I bet you're thinking oh no not another DIY Laundry Detergent post.
Well, this one has all the same ingredients but I discovered a trick to keep my DIY Laundry Detergent clump-free.
I have been using vinegar and baking around my home for over 30 years. Last year I wrote this DIY Green Cleaning with Vinegar post and shared some of my tips.
I also wrote about how to Quickly Deodorize a Sponge with vinegar.
Back before I knew what a blog was I use to share my DIY Green Cleaning tips on AOL and Yahoo.
I'm sad to say all those old posts are long gone now. Deleted when AOL and Yahoo closed down some of their platforms. Believe me I have searched and tried to find them.
So back to this DIY Laundry Detergent...... If you have ever made DIY Laundry Detergent and one day you went to wash a load of laundry with your homemade laundry detergent and found a big brick of laundry powder in your container I have a few tips for you.
The secret to Making Clump Free DIY Laundry Detergent
Moisture is a DIY powdered laundry detergent number one enemy.
Now I am sure you probably already know this. Obviously you can't drip water into a container of any powdered laundry detergent and not expect to find lumps the next time you try to use it.
But did you know that you have already introduced moisture just by following these or any other diy laundry detergent directions.
Almost all DIY Laundry Detergents call for a grated bar of soap. The outer layer of a bar of soap is completely dry but once you start grating it there is just a tiny bit of moisture that comes from the center of the bar.
Especially if you are using a Zote Laundry Soap Bar.
Zote is made to rub on your clothing during hand washing. Being moist helps make handwashing with a bar of Zote easier but it introduces moisture into your batch of DIY Laundry Detergent causing it to clump.
Disclosure: The links in this post are affiliate links. If you make a purchase I will earn a very small commission.
How to make DIY Powdered Laundry Detergent
Supplies you will need to make DIY Laundry Detergent:
- Pink Zote Bar 14. oz bar (3 cups of grated soap pieces)
- 3 cups Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
- 3 cups 20 Mule Team Borax
- 1 box grater
- 1 plastic container (this recipe fits perfectly in this container. No need to store a big bucket. Just make a small batch like I do)
You can buy a combo of the washing soda and borax here.
You can buy a Homemade Laundry Soap kit using Fels Naptha soap here
Grate the Zote laundry bar with a box grater. Spread the soap pieces over a large cookie sheet and allow to air-dry overnight. Toss the soap pieces a couple of times so it can dry evenly.
The secret to clump-free DIY Laundry Detergent is to allow the grated soap to air dry overnight before mixing it with the powdered ingredients.
The grated pieces of Zote soap are pretty large.
To help them dissolve in the washer chop them finely with a large knife.
Now in a plastic container layer all the ingredients one cup at a time. Halfway through shake to evenly disperse. Add the remaining ingredients and shake well.
Clump Free DIY Laundry Detergent
Materials
- 3 cups Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
- 3 cups Borax
- 14.1 oz bar Zout Laundry Soap
Instructions
- Grate the bar of Zout Laundry soap.
- Spread on a cookie sheet and allow to air dry overnight.
- Using a large butcher knife finely chop the grated soap pieces.
- Layer 1 cup of each ingredient in a plastic container.
- Shake well.
- Use 1-2 tablespoons per load of laundry.
Notes
- 1 tablespoon is all you need for a normal load of wash. Use more for extra dirty loads.
Nutrition
Looking for more DIY products you can make at home?
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