Discover how to make your own laundry detergent: The 5-step guide
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Homemade laundry detergent is a natural, economical and environmentally friendly solution. With a few simple ingredients, you can prepare an effective detergent, suitable for low or high temperature washing, as well as hand washing. Here's how to do it in just five steps!
Ingredients needed 🧼
- 1L of water
- 20g of Marseille soap flakes (preferably without glycerin)
- 2 tablespoons baking soda
- A few drops of essential oils (optional)
Step 1: Heat the water 💧
Start by heating 1 liter of water in a saucepan until boiling. The hot water helps dissolve the soap flakes well.
Step 2: Add the Marseille soap 🧼
Once the water boils, remove the pan from the heat. Add 20g of Marseille soap flakes and mix well until the soap is completely dissolved.
Step 3: Add the baking soda 🧪
Add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to the mixture. Stir carefully, even if it foams, it's normal. The baking soda acts as a disinfectant and softener for your clothes.
Step 4: Add essential oils (optional) 🍃
If you like, you can add a few drops of essential oils to scent your laundry. Lavender essential oil is perfect for fresh laundry, while tea tree essential oil has antibacterial properties.
Step 5: Cool and store 🧴
Once the mixture is well blended, let it cool. Then pour it into a clean container, such as an old laundry detergent bottle. Shake well before each use , as the detergent can solidify due to temperature variations.
⚠️ Precaution : Keep your laundry detergent out of reach of children.
Using your homemade laundry detergent according to the type of wash
- For low temperature machines (30° and 40°C) : Use approximately 100 ml of homemade detergent per wash cycle of 4/5 kg of moderately soiled laundry without pre-washing. The soap is sufficiently dissolved for effective cleaning at these temperatures.
- For a 60°C machine : It is recommended to place 15g of soap flakes in a net at the heart of the laundry . This allows optimal dissolution of the flakes at this temperature, thus ensuring even more efficient laundry.
- For hand washing : Melt 15g of soap flakes in 5L of very hot water , then immerse your laundry in this solution. This guarantees you a gentle and natural cleaning.
Additional tips 💡
- Shake before each use to liquefy the detergent, as it may solidify depending on the temperature.
- Machine maintenance : Run an empty cycle with white vinegar once a month to prevent clogging.
- Personalization : Adjust the amount of essential oils according to your preferences.