DIY Laundry Detergent: A Cost-Saving Solution for Smart Shoppers

In today’s world, finding ways to save money without sacrificing quality is a top priority for many households. One area where significant savings can be made is with everyday household products like laundry detergent. Thanks to a smart shopper like Jackie Coker from Cave Creek, we’re excited to share a simple and cost-effective DIY laundry detergent recipe that will revolutionize the way you do laundry.

Here’s what you’ll need:

Large bowl for mixing

Cheese grater and/or coffee grinder (for finely grated Fels-Naptha soap)

1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda

1 cup Borax

1 whole bar of Fels-Naptha soap

A container for storage

Instructions:

In a large bowl, combine 1 cup of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda and 1 cup of Borax.

Grate the Fels-Naptha soap using a food grater. For finer texture, you can use a coffee grinder.

Add the grated Fels-Naptha soap to the bowl with the other ingredients and mix thoroughly.

Transfer the mixture into a sealed container for storage near your washing area.

According to Jackie, you only need to use 1 tablespoon of this homemade detergent per load. With this recipe yielding approximately 3 1/2 cups, if you use just 1 teaspoon per load, you should get around 50 washes from a single batch. Jackie estimated the cost to be around $0.06 per load, but let’s break it down further:

 

Cost breakdown:

Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda: $3.24 ($.34 per cup)

Borax: $3.38 ($.36 per cup)

Fels-Naptha bar soap: $0.97 ($0.97 per bar)

Total: $7.59

Total cost for 3 ½ cups or 50 loads: $1.67 = $0.03 per load

Update:

It’s been a few months since Jackie shared this simple homemade laundry detergent recipe with us, and the results have been outstanding. I’ve been using it regularly, and I’m impressed by how well it cleans my clothes. A single batch lasted my whole family two months, making it not only ridiculously cheap but also incredibly efficient. Plus, it works wonders even in my HE washer.

Conclusion:

If you’re looking to save money without compromising on cleanliness, give this DIY laundry detergent recipe a try. It’s easy to make, cost-effective, and delivers excellent results, making it a win-win for your wallet and your laundry routine. Thanks again to Jackie for this fantastic Smart Shopper tip!