A Faithful Laundry Recipe (From Washy Woes to DIY Pro)

Let’s rewind to the early 2000s—before “clean living” was trendy, before your feed was full of non-toxic swaps, and before I even knew what was lurking in everyday household products.

Back then, I had a baby... and a problem. Every single laundry detergent I tried gave my sweet son a rash. I mean, I was ready for the sleepless nights, the diaper blowouts, the “I forgot my coffee in the microwave for the 3rd time” kind of days—but laundry detergent? That one caught me off guard.

At the time, “natural” or “non-toxic” products were few and far between—and crazy expensive. We were broke. I was lucky if I could afford Tide, let alone something with eucalyptus on the label. So I did what a determined mama does: I made my own.

After years of tweaking, testing, and learning some things the hard way, I’ve landed on a laundry recipe that works. Like, actually works. It’s cheap, clean, easy to make, and has kept my family rash-free for years.

Some Hard-Won Laundry Lessons:

💡 Skip the liquid DIY soap. Cooking it is a waste of time and space. The powder version works just as well and stores way easier. 💡 Don’t overstuff the washer. Max it out at ¾ full. If your clothes don’t have space to move, they don’t get clean. Period. 💡 Leave the washer door open. Always. Helps prevent mold and keeps your machine smelling fresh. 💡 Use an extra rinse. Especially if you have hard water like us. That buildup is real. 💡 Smelly clothes = still dirty. Clean laundry should smell like…nothing. If it stinks, it’s not clean (even if it smells like “Spring Breeze”). 💡 Ditch dryer sheets and liquid softeners. Full of junk. Instead, use 1 tablespoon of distilled white vinegar in the rinse cycle. Nope, your clothes won’t smell like a salad. Yes, it works like a charm.

A Few Extra Laundry Boosts:

• Lemon essential oil – Brightens whites without bleach

• Lavender oil – Perfect for calming vibes on your bedding

• Tea Tree or Cedarwood – Use for dog beds or travel laundry to kill bacteria and bugs (yep, even bed bugs)

• Orange oil – A grease stain and post-gym lifesaver

Okay okay, here’s the recipe you came for!

✨ DIY Laundry Powder

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Borax

• 2 cups Washing Soda

• 2 cups Baking Soda (find in the baking aisle)

• 1 bar Fels Naptha Soap, grated

Instructions: Grate the Fels Naptha bar, mix everything together in a big bowl, and store in a cute jar or container with a scoop. Use 1 tablespoon per large load. Don’t forget to add that 1 tablespoon of vinegar in the rinse cycle for an easy, toxin-free softener!

From one mom to another: you can keep your laundry routine simple, clean, and budget-friendly—without sacrificing performance. I’ve been doing this faithfully for years, and it’s saved our skin (literally) and our wallets.

Let me know if you try it! 💛

time to make some more!