Monday, September 24, 2012

Homemade Laundry Detergent for Sensitive Skin

One of my first blog posts was how to make Homemade Laundry Detergent. Not only am I saving money but I am also watching out what kind of chemicals we use in our household. Store bought detergent = Not so safe. Homemade detergent = Safe. But now, with the new baby coming Oct 23rd, I have had to find homemade products that are safe(r) for the little guy.

I have made an adaptation from my homemade laundry detergent recipe that is not only safe for the new baby but also for anyone with sensitive skin.


What you will need:

1 c Baking Soda
1 c Washing Soda
1 c Borax
1 c OxyClean (optional)
1 bar Fels Naptha 
 

Pretty much the same ingredients as my regular homemade detergent but without the Purex Crystals and instead of grating the Fels Naptha I put it in the microwave for 90 seconds. Yep!! Who would of thought about doing that??? Makes is soooo much easier and faster than grating. PLUS you get a very fine, powdery soap that mixes well, rather than grated cheese soap that kinda gets stuck in clumps. 

So when you put your soap in the microwave for 90 seconds, it will look something like this....
It kinda looks like a lumpy ball of yellow bread (or a camel's foot). Make sure though, that you wait for it to cool down before crumbling it into pieces. The soap can actually stay hot for a while. I suggest waiting 15-20 min before crumbling.

Once is cools, combine all the ingredients into a container with a lid. Use only 1 tablespoon per load (I use the OxyClean scoop), 2 tablespoons for big/dirty loads plus about 1/2 cup of white vinegar (put vinegar in the fabric softener compartment) to get rid of bacteria and smells. If you are using CLOTH diapers, omit the Fels Naptha soap. I have read on other blogs that using any bar soap on cloth diapers destroys the fabrics and the absorbency of them as well.

Please feel free to share your homemade recipes or if you have used mine, I would love to hear your thoughts!!


2 comments:

  1. Hi! I have been using the homemade laundry detergent recipe you posted for about a month and I love it! I am also expecting my second and I used the same recipe for my baby detergent! I don't know if you are planning on using cloth diapers but I thought I would share the recipe I use (my 2 year old still uses diapers at night), here it is: 3 boxes washing soda, 2 boxes borax, 6 lbs oxiclean. I have read that you shouldn't using baking soda on cloth diapers... Not too sure why though! I do a cold rinse/spin cycle with white vinegar added in, then a hot wash with detergent and a cold rinse. Sorry my comment is so long! I am glad to have found your blog... it has motivated me to make better choices for my family too!

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    1. Thanks for sharing your recipe! I have heard that BS can break down the elastic on the cloth diapers but it is okay for the inserts. I know some people also sprinkle it on the dirty diapers or mix it with the water if using a wet pail. I think it just depends on which diapers you are using. I'm so glad that my blog has inspired you! It really is a great feeling when you can save money for your household and know that what you are using is safe :) Have a great day!

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