Industrial detergents are made up of an astronomical quantity of chemical ingredients, bad for the environment, but also for our health and our skin.
Led by an ecological and economical conscience, you want things to change? We have gathered together three alternative recipes for the expensive, all-bottle detergents!
Don’t worry, making your homemade detergent is quick, easy, economical and above all eco-responsible.
1. Recipe for homemade ecological detergent with Marseille soap and baking soda
To make 1 liter of ecological detergent with Marseille soap and baking soda, you need:
- 50g of Marseille soap in shavings or grated. White Marseille soap is generally made from palm oil, while green soap is made from olive oil. Choose a soap that is preferably composed of a minimum of 72% vegetable oil, without coloring agents, perfumes, glycerin, or preservatives. Glycerin tends to freeze the lye.
- 1 tablespoon of baking soda
- 1 liter of water
- 10 drops of essential oils of your choice. However, I do not recommend scenting the laundry soap. Essential oils are not totally eco-friendly and their scent will simply evaporate. The best thing, in my opinion, is to use those few drops of essential oils in your homemade fabric softener, of course!
Preparation steps:
- In very hot water, melt your Marseille soap shavings. Mix as you go along, until all the shavings are perfectly dissolved in the water.
- Let the mixture cool until it is lukewarm, then add a tablespoon of baking soda.
- Let it sit for another 15 minutes or so before pouring the mixture into a bottle or canister. When your lye starts to set, shake vigorously.
- When ready to use, mix the bottle well and use the normal amount of detergent in your washing machine drum.
2. Recipe for homemade detergent with liquid black soap, baking soda, and soda ashes
You can find liquid black soap in the cleaning department or in specialized ecological stores. Read this to know more about the difference between Marseille soap and black soap.
To make one liter of ecological washing soap with liquid black soap, baking soda, and soda crystals, you need :
- the equivalent of 1 glass of liquid black soap. Ideal for cleaning the house, black soap can also be used in homemade multi-purpose cleaning products.
- 1/2 glass of baking soda.
- 1/4 glass of washing soda. Soda crystals are even more effective than baking soda. They are often found in homemade cleaning product recipes, as they clean, degrease and disinfect.
- 3 glasses of water.
- 10 drops of essential oil, not necessary as in the previous recipe. Prefer to reserve them for your softener. Nevertheless, some people can’t stand odorless detergents, in this case, go for essential oils.
Steps of preparation
- Heat the water.
- Gradually add the liquid black soap and mix as you go along to obtain a homogeneous mixture.
- Add the baking soda, mix, then add the soda crystals while mixing.
- Once the mixture is homogeneous, transfer to a glass bottle or an old detergent bottle.
- Mix before each use. Use the usual amount of detergent for each of your washes.
3. Recipe for ecological laundry detergent with wood ashes
The last recipe on the list for making your own ecological detergent is done with wood ashes. This recipe is the most ecological and economical:
- 150g of sifted wood ash
- 1 liter of water.
Steps of preparation
- After having sifted the ash, mix it with water.
- Let the mixture macerate for 24 to 36 hours, stirring from time to time.
- Then, filter the mixture and transfer your mix into a detergent bottle or a glass container.
Do the preparation with care or with gloves, because the potash contained in the ashes can be irritating.
4. Bonus recipe: homemade fabric softener
Simply mix one part white vinegar to two parts water with a few drops of essential oils, if necessary.
Do you also make your own homemade washing soap? What recipe do you use? Are you satisfied with it? Don’t hesitate to share about it n the comment section!