Please welcome today’s guest poster, Bailey Harris.

Since clean laundry is pretty much a necessity, we pay high prices for laundry detergents, fabric softeners and stain removers. Many people don’t realize that simple, reasonable ingredients can be purchased to make your own laundry products. Most of the time, these ingredients can be found at the same stores as your favorite detergents, fabric softeners, and stain removers, at a fraction of the cost.

Laundry Detergents

There are tons of different laundry detergents on the market today. Some people like liquid, some prefer powder. Prices vary too, but none are very economical. Especially in households with large families and kids, the amount of laundry detergent used in any given week or month is crazy. Just imagine what those households are paying in laundry costs.

Many recipes exist for making your own laundry detergent. All of them basically contain the same ingredients; it’s the amounts that vary. Whether you prefer powder or liquid can also change the ingredients slightly.

A simple recipe for powdered laundry detergent uses 1 bar of soap (Ivory works well, but any will do), 1 cup of borax, and 1 cup of washing soda. Grate the bar of soap into a large bowl. A cheese grater works well for this. Add the borax and washing soda to the bowl of grated soap. Stir well for 5 minutes until a fairly uniform powder forms. It’s as easy as that. Keep your detergent in a plastic container with a lid. A 32-ounce yogurt or margarine container works well. Using 1 to 2 tablespoons per load, depending on your needs, should get you through 32 to 64 loads of laundry.

If liquid detergent is more your style, you can try this recipe. All you need is 1 cup of washing soda, 1/2 cup of borax, and 1 bar of soap (grated). You will also need 4 cups of water and 3 gallons of warm water, divided. Additionally, a large container with a lid, such as a 5 gallon bucket, will be needed for mixture and storage. First, boil the 4 cups of water in a large saucepan. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium to keep a simmer. Add the grated bar of soap to the water, a little at a time, and stir well until dissolved.

Meanwhile, pour your 3 gallons of warm water into the bucket. Add the soapy water mixture to the bucket and stir. Then add your washing soda and borax, stirring very well until dissolved. Once everything is mixed well, cover your bucket and let things sit for 24 hours, then your detergent will be ready to use. The consistency may vary, depending on the soap used and minerals in your water. Whether your detergent is gel-like, watery, or very much like normal detergent, it’s just fine to use. Give things a good stir before each use and use about 1 cup per load.

Fabric Softener

Although not necessary, many people choose to use a fabric softener when doing laundry. It gives clothes a soft, lofty feel and reduces static cling. It can also add a pleasant scent to your laundry. Fabric softener can be pricey, though. You can easily make your own at home, provided you have a few simple ingredients.

Liquid fabric softener can be purchased in many brands, sizes, and prices. It is usually added to the rinse cycle in your washing machine. Many newer machines have dispensers built right in so you don’t have to worry about adding it in. A natural, easy liquid softener is distilled white vinegar. It adds softness to laundry, and helps remove any remaining detergent from fabrics. Use 1/4 cup of vinegar as you would fabric softener, adjusting the amount if need be.

You can also try a simple recipe of 1 cup baking soda, 6 cups white vinegar, 8 cups water, and 10-15 drops essential oils, if desired. You will need a small bucket to use during mixing. Put the baking soda in your bucket and add 1 cup of water, then add the vinegar slowly because fizzing will occur. Add the rest of the water and stir well. Mix in your essential oil if you prefer to do so. Orange and lemon oils are a good choice and have a nice, fresh scent. Make sure things are mixed well and transfer your creation to smaller, lidded containers, or a gallon jug using a funnel. Use 1/2 cup to 1 cup of softener per load, depending on your personal preference. Always make sure to shake or mix well before use to ensure oils are blended.

Stain Removers

Many commercial stain removers promise to get stains out, but don’t always do it. A simple stain remover recipe for white laundry is 1 cup hot water, 1/2 cup baking soda, and 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide. Mix all and store in a spray bottle. Spray directly on stains and let garment sit overnight, then launder as normal. This recipe is best for white clothes, since it contains peroxide.

An effective stain remover for colored laundry can be made by mixing a good squirt of dishwashing liquid and a good splash of white vinegar with a gallon of warm water. Store in a spray bottle and spray directly on stain. Let article sit for at least 6 hours before washing. The enzymes in the dishwashing liquid can break down many stains, working especially well on oily ones.

Once you give these recipes a try, you will see for yourself how easy it is to make your own laundry products. Combine that with the money you will save, and you may never go back to buying regular laundry products again.

Bailey Harris writes for the Homeowners Insurance Guide.