When it comes to living more organically and natural, making your own laundry detergent is one of the easiest ways you can begin to make your laundry allergy free, smell great, and do so fast and inexpensively. The thought of making laundry detergent however can be overwhelming to many of us so today we are going to give you some recipes and tips for doing it yourself that we think you will find simple, and not at all as time consuming as you may think.
DIY Laundry Detergent | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC
Many who opt to make their own laundry detergents opt for powder form. We will offer a recipe for both powder and liquid however since everyone will have their favorite. Powder is easy to store and simple to make.
Liquid requires a bit more storage area and is a little more involved in the making of it. It can also gel and separate upon storing. Some prefer one over the other but no matter what your preference is you can customize the basic recipe to suit your own needs.
Powder Detergent | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC
Each recipe will make 32 ounces and you can do 32-64 loads depending on how much you use for each load.
Ingredients:
- 1 Bar of shaved soap (4.5 ounces) of your choice
- 1 cup of Borax
- 1 Cup of Washing Soda
Directions:
Mix all of the above ingredients together til thoroughly mixed. You might want to use a food processor to help the detergent dissolve more easily in the washer. Once you have this mixed store it in a container of your choice with a lid and small scoop. Use at least a large tablespoon for each small load of clothing that is lightly soiled. Fore more heavily soiled or larger loads of clothing you will want to use 2-3 tablespoons.
You can make smaller amounts of the detergent simply by cutting the amounts of ingredients. This way you can experiment with different soaps and find a smell that you might like better. If you are doing this for the organic nature of the product then you will want to be sure you use a pure, natural soap. Most of the items you will need can be found in the grocery store . All items used are safe for HE washers also.
Liquid Detergent | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC
Ingredients:
- 1 Quart of Boiling Water
- 2 Cups of Grated Bar Soap
- 2 Cups of Borax
- 2 Cups of Washing Soda
Note: Washing Soda and Borax can both be found in the laundry and cleaning isle of your grocery store!
Directions:
Add the finely grated up bar soap of your choice to the water that is boiling and then stir until you have the bar soap totally melted. Use low heat.
Once it is melted you will pour this mixture into a large, clean, container and add to it the borax and the washing soda. Then stir all of it together until you have it mixed up really well and it is thoroughly dissolved.
Once you have it all dissolved and mixed then you will add 2 gallons of water and stir again until well mixed. You may then pour into the containers of your choice to store covered. You will need to stir the soap each time you use it. Use 1/4 of a cup per load.
Making homemade Washing Detergent is certainly not an exact science as you can add various brands of soaps or even essential oils to change the smell of your detergent to one you find pleasing.
Laundry Express | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC
If you find you are a little behind on your family’s laundry and need to catch up Laundry Express has a state of the art laundromat for you to use. We also offer wash-dry-fold services! Come by and give us a try!
Here in the South, it has been a long, wet, and bitterly cold winter! Warm, toasty, layers are what we have wanted to wear to keep us warm especially on snowy windy days. Many of us have lived in our super comfy pants and long sleeved tees more than we would like to admit. We might dress in our more professional clothes during the day to go to our jobs but as soon as we are home its back to the warm and toasty wear once again.
Although the weather outside is still pretty frightful and really cold I am beginning to see signs of spring trying to break forth in the early spring flowers and the buds of the Bradford Pear trees that will bloom over the next weeks. With warming temperatures will come the need to begin the switch over of our wardrobes from heavy sweaters and scarves with coats to lighter sweaters and layering pieces. This will mean getting our closets ready for the next season.
When it comes to being more eco-friendly in our everyday lives, we really have to do our homework. When thinking about our laundry we have to take a hard look at the harsh detergents, chemical filled fabric softeners. And, most importantly the chlorine bleach used in prior generations to keep whites really clean and bright. All of us can remember that smell of bleach on laundry day that signaled our socks, underwear, and linens were as clean and white as Mom’s could get them. All while using chlorine bleach, of course.
Mt. Washmore! That seemingly endless household chore we all have to do. None of us love doing it but we can make this chore a little more streamlined and just maybe a bit more enjoyable. The best way to do this is to totally give your laundry room a makeover. Getting it organized and cleaned up will go a really long way toward making this a better experience. This blog will address not only streamlining tips but will also discuss different types of laundry organizers.