Homemade Laundry Soap

I have a very important question for you. Have you ever researched the ingredients in the popular name brand laundry soaps before? Maybe you are a busy momma and might not have the time. However, if you knew that certain ingredients disrupt human hormones and might affect your children's health down the road, would that give you pause? 

I started diving into the all-natural world quickly after my husband and I were married. I had recently been diagnosed with endometriosis. When it became apparent that we would have a difficult time conceiving I found out about endocrine disruptors. What is an endocrine disruptor you might be asking? These are chemicals in numerous every day products that interfere with how the body's hormones work naturally. They can mimic hormones. For example, phthalates is a common chemical found in popular products with false-fragrances like our room sprays and plug-ins, perfumes, body soaps, shampoos, conditioners, hygiene products, laundry soaps and cleaning products. Essentially they are found in anything with false-fragrances. Phthalates can interfere with estrogen receptors leading to early breast development in girls and even endometriosis. Excessive phthalate exposure can lead to other estrogen dominant issues, or make health conditions worse. Since I have an estrogen dominant disease, endometriosis, these endocrine disruptors really had my attention. Endometriosis is fueled by estrogen so the last thing I wanted was products in my home that literally had ingredients that would cause my body to make more estrogen!

I did what I do not recommend to friends who ask me how to get on the all-natural journey. I literally spent an entire day purging my house. I had a wall plug-in in every single room of my house with dozens of refills stored away. I had the fancy hand soaps, shampoos, conditioners, body washes, CANDLES, cleaners, laundry soaps, exfoliators, all of the things women love. I got a box and started putting all of the above mentioned products in it. Then I spent entirely too much money with a company that I absolutely adore on the all-natural products. My husband is so amazing because he did not complain when I spent all this money and switched out his products too.

After about a year into buying the all-natural products I realized I could make some of the things on my own. Plus by this time my husband may have noticed just how much money we were spending on the above mentioned company! We already had an herbal garden going and I had already started making my own infused oils. Learning about endocrine disruptors and trying to limit my exposure to the harmful chemicals as much as possible inspired my passion for making all-natural products. We make our own laundry soap. If there was one thing I would recommend changing if you are just starting this journey, it's your families laundry soap. Think about it for a second. Your clothes are on your skin 24/7. The blankets and sheets on your bed. The towels you rub on your skin. All of it is in contact with the largest organ of your body, your skin. Our skin is highly absorbent and you better believe those endocrine disrupting chemicals (there are dozens and dozens of them I just mentioned one above) are absorbing into yours and your loved ones bodies. Making your own laundry soap is cheaper than buying it. Let's face it, everything is so expensive these days, especially laundry soap! 

I found many of the glass gallon jars at antique stores and second hand markets. You can order a glass gallon jar off Amazon for pretty cheap. You can look for used glass drink dispensers as well. Make sure that whatever you use as a container is glass. Plastic leaches harmful chemicals and that's a whole different story for another day. Since the liquid laundry soap is hot when you transfer it to the container it is even more important to steer clear of plastic. 

All the ingredients can be found at your local grocery store and on Amazon. I use distilled water when I make this laundry soap for customers, but filtered water is just fine for personal use. 

What you need:

-8 cups boiling water

-1 cup washing soda

-1 cup borax (you can leave this out if needed and double the washing soda or add 1 cup of baking soda)

-1 cup pure liquid castile soap (I like Dr. Bonners lavender scented)

-8 cups cold water

Directions:

Bring 8 cups of water to a boil. Remove from heat and stir in washing soda, borax, and castile soap. Pour in 8 cups of cold water. Mix everything together nicely. Transfer soap to container.

I usually add the 8 cups of hot water with all the powders and soaps mixed already into my gallon jug and then add the additional cold water to the jug. You can double, triple, or quadruple the recipe to make multiple gallons, which is what I do so I don't have to make it as often. The laundry soap may partially solidify and that's ok. I actually like it when it does that because it seems more of like a laundry soap to me. You just have to shake the container before use each time. I use about 1/2 cup per load of laundry, but you can get away with only using 1/4 cup. Add a splash of distilled white vinegar to your rinse cycle for a natural fabric softener. You can also add about 1/2 cup of baking soda for washing light colors. Neither of those are necessary, though. 

You can add any kind of essential oil to your soap. Geranium and lavender are my favorite! I don't usually add any essential oil because it doesn't make your clothes smell any different. There are no lingering smells on your laundry using this soap. A lot of you using all those big name brand laundry soaps probably like the lingering smell it leaves on your laundry. I know I used to as well. Those lingering smells are actually a sign of false-fragrances and are not good for you at all! Helpful hint if you want a "smell" for your clothes: Replace those chemical-ridden dryer sheets with wool dryer balls. Add 10 or so drops of essential oil to one and throw it in the dryer with your clothes! 

I hope you enjoy this super easy laundry soap recipe. There are tons of other recipes out there, including lots of powder recipes. I prefer the liquid kinds for my household. 

One of the Sisters,

Michelle