Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap

I have used this recipe for homemade laundry detergent and it works quite well. I find it's gloppy quality unpleasant, however, so I have tinkered with it to come up with one that doesn't solidify. This recipe is easy to make, so I find that making one gallon at a time easier. I cannot find liquid castile soap in my area, so I order it online. This laundry soap, despite the fact that it cleans very well, does not have any suds to it. The castile soap is not sudsy. Even though it does not get gloppy, a good shake before using makes sure that any undissolved powders get distributed equally. Some people insist that Washing Soda is the only thing to use for laundry soap. I have used Baking soda and Washing soda with equal success.

1 Gallon water
1 cup Baking Soda or Washing Soda
1 cup Borax
1 cup Liquid Castile Soap
An empty laundry detergent bottle that will hold about a gallon of liquid or some other suitable container

Heat the water, baking soda and borax in a large pot. Once the water gets warm enough for the powders to dissolve, take it off the stove and add the castile soap. You may add this directly to an empty laundry detergent bottle, or you may let it cool and then add it. You might want to use a funnel.
We use two detergent bottle caps full per large load.

Spray for Dusting

Natural cleansers cost a lot and I have found them to not work that great. I found this recipe for from Stephanie and thought that I would give it a try. I find that this works at least as well as the regular cleansers you can buy at the store, and better than the natural ones.


For wood surfaces.

3-5 ounces rubbing alcohol
@26 ounces water
essential oil(s) of choice
Put all in a spray bottle.

Scouring Powder

Natural cleansers cost a lot and I have found them to not work that great. I found this recipe from Stephanie and thought that I would give it a try. I found that it works at least as well as the regular cleansers you can buy at the store, and better than the natural ones.

Will not deteriorate grout.

2 parts baking soda
1 part borax
few drops essential oil, your choice
The baking soda will absorb the fragrance over time, so it is better to make smaller batches. I put mine in a cheese shaker that has a plastic lid I bought at the grocery store.

All-Purpose Cleanser

Natural cleansers cost a lot and I have found them to not work that great. I found this recipe for natural cleanser from Stephanie and thought that I would give it a try. I find that this works at least as well as the regular cleansers you can buy at the store, and better than the natural ones. The tricky ingredient is liquid castile soap, which can be bought easier in the cities, but not in the rural area I live. I bought mine on the 'net in large quantities to make the most of my shipping charges. "I make up one with a citrus scent for the kitchen and one with mint for the bathroom. Choice of scents are up to you!"

3 Tabs. lemon juice or white vinegar (The lemon juice smells better but leaves an unpleasant looking layer at the top of lemon pulp. You can put it in a non-see-through bottle, or you can use food coloring to color the cleaner, which makes this layer less obvious, but my daughter objects to the coloring as being unnatural. I suppose an all-natural food color?)
1 1/2 tea. borax
2 1/2-3 cups water
1/3 cup castile soap
essential oil(s) of choice.
a spray bottle, about 26 ounces

In a large measuring cup, put in borax and add hot water to dissolve the powder. Add the lemon juice or vinegar. Pour into the bottle. Add the castile soap and water. Shake well. Add essential oil.

Automatic Dishwasher Powder

I found this recipe from Stephanie and thought that I would give it a try. I find that this works at least as well as the regular cleansers you can buy at the store, and better than the natural ones. The tricky ingredient is citric acid which can be bought easier in the cities, but not in the rural area I live. I bought mine on the 'net in large quantities to make the most of my shipping charges.

In a plastic container with a snug-fitting lid, mix:
1 cup baking soda
1 cup borax
1/3 cup salt
1/3 cup citric acid
30 drops essential oil of your choice: (lemon, grapefruit, tangerine are really good choices)

Fill your compartments with the powder. You will need to rinse your dishes well before loading as it does not contain food disolving chemicals.