Why I Don’t Make Laundry Detergent
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Homemade Laundry Detergent. It's one of those things that almost every crunchy mama makes, right?
Well, not this one.
You know by now that I get a real kick out of MYO (Make Your Own) projects, right?
My husband says I get this little mischievous smile on my face when I figure out a way to make something that we've been buying (or not buying because it is just way too expensive :-)), or even when I just think I'll be able to do so.
I really feel like I am beating the system or something.
Kind of like winning a mini lottery!
Making your own products can be a big help when you are trying to reduce toxins in your life.
Today I am going to tell you one thing that I do not make – and that is homemade laundry detergent.
Here's why.
Years ago (too many. I'd really rather not think about it :-)) when we lived in the Chicago area, we were living on very little money (ummm..like $13,000 per year). Let's just say that $13,000 a year doesn't go very far in Chicago :-)!
My oldest was born and I was forced to leave my job.
Well, really I chose to. My boss reneged on a work-at-home offer and so I quit, not wanting to leave my son with anyone else.
So saving money was a really big deal to me. Really big.
I was buying the loss leaders at the grocery store (we got a lot of funny looks and stares with our grocery cart full of 10 cent oranges or 10 cent yogurts :-)), buying nothing new, and we even lived with my inlaws for 2 years.
Anyway, I had a friend who made her own homemade laundry detergent and for some reason, it really mystified me.
I have no idea why, but there are sometimes projects that stump me for awhile.
I feel like I just can't get myself to do them for some reason.
Other things like that have been :
– making bread (I ended up with the most amazing whole wheat bread recipe – in our pre-gluten free days)
– making candy (I finally ended up learning how to make lollipops in our pre-sugar-free days)
– making lip balm or deodorant (this is coming soon!)
Laundry detergent was one of them. I would just buy an allergy-free brand at a local store and make it last as best I could.
Well, fast forward about 8 years to our home in Michigan.
I finally got up the gumption to make my own homemade laundry detergent.
I bought myself some Pure Kirk's Castille Soap (because those recipes featuring Fels Naptha just wouldn't cut it for this all natural gal. That soap has colors and chemicals and a pretty intense artificial fragrance that really throws me for a loop. Ick.
I grated that soap (I think my grater is permanently soap flavored now), heated it all up in my now soap-flavored calphalon pot (:-().
And used it.
And hubby wasn't happy.
Maybe it was the lack of fragrance, but he really wasn't happy with what was going on with his t-shirts.
And I didn't like making the soap. I got pretty depressed when I saw the bucket was almost empty.
So I tried something new that I am going to introduce to you today – soap nuts!!
What? Nuts that make soap?
Yes. Really. And they work (i.e. no more complaints from hubby). Actually, it's the hulls that make the soap. Pretty neat eh?
And it's more than just interesting, it's good for your wallet.
First, let's talk about what soap nuts are and how to use soap nuts.
What are Soap Nuts?
From Naturoli's website:
soap nuts are the dried shells (or husks) from the soapberry (or soap berry nut). These berries are the fruit from a quite unique tree species. These shells contain a substance called saponin that produces a soaping effect. Saponin is a 100% natural alternative to chemical laundry detergent and cleansers. It can replace many chemical detergents such as those containing sodium laureth sulphate (SLS) that are becoming well known by consumers for being a skin irritant and health hazard.
NOTE: Soap nuts are not nuts – they are fruit. So even if you have an allergy to nuts, soap nuts should be just fine for you :).
Why I Love Soap Nuts
1. They are all natural – no chemicals going on my clothes, on my family's skin, or into our environment.
2. They are very reasonable. Just pennies per load, especially if you buy the larger bulk sizes.
3. They are super easy to use! And my pots and graters don't end up tasting like soap!
4. The resulting used-up soap nuts are compostable :-)!
5. Soap nuts leave no smell. I mean, I like nice smelling things, but this way, all you get is clean.
How to Use Soap Nuts
Yes, it's pretty weird using nuts in your laundry. But they are really easy to use and no, you won't end up with nut butter in your laundry :)!
1. Put 4-5 soap nuts in a small muslin bag (you buy some of these with your soap nuts).
2. Put a large clip on the bag (this is my handy dandy idea – keeps that soap nuts bag closed tight and keeps it from getting lost in the wash.) I LOVE the large Twixit Clips for this purpose. See below for more info on these great clips!
3. Toss in the washing machine before your clothes go in.
4. Remove from laundry after washing (Naturoli tells me it's really OK to dry them if you miss this step!)
5. Re-use 3-5 times. Well, truth is I use mine about 6. Cheapskate frugal mama! Told you I like to save money.
6. The above directions are for a warm or hot water wash. If you are going to wash in cold water, soak the soapnuts in a cup of hot water (from the tap is OK – thanks for the tip, Katie of Kitchen Stewardship…Silly me – I've been heating water in a pan. But then, especially in the winter it can take awhile for our water to heat up) for about 3-8 minutes prior to use to activate the saponin.
Below is a handy dandy photo of my tiny bag of soap nuts secured with the Handy Twixit Clip and my “heavy duty” plastic container that I use:
More Tips on How to Use Soap Nuts:
1. The biggest tip in my mind is using the Twixit Clip on the bag. Otherwise, I can only imagine how many lost soap nuts bags I'd still be looking for (they're not very big!) You can use the Twixit Clips for so many other things around the house that it's great to buy the whole set even if you're only using one for your Soap Nuts bag. You can see more ways I use them in my posts on How to Store Nuts and Seeds, The Easiest Way to Freeze and Store Berries, and Easiest Sun-Dried Tomatoes. No more pesky twist ties!!
2. I use about 6 soap nuts because I have a front loader and it washes a bigger load.
3. Use a heavy duty container for pre-soaking your soap nuts if you are using cold water for washing. I once decimated a plastic container since it couldn't stand up to the hot water :-(.
4. After loading the soap nuts into the washing machine, I set the plastic container on top of the washer. Then when the load is done I just find the little bag (with the help of that big clip) and drop it in the container, all ready for the next wash.
5. When it's time to pre-soak the nuts, I just fill up the container with water, drop it in a saucepan, heat it up and pour it back into the container. Wait a few minutes and run it down to the laundry machine.
6. You can tell the soap nuts are done when they look grayish and are falling apart. Sometimes this frugal mom tries to get just one more load out of them though :-)!
7. Thanks to a reader asking….soap nuts can be used in HE machines.
Why I Use Naturoli's Soap Nuts
There are a bunch of soap nuts companies out there. I spent a bunch of time researching them (what else is new???) and found that though other brands are cheaper, they may not be real soap nuts. They may not clean as well and they are sometimes not deseeded, meaning that they weigh more.
That means you are paying for the seeds as well which do not do the cleaning. For me, I chose to purchase these since they appeared to be of great value and I have been pleased with them.
Another Homemade Laundry Detergent Alternative
If you are giving up on making your own homemade laundry detergent (like me) and you would like another option besides soap nuts, then here are some other options.
We are using Ava Anderson's Laundry Pods and are very pleased with them. They are super convenient (just toss one in the back of your front loader) and do a great job.
Update 1/16: I left Ava Anderson due to many labeling issues and wrong / missing ingredients in products. I've been on the hunt for a new laundry product and I LOVE this laundry ball!
Super easy to use and it lasts for 365 washes!
Other DIY Household Products
So….I don't make homemade laundry detergent, but I do make…….
Homemade Foaming Soap
Amazing No Streak Glass Cleaner
Simple Natural Dishwasher Rinse Aid
Plastic Wrap Substitute (well, not really :))
Update on Soap Nuts–aka Can You Have a Soap Nut Allergy?
So, I feel kind of funny adding this BUT–years after writing this post, 2 of us in the family had reactions to soap nuts.
Online it seems that a soap nut allergy is really rare and even some soap nut companies seem to say that it's not possible, but we definitely had reactions. It might have been something on the soap nuts, but I could never figure out what that was, so we just chose to avoid them after that.
So I went on a hunt for a good natural homemade laundry detergent formula again and found it. I also also developed this DIY Baby Laundry Detergent that's great for sensitive skin needs too.
Whatever you prefer–Homemade Detergent or Soap Nuts or store-bought, please just do your best to avoid the toxins!
Have you ever used Soap Nuts?
No thanks! I make my own soap powder, using Fels Naptha (grated really fine, with my zester), washing powder and borax. It works great! I used to make it by melting everything in a pot, and it was a pain in the neck. I have an HE washing machine, and I use just 1 Tbsp. of my homemade powder per load, or more, if necessary.
Hi Barb. Did you ever notice the ingredients in the Fels? I wasn’t happy when I read them. The fragrance really irritates me as well. What do you think about that? I did the pot thing too and really didn’t care for it.
Have you used soap nuts for washing cloth diapers? I have boys who are smelly, dirty, and still wet their underwear and my home made detergent just doesn’t get the smell out unless I use lots of it. So I am looking into trying something new.
I haven’t done it but I have read about others who have successfully. I use them on my laundry including cloth feminine pads and am happy but I do think I would like essential oils in the laundry as well.
I love soap nuts! I use the little muslin wash bags, but ended up taking the drawstrings out because it’s hard to get them open when wet. Tried those clippy things, but they would come off in the wash – now I just use tiny rubberbands to close. I also use a drop or two of tea tree oil for loads like underwear and socks – or musty towels, etc.
Hmm.. My clips almost never come off. Glad you found another option :).
I’m all about making homemade stuff! I make homemade detergent w fels naphtha …if I knew there were chemicals in it I would’ve never made it this way! Ugh bummer I think I’m going to have to give these soap nuts a try. I want to start making my own lotions and hand soaps too. I haven’t found a good dish washing detergent yet that’s homemade. They always make my dishes nasty. And I do use vinegar also still doesn’t help! I want to start making anything and everything I can home made. I’ve been following your blog for a little while now and I’m so glad I found it!!! I don’t have much time to blog myself anymore but I still enjoy all your helpful posts
I think you’ll like the soap nuts. I am working on a dish detergent. Just swamped here – with dishes too!
Hi Adrienne,
I just found your blog and am really enjoying your posts. I have some questions about the Soap Nuts:
1. Since they can suds up for 5-6 washings, even in cold water, do you have to remove them before the rinse cycle so they don’t continue to suds up all the way to the end?
2. Can you describe or compare the smell to something familiar? I’m imagining Ivory soap…
3. Can they be contained in one of those tightly meshed bra bags, instead of a bag with a big clip on it (I would be afraid the clip would tangle up in the clothes or fall off)
4. Do they spoil or go bad if not used for a certain amount of time? Are they perishable?
5. Will they stain or cause discoloration to delicate materials, like lingerie or basic white underthings?
6. Does the soap leave any kind of a residue on the washer or the washer window of the front loader, like the light soapy film you can wipe away with a finger or scratch with a fingernail?
I have Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (from taking a common anti-biotic called Levaquin, seven years ago, which also caused Fibromyalgia and Nerve Damage) and am so super-sensitive that I had to be rushed to the ER one time just for a reaction I had from an ordinary hand lotion.
All these years I’ve been using Charlie’s Soap Laundry Detergent for my front loader, and their all-purpose cleaner that I mix in a spray bottle and use for everything else in the entire house, including the floors and windows. It is supposed to be made out of something from a coconut, and rinses away so clean you can lick the washing machine after it’s done! It also gets out blood and mud and grass and oil pretty good. I use only 1/8 cup per load, so the one gallon lasts me several months – but I live alone, so maybe that’s why.
I wanted to compare, because Charlie’s Soap has absolutely no smell to it whatsoever, and I miss having a nice, fresh, natural, clean soapy smell to my laundry. Do the Soap Nuts have the smell I’ve been missing all these years?
Thanks,
Zoletta from Chicago
Hi there!
Wow – good questions.
1. you do not need to remove them. They barely suds. Enough to wash but not enough to leave residue. It is better to remove them b/4 the rinse cycle to give them more life, but I never do since my laundry is in the basement. If you have a good tip for how to do that I am all ears!
2. There is no smell. Just nothing.
3. I am sure you could do that. The clip doesn’t tangle on anything though. It is possible little bits of the nuts could break off and slip through the mesh – that’s the only thing I would worry about.
4. They are not perishable.
5. They do not stain – never happened to me at least.
6. No residue.
7. I read negative things about Charlie’s on Kitchen Stewardship’s blog. They’ve added stuff she is not happy with. I am OK w/ the non-smell but I know what you mean and have thought about adding just a drop of an essential oil to my laundry. Tea tree or orange would be nice options.
Hope that helps!
I stopped using detergent some time ago. I use baking soda as well as vinegar and have been very happy with results. Our clothes seem to hold up better. Colors don’t fade. I have never heard of soap nuts before, but they sound great. Love to hear about new things .
Thanks for this information. I’ll give soap nuts a try.
Do you have any ideas for cleaning a kitchen sink. I try baking soda and vinegar, but it doesn’t get all the marks off my white sink.
Everything I’ve read says you need to use bleach. I’m not a fan but have you tried it?
I know this is super old, but I am in love with my homemade sink cleaner. I filled a mason jar about 3/4 of the way full with baking soda, then dropped 15 drops of tea tree oil and 5 of lavender. I shook it up, poked holes in the lid with a nail and thats it. I rinse the sink, shake on the baking soda mixture, let it sit while I clean my counters, then scrub and rinse with water. It works great to get the stains out of my white sink.
That sounds GREAT. Sorry to be late in responding. I’ve been swamped :).
I used soap nuts for a while, the NaturOli brand, and they were OK. My husband hated the vinegar-y smell that the soap nuts leave on the clothes. I do make my own detergent (powder: mix together 1 grated bar castile soap, grated using very fine microplane grater, 1 cup borax, 1 cup wash soda), and I use vinegar in each load as the fabric softener; the clothes rinsed with vinegar do not leave such a smell. In defense of the powder detergent, it does work really well. My husband is an auto mechanic, and it gets the grease out of the clothes well if I rub some of the detergent into the stains first with a bit of water or vinegar. For a nice smell, I either line-dry, or I’ll toss a lavender-filled sock in the dryer. Works like a charm, and so CHEAP.
I am surprised about the vinegary smell – I find there is no smell from soap nuts. I do like the sock idea :-). I would try that DIY detergent again but my liquid one just wasn’t great. Thanks!
Adrienne, could you please share your homemade stain remover recipe? I am looking for a natural stain remover that works well. Thanks!
Hi Beth – sorry this took so long to reply. I lost comments in a sea of them :). I need to do that. Feel free to email me if you don’t see it soon. I have to dig it up :). I made waaaay too much of it when I did and haven’t needed to make it for a long time
Whoa! So interesting. I’ve never heard of soap nuts! I’ve loved looking through your blog!