Easy 3-ingredient non-toxic laundry detergent powder (No Borax!)

This easy 3-ingredient non-toxic laundry detergent powder is cost-effective and doesn’t have borax, making it safer for your clothing!

Why Homemade Laundry Detergent?

A couple of years ago, my family took the plunge and decided to remove as many toxins from our home as possible. Eventually, buying all-natural products was getting too expensive. I started doing research and most of the ingredients that were in these natural products were things I already have in my home! Laundry detergent was one of the most toxic things in our home. It is full of harsh chemicals, fragrances, and dyes which is not what I want my family, especially my children, to have to use on a daily basis!

This easy three-ingredient non-toxic laundry detergent powder was super cost-effective. A typical bag of all-natural detergent was costing me anywhere from $15-$30! Generally, I can buy all my ingredients in bulk for around $30 and make have much more product!

What is so bad about regular laundry detergent?

Regular laundry detergent is full of many harsh chemicals and fragrances. The term “fragrance” alone can stand for over 3,000 different chemicals that we do not know about! Some fragrances even contain phthalates which are carcinogens and endocrine disruptors and are illegal in the EU!

Store-bought laundry detergents also contain chemical surfactants, dyes, and harsh bleaching chemicals. These are absorbed by your skin after washing and cause a number of health problems down the road. On top of being carcinogenic (Cancer causing), they are also endocrine disruptors which can cause a plethora of problems such as infertility and hormone imbalances.

As someone who suffered from endometriosis and other hormone issues, I was determined to remove these horrible ingredients from my life. I also don’t want my children to suffer from the same health issues.

What is used to make 3-ingredient Non-toxic Laundry Detergent?

For this easy 3-ingredient Non-toxic Laundry Detergent you only need the following:

• Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate)
• Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate)
• Soap Flakes or a Castille Soap bar
• Optional- Essential oils for scent!

How Do the ingredients in this Non-toxic Laundry Detergent Clean My Clothes?

Most of the ingredients in regular laundry detergent actually contain these ingredients already. The best thing about this 3-ingredient Non-toxic Laundry Detergent is it does not have all the added extra chemicals and fragrances.

Washing Soda:

Washing soda actually comes from the ashes of burned plants and acts as an alkalizer. The chemical properties of the washing soda make it a natural stain remover and water softener. It is an agent that also removes excess residue, oils, and minerals from your clothes! Usually, you see washing soda in clothes stripping because it helps removes leftover grime and dirt from your clothes!
More info here: How to Strip Your Laundry with Washing Soda | Arm & Hammer (armandhammer.com)
What Is Washing Soda and How Is It Used? (thespruce.com)

Baking Soda:

Baking Soda is a naturally occurring element that comes from sodium carbonate (aka washing soda!) It is used to remove odor and also acts as a mild alkalizer which causes dirt and other molecules to dissolve in the water in the washing machine.
More here: Microsoft Word – Baking Soda (wisc.edu)

Soap Flakes or a Castille Soap Bar:

Castile Soap is a vegetable-based soap usually made from olive oil or other vegetable oils. Soap adds extra cleaning power to this laundry detergent. You can use either a Castille soap bar or soap flakes. However, I like to use a Castille soap bar because most soap flakes (even organic ones) have pentasodium pentetate in them, which is illegal in the EU. Therefore, I feel safe sticking with castile soap!

Why not Borax?

Although borax is perfectly safe and can help whiten and brighten up your clothing, consistent use in the wash can actually damage and fade your clothing. Therefore, I don’t like to consistently use it in my detergent.

Is this non-toxic laundry detergent really safe for my clothing and my washing machine?

The short answer is yes, but there is some work that comes along with using laundry detergent that doesn’t have loads of chemicals in it!

When I use homemade laundry detergent I usually have to add vinegar to my washing machine. This is because we have hard water so the mineral content is very high. So, if your clothing doesn’t “feel” clean, smells musty, or if they feel like there is a residue on there, you can either add vinegar to your washing machine or add salt! Yes, you read that correctly, salt!

There is a caution to take when you use salt. First, you have to add it to the water so that it will dissolve. Second, you have to use salt that is compatible with your washing machine. Your owner’s manual will tell you which kind of salt to use. Lots of newer washing machines actually come with salt drawers. However, if you don’t have one, you will add salt to your detergent drawer or fabric softener before you add detergent. Third, you will want to clean your washing machine after use so that salt doesn’t build up in your washing machine!

If your clothing is starting to not smell clean, I would utilize 1 cup of vinegar per load or clean out my washing machine! You would be surprised how much buildup is in your machine over time!

You can also utilize washing soda as well. As I mentioned above, washing soda is a natural water softener. You can add one cup to your water if you have hard water. This will help break down minerals in the water which helps the oils and other things come out of your clothing. This is much safer for your washing machine than salt!

FAQs

How much do I need to use per load?

For a typical small to medium load, I use one tablespoon. For a large or heavy-duty load, I will use two tablespoons.

How Long will this last?

Typically one batch will last me 50 loads depending on how much I have to use per load of laundry.

What If I Want To Boost the Scent in My Laundry?

I add a natural scent booster to my laundry- check it out here

I hope you find this useful and are encouraged to switch over to natural products! It is easy and very cost-effective as opposed to buying an all-natural product that is made from the same ingredients!

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