Making your own laundry detergent and dishwasher powder.

Jones

Jones

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This recipe was bought to my attention by a food bank client who was looking for ways to battle increasing prices on everything.

THE RECIPE​

Ditch the harsh chemicals and save some money while you’re at it with this homemade laundry liquid recipe. This all natural laundry liquid is perfect for the cost conscious with each litre costing less than 20 cents.

Ingredients
(If you like the scent of sunlight laundry soap, then adding scented oils is not necessary. If you prefer to make your own scent, then choose a scentless or unperfumed soap. Borax is not needed for general laundry and is apparently only used in the recipe if there is a lot of heavily soiled clothing in the wash or if the water is hard)

Method
  1. Grate the bar of soap into a big pot.
  2. Cover with water and simmer over medium heat until all the soap is melted, stirring occasionally.
  3. Pour into a very large bucket approximately 20-25 litres.
  4. Add Lectric Washing Soda, lavender oil and Borax (optional).
  5. Add enough very hot water to fill the bucket.
  6. Stir often as it is cooling down, any long stick or spoon will do.
  7. Let it sit overnight to gel, but give it the occasional stir as it starts to thicken.
  8. For top loader washing machines use one cup per load. For front loading machines use half a cup per load.
Tips
  • You can pour this into old detergent bottles or leave in the bucket.
  • Make sure it’s covered with a lid if using a bucket to protect children or pets.
  • If the gel is too thick for your liking add more hot water to get desired consistency
  • The laundry liquid does not contain detergents so it will not be very bubbly or frothy but rest assured it works just as well
  • It is safe to use your kitchen grater or processor to grate the soap, after all you wash it with detergent which is soap
Clients that are using the basic recipe are also using it as a dish washing detergent. Some are using smaller buckets than the 20-25 litre size suggested, and that just means that the final product is thicker and more gel like rather than liquid. The final detergent doesn't create suds, but is apparently just as good as commercial cleaners at washing clothes.

I bought a box of 4 bars of sunlight laundry soap and one kg of washing soda at the supermarket for a total of AUD10 so the end product is very cheap for the volume that it creates.

The manufacturer of the washing soda also have a recipe for making dishwasher powder on their website. I haven't tried this one or costed it out for comparison to commercial brands.

Dishwasher powder isn’t cheap, so why buy it when you can make your own for so much less? Its so simple. Here’s what you’ll need.

Ingredients
  • 1 cup baking soda
  • 1 cup Lectric Washing Soda
  • 1/4 cup salt
  • 1/4 cup citric acid (available in baking aisle of supermarket)
  • A few drops of tea-tree oil

Method
  1. In a sealed container, shake the ingredients together well.
  2. Use approximately two tablespoons per load. Easy!
 
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Here are some other alternatives:
Homesteading hacks: 3 Non-toxic dishwasher rinse aid recipes – NaturalNews.com


Rinse aid is a dishwashing adjunct to detergents since your dishwasher can work without it. But it can be useful if you wish to get rid of water spots and have hard water at home, which is water with high mineral content. Hard water forms white residues around your faucet, drain and bathtub. Soaps and shampoos don't lather easily because of it.

As a surfactant, rinse aid reduces the surface tension of the liquid it is dissolved in, meaning it makes water more likely to spread out or "sheet." This prevents water from forming into droplets and makes your dishes dry faster.

DIY dishwasher rinse aid recipes​

Making your own rinse aid gives you control over what ingredients to use. It reduces toxins in your home and the environment and is an excellent way to become more self-sufficient. Plus, it can save you some money over time.

White vinegar rinse aid​

White vinegar is a popular cleaning and rinse agent that's great at eliminating germs and breaking down crusted residues. As a common kitchen item, it is widely available, extremely cheap and safe for use. You can also make your own vinegar at home.
For this rinse aid recipe, you need only the following ingredient:
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup of white vinegar
Here's how to use white vinegar as a rinse agent:
  1. Place a small cup on your dishwasher's top rack.
  2. Pour vinegar into the cup.
  3. Run your dishwasher as usual.
Depending on the position of the dishwasher's spray arms, much of the vinegar shouldn't get diluted very quickly. If it does, place the cup on the bottom of the dishwasher before the rinse cycle starts. Keep an eye on the dishwasher while it's running to check if the vinegar works better in this location.


Hydrogen peroxide rinse aid​

Hydrogen peroxide is a mild antiseptic commonly used as a disinfectant. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this antiseptic can eliminate a wide range of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, yeasts, spores and fungi.
The following ingredients are needed for this rinse aid recipe:
  • Hydrogen peroxide
  • Natural food coloring, such as turmeric-based food dye (optional)
Here's how to use hydrogen peroxide as a rinse agent:
  1. Fill your rinse aid compartment with hydrogen peroxide.
  2. Add a few drops of food coloring to see how much hydrogen peroxide is left.
  3. Run your dishwasher as usual.

​

Citric acid rinse aid​

Citric acid is the naturally occurring acid that gives citrus fruits, such as lemons and limes, their tart, sour taste. It is commonly used as a flavoring and preservative but is also used as a disinfectant.
You'll need the following ingredients for this rinse aid recipe:
  • 2 cups citric acid from citrus fruits
  • 5 to 10 drops essential oil
Follow the steps below to make the solution:
  1. Mix all ingredients and store them in a jar.
  2. Add a tablespoon of the mixture to the rinse aid compartment.
  3. Run the dishwasher as usual.
Take note that citric acid can get clumpy if stored in a humid environment. To prevent this, take a tablespoon or so of bentonite clay and put it in a baby sock or small cloth. Seal with a rubber band and keep inside the jar with the solution. The bentonite clay should absorb moisture. (Related: Homesteading hacks: Non-toxic DIY glass and window cleaner.)
 
Jones said:
Method
  1. Grate the bar of soap into a big pot.
  2. Cover with water and simmer over medium heat until all the soap is melted, stirring occasionally.
  3. Pour into a very large bucket approximately 20-25 litres.
  4. Add Lectric Washing Soda, lavender oil and Borax (optional).
  5. Add enough very hot water to fill the bucket.
  6. Stir often as it is cooling down, any long stick or spoon will do.
  7. Let it sit overnight to gel, but give it the occasional stir as it starts to thicken.
  8. For top loader washing machines use one cup per load. For front loading machines use half a cup per load.
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You have to buy a large pot, a large bucket, the oil and by using that in the appliances you guarantee some beautiful breakdowns in a few months.

The cemeteries are full of good intentions.
 
I was just wondering about the effect of very hot water on plastic buckets, but it seems to be okay?

Here is another recipe. I just love these people and how they go about it. They have made all kinds of videos about homesteading.
 
Wandering Star said:
You have to buy a large pot, a large bucket, the oil and by using that in the appliances you guarantee some beautiful breakdowns in a few months.
Click to expand...

The pot only has to be big enough to hold a grated bar of soap and enough water to cover it. It doesn't need to be an additional pot because it's only a soap and water mix, so a pot that is already in your kitchen would suffice so long as it is well rinsed afterwards. As noted in the original post, a large bucket is suggested, but some use smaller buckets to make a gel rather than a liquid that is more concentrated and so less is needed in the wash. The oil is optional and not necessary in the basic recipe. On the potential of damage to the appliance, the ingredients suggested are commonly used in commercial detergents as far as I can tell, but would be interested to know if you have some info on which of those would might be harmful to the machine.
 
Jones said:
The pot only has to be big enough to hold a grated bar of soap and enough water to cover it. It doesn't need to be an additional pot because it's only a soap and water mix, so a pot that is already in your kitchen would suffice so long as it is well rinsed afterwards. As noted in the original post, a large bucket is suggested, but some use smaller buckets to make a gel rather than a liquid that is more concentrated and so less is needed in the wash. The oil is optional and not necessary in the basic recipe. On the potential of damage to the appliance, the ingredients suggested are commonly used in commercial detergents as far as I can tell, but would be interested to know if you have some info on which of those would might be harmful to the machine.
Click to expand...
Well, a childhood friend is an official specialist technician for a very important brand of household appliances in Spain.

In it he was in my house due to a breakdown of my dishwasher and the breakdown was due to using cheap soap.

It's very simple, cheap soap produces too much foam and the electronic reader of the dishwasher's drain pipe reads that the water has not been emptied and causes a breakdown of the water pump, blocking the dishwasher, when all there is is foam. .

It stops working.

The first technician I called wanted to change the water pump, an electronic reader and something else. He wanted to charge me nearly four hundred euros.

When I told him that perhaps it was better for me to buy a new one, since there wouldn't be much difference in money, he with all his cold blood told me that it was my choice.

I then called my childhood friend, a serious and responsible person, and he told me the real problem.

I cleaned the foam and the matter was solved, 0 euros bill.

So, my friend recommended the best for the machine and it wasn't exactly the cheapest.

Now, surely you use that soap formulated by eye and it will do well for you.

It's the funny thing about the universe.
 
In the case of a washing machine top load, I think if you use those yellow soap bars meant for washing laundry (the brand Sunlight makes them) or Marseille soap bars, the recipe should work and not produce much foam at all. But frankly, I can get 200 loads of liquid detergent for 12$, so I would not bother making this recipe unless I find out that there are harmful chemicals in those commercial soaps. I think after the rinse it should all be gone.
 
Wandering Star said:
It's very simple, cheap soap produces too much foam and the electronic reader of the dishwasher's drain pipe reads that the water has not been emptied and causes a breakdown of the water pump, blocking the dishwasher, when all there is is foam. .
Click to expand...

Maybe we're dealing with a translation issue here?
Jones said:
The final detergent doesn't create suds, but is apparently just as good as commercial cleaners at washing clothes.
Click to expand...

Suds is basically foam. This recipe doesn't foam.
 
meadow_wind said:
In the case of a washing machine top load, I think if you use those yellow soap bars meant for washing laundry (the brand Sunlight makes them) or Marseille soap bars, the recipe should work and not produce much foam at all. But frankly, I can get 200 loads of liquid detergent for 12$, so I would not bother making this recipe unless I find out that there are harmful chemicals in those commercial soaps. I think after the rinse it should all be gone.
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I actually have that scent in my plain and simple washing liquid from Lidl. It is not expensive and I love the smell.....it reminds me of the Sunlight bars that my mum used to do the hand washing with when I was young.....and over here in Malta it is called Marsiglia (the Italian version of Marseille) The conditioner is a baby powder smell which just smells clean, when it comes out of the machine! A lot of my friends pay a lot of money for the Persil brand, it is SO expensive.....I am lucky that I have never really been brand led, but just the quality of the product itself.

White vinegar is SO versatile....I always have some on hand to clean up my bunny accidents:). The only thing about the white vinegar though.......it always makes me hungry for Fish & Chips...hehe!
 
My grandma has a big jar in her laundry, full of all the tiny slivers of soap left over when her hand/shower soap has been almost used up.. The soap pieces turn to mush down at the bottom of the jar, like a soap compost.. I don't think she actually uses it any more, but is still just in the habit of saving all soap scraps to use as detergent. Something she did in World War 2 times. I don't think she added anything else to it, just the random bits of soap. I like the idea! Probably won't start a soap jar but will try this detergent making business..
 
nativeindigo said:
I love the smell.....it reminds me of the Sunlight bars that my mum used to do the hand washing with when I was young.....and over here in Malta it is called Marsiglia (the Italian version of Marseille)
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Yeah, the scent of sunlight soap brings back a lot of memories of my grandmother and great grandmother and times when I stayed with them as a kid. Back in those days, my great grandmother used a hand wringer too, like this one:

handwringer.png
brandon said:
My grandma has a big jar in her laundry, full of all the tiny slivers of soap left over when her hand/shower soap has been almost used up.. The soap pieces turn to mush down at the bottom of the jar, like a soap compost.. I don't think she actually uses it any more, but is still just in the habit of saving all soap scraps to use as detergent. Something she did in World War 2 times. I don't think she added anything else to it, just the random bits of soap. I like the idea! Probably won't start a soap jar but will try this detergent making business..
Click to expand...

That's a memory from my great grandmother too. She also kept a dish of soap ends on the kitchen sink and used them to soap up her steel wool for pot and pan scrubbing.

Another thing I remembered is that the client that uses the smaller bucket to make the gel consistency in the laundry liquid transfers some of that to a used laundry liquid container and adds additional water to it at that point shaking the bottle to mix it all in. She says it's good to give it a shake before each use.
 
Another helpful laundry trick is one that I learned from a friend who worked on a large cattle spread. One of his jobs was to drive the fence lines and repair and breaks. He could be away from the house for days on end. On the back of his ute he had a garbage bin and he'd drilled some holes in the lid and suspended a plumb weight from the lid with some rope. Then he'd part fill the garbage bin with water from cattle troughs, put some detergent in with his dirty clothes, and allow the rocking of the ute to agitate his wash while he was driving from place to place. This is an idea that might be able to be adapted for other vehicles if a container that can be sealed and secured firmly enough in the boot can be found. With fuel and gas prices being so high, doing a small load each day in the car as you go about your business to get extra use out of the cost of fuel and to reduce energy costs at the house might be helpful.
 
Jones said:
Yeah, the scent of sunlight soap brings back a lot of memories of my grandmother and great grandmother and times when I stayed with them as a kid. Back in those days, my great grandmother used a hand wringer too, like this one:

View attachment 97264


That's a memory from my great grandmother too. She also kept a dish of soap ends on the kitchen sink and used them to soap up her steel wool for pot and pan scrubbing.

Another thing I remembered is that the client that uses the smaller bucket to make the gel consistency in the laundry liquid transfers some of that to a used laundry liquid container and adds additional water to it at that point shaking the bottle to mix it all in. She says it's good to give it a shake before each use.
Click to expand...
My mum used to have one of these.....this was when I was very young like a baby, there was a story of how my older sister was trying to help my mum and as she was trying to spread out the item of clothing that was being brought through the rollers, her tiny hand and forearm got rolled in with the clothing, by the time my mom realised her hand had already gone through...... she was taken to the hospital but luckily nothing was broken...just some bruising which came out afterwards. I always remember hearing this story as I was growing up (it always sounded gruesome then but as I grew it lost that kind of feeling) As kids and usually at the dinner table which was most meal times in our house, we often loved recalling our near misses and scary moments, and there were quite a few with us kids. We used to travel, most years, to Italy by car with our 6 berth caravan in tow, to see my relatives....there were always mishaps and adventures on our trips, but glad to say, nothing too serious that could not be fixed!
 
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