easy DIY Dish Soap

I think you’re going to love today’s DIY as it’s become one of the most requested homemade recipes around Live Simply. Today is finally the day for DIY Dish Soap! So gather the supplies and fire-up the stove-top, we’re going to make an effective homemade dish soap that’s tough on germs and grease. In other words, this stuff actually works!
Course DIY
Cuisine Cleaning
Keyword Dish Soap
Prep Time 1 minute
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 6 minutes
Servings 18 oz
Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

Optional:

  • 1/2 TB skin-nourishing oil jojoba, almond, olive oil, etc. If you'll be using this soap with bare hands.

Instructions

  • In a saucepan, heat the the water just until it reaches a boiling point. Turn off the heat and add the washing soda and borax, stirring to dissolve. Let the mixture cool for 3-5 minutes, just until warm, but no longer hot.
  • Add the Sal Suds and and essential oils to the water mixture. Vigorously whisk the ingredients together.
  • Use a funnel to pour the dish soap into a soap dispenser (I found one at IKEA). The soap may separate after sitting for 24 hours. If this happens, vigorously shake the soap bottle until the ingredients are combined.

 

When you introduce water into a product without a preservative you always run the risk of introducing bacteria, so use water-based products quickly.

Don’t want to “cook” your dish soap? I love this no-cook recipe as well.

Hard Water Note: If you have hard water, like myself, this soap will clean and remove all the germies (including grease), however, it’s not a 100% spotless formula. This means when you hold up glasses in the light you may see some dry water spots (although the Borax helps to reduce the amount you would see with other homemade dish soap recipes). Ah yes, the curse and blessing of mineral-rich, hard water. Even with store-bought soap I have an issue with water spots.

A super easy and effective DIY dish soap recipe! This actually cleans dishes, deodorizes, and cuts grease! Natural, homemade, and easy!

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