Laundry detergents and soaps at the store are filled with ingredients that do not support a healthy, natural lifestyle. Honestly, some of them don’t even really support cleaning (you’ve seen the towel-stripping videos, right?)!
That is why finding safe and natural options is so important. Earthley offers a Laundry Detergent that can meet those needs safely! It is made with washing soda, citric acid (from the cassava plant — not GMO corn), bromelain (from pineapples), and an in-house castile soap made with extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, and castor oil. It comes in unscented or scented (citrus, spring blossoms, or eucalyptus-mint)
If you feel the same way about safe and natural alternatives and love DIYs, then these recipes may help you!
About Laundry-Safe Essential Oils
Did you know essential oils are highly flammable and shouldn’t be added to laundry detergents or even dryer balls?
You should aim for EOs that are:
- Stable like lavender, thyme, eucalyptus, tea tree oil
- Light like citrus, mint, geranium, rosemary, bergamot, ylang-ylang (heavy ones like patchouli, sandalwood, and vetiver may leave spots)
- Pure (100% pure essential oils as carrier oils may leave spots)
Notes:
HE (High-Efficiency) machines: Add oils to vinegar and pour it into the fabric softener compartment.
Standard machines: Dilute the oil with water and add it during the rinse cycle.
We recommend these blends:
- Calming Essential Oil Blend: Cedarwood, Ylang-ylang, Lavender, and Orange EOs
- Immune Support Essential Oil Blend: Eucalyptus Dives, Lavender, Siberian Fir Needle, Frankincense Serrata, and Lemon EOs
- Morning Burst Essential Oil Blend: Neroli, Lemon, and Orange EOs.
Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent Alternatives
Liquid Laundry Detergent
Ingredients & Materials:
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1 cup washing soda
- ½ cup grated castile soap
- Hot water
- Hand grater
- An airtight jar for storage
Directions:
Step 1: Place 4 cups of hot water in a saucepan and grate the bar of soap into it.
Step 2: Stir over medium-high heat until the soap dissolves.
Step 3: Fill a 5-gallon bucket half full with hot water.
Step 4: Add the soap mixture, baking soda, and washing soda.
Step 5: Stir well until the powder dissolves.
Step 6: Fill to the top with hot water and let it sit overnight to thicken.
To use: Add 1 cup of liquid soap for extra large loads. Washers hold different capacities, so experiment and adjust the amount for your washing needs.
Powdered Laundry Detergent
Ingredients & Materials:
- 1 cup baking soda
- 1 cup washing soda
- ½ cup grated castile soap
- Hand grater
- An airtight jar for storage
Directions:
Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients.
Step 2: Store in an airtight container.
To use: Add 1-2 tablespoons to the load depending on the dirtiness of the wash.
Laundry Detergent Tablets
Ingredients & Materials:
- 1 cup washing soda
- 1 cup non-iodized salt
- 1 cup baking soda
- 3/4 cup liquid castile soap
- 2 tsp. laundry-safe essential oil
- 0.5 oz. silicone mold
- An airtight jar or bag for storage
Step 1: Add all your dry ingredients (washing soda, salt, and baking soda) into a mixing bowl. Combine well.
Step 2: Add your wet ingredients (liquid castile soap and essential oil) into the mixing bowl with the dry ingredients. Combine well, ensuring everything is evenly moist.
Step 3: Add 1 tablespoon of the mixture into the silicone mold (there should be enough for 60 tablets) and let sit until the tablets are hardened and completely dry.
Step 4: Remove the laundry tablets from the mold and store them in an airtight jar or bag.
To use: Add 1-2 laundry detergent tablets into the drum of your washing machine before adding your clothes. This will allow the detergent to dissolve and become soapy.
I’ve been hearing lately that Borax actually does pretty poorly according to the database thing that rates stuff like that (skin deep? environmental working group? – you know…..the database….thing…..). I know it’s a traditional laundry booster, but is _it_ safe?
Can this be used on cloth diapers?
Does this work with hard water? I’ve got major repelling issues with my cloth diapers, and I’ve read that its because the hard water doesn’t allow the detergent to rinse clean. I’m looking for calgon to add to the water but I live in a remote area and haven’t found it. Any suggestions?
Have you used these for cloth diapers, have you experienced any build up or wear of elastic?
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