DIY Lavender Bergamot Laundry Detergent

Name: DIY Lavender Bergamot Laundry Detergent
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Yield: 5
Ingredients: 6 bars Dr. Bronner's Lavender Castile Soap; 3 cups baking soda; 3 cups borax; 3 cups washing soda; 40 drops lavender essential oil; 40 drops bergamot essential oil; A 5-gallon bucket with lid; A storage jar with a label and a measuring cup or scooper

Making your own laundry detergent offers several benefits, both practical and environmental. Firstly, it can lead to significant cost savings. Commercial laundry detergents can be expensive, especially for large households or those with specific laundry needs, such as hypoallergenic or eco-friendly products. By making your own detergent at home, you can purchase basic ingredients like the ones in this recipe in bulk and reduce the overall cost per load significantly. This DIY approach can stretch your budget further, allowing you to allocate savings to other household needs.

In addition to financial benefits, homemade laundry detergent is often better for the environment. Many commercial detergents contain harsh chemicals, artificial fragrances, and dyes that can be harmful to aquatic life and contribute to pollution when they enter the water supply. By making your own detergent, you have full control over the ingredients, enabling you to choose eco-friendly, biodegradable options that are gentler on the planet. This small change can contribute to a larger effort in reducing your household’s environmental footprint.

Making your own laundry detergent can also be healthier for you and your family. Many people have sensitive skin or allergies that are exacerbated by the synthetic additives found in commercial detergents. By creating your own nontoxic detergent, you can avoid these irritants, resulting in a gentler product that is safe for all skin types. You can also customize the formula to address specific needs, such as adding essential oils for natural fragrance or adjusting the strength for delicate fabrics. This customization ensures that your laundry routine is tailored to the unique needs of your household, promoting overall well-being.

Here’s the laundry detergent recipe that I use with my favorite combination of essential oils.

DIY Lavender Bergamot Laundry Detergent

Yield:
5 gallons

Prep Time:
5 minutes

Total Time:
5 minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

Use a box grater to grate your bars of soap. I keep one of these in my laundry room to use for for soap and a separate one that I keep in my kitchen for my food.
Place your non-soap ingredients in the bucket and shake or stir to combine. Then add the grated soap and essential oils and mix again until all ingredients are combined.
Depending on your laundry room situation and your aesthetic preferences, you can pour your desired amount from your bucket to your storage jar or keep it stored in your bucket.
Label your bucket or jar and set it in a cool, dry place away from children or animals.
For small loads, use 1/4 cup of detergent, for large loads use 1/2 cup.

Notes

For a natural fabric softener, add 1/2 cup to 1 cup of distilled white vinegar to your washing machine and use 4-5 wool dryer balls in the dryer with wet clothes.