How to Make Detergents at Home

Laundry Detergent

• 1

  Measure four cups of tap water with the measuring cup and pour the water into the stovetop cooking pot. Heat the water until it is almost at a full boil.

• 2

  Whittle down the bar of soap with the knife into the water, maintaining the temperature in the water so that it does not boil. Shave down the knife until no soap bar is left.

• 3

  Pour three gallons of hot water into the 5-gallon bucket. Mix it with the soapy hot water from the previous step and stir them together with the spoon.

• 4

  Add one cup of washing soda, stirring for an additional one to two minutes.

• 5

  Add 1/2-cup of borax and stir for another two minutes. One cup of the mixture does one load of laundry. Store the mixture in an air-tight container or add a lid to the 5-gallon bucket. Seal the detergent after each use.

Dishwashing Detergent

• 6

  Take a food processor bowl and pour in 4 ounces of soap flakes, 8 cups of water and 1/2 tsp. of essential oil. The oil can be scented or unscented.

• 7

  Place the bowl in the food processor and run the machine until the washing soda crystal becomes a powder.

• 8

  Turn off the processor, remove the bowl and pour the contents into an empty wine bottle or any other air-tight container. If using a wine bottle, cap the top with the cork or the screw-on cap that came on the wine.

• 9

  Use 1 to 2 tbsp. each time you do dishes. 1 to 2 tbsp. is enough for a sink full of dishes.