Greener DIY Laundry Detergent and a Greener Laundry Routine

Washing harsh chemicals down the drain with your laundry isn’t doing the world any favors, or your laundry either!  Get back to the basics by DIY a fantastic detergent and create a greener laundry routine.

Our laundry equipment includes a top-loader HE washer with agitator, an HE dryer, and a clothes line.

For washing we use our DIY detergent and distilled white vinegar.

DIY Greener Laundry Detergent:
3 bars Pure Castile Soap (less-green substitute: Zote Soap)

1 box (4 lb) Borax

1 box (4 lb) Baking Soda

1 box (3 lb 7 oz) Super Washing Soda

(optional less-green addition: 1 tb (3 lb) Oxiclean)

1. Grate the soap.  I use a hand grater.

2. Mix all ingredients in a large tub – I suggest a 5 lb bucket.

3. Use! 1 tbsp is all you need, 2 tbsp for extra dirty or larger loads.

4. Add white distilled vinegar in place of fabric softener.

Along with our DIY greener detergent, we opt for drying laundry outside on the clothes line when at all possible, and adding wool dryer balls (available here at b lime) to our dryer in place of dryer sheets.

For a nice laundry scent, grab some essential oil and place a few drops on each dryer ball.

5/29/15