For years I was a huge fan of one particular name brand laundry detergent and I faithfully used it and for the most part it got the job done.
Then my husband developed allergies and had difficulty with his lungs and breathing and I began to think maybe if we changed what we were eating it would help and it did but not entirely. He still would struggle with his lungs and so I began to go on the search for natural homemade laundry and cleaning products and noticed as I did that he was no longer struggling with his lungs filling up with fluid and his breathing was clear.
I have tried a number homemade recipes and the one I am getting ready to share with you is my favorite to date. It cleans well and deodorizes our clothes without harsh chemicals.
I have to admit that I thought that making my own laundry soap and fabric softener would be a expensive and time consuming. On the contrary I have found that it is economical and easy to make. I love how it makes our clothes smell and feel.
Just an FYI I did not tell my husband what I was doing until I had been doing it for about 5-6 months. He mentioned one day that he had not had a spell with his lungs in months and that his breathing was perfect. I am not a doctor or health care professional I am just sharing with you all the results of my little experiment. We have been happy with the change and I will share at a later date any further developments.
Below you will find my favorite laundry recipe:
Ingredients for a one gallon container.
1/4 Cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
1/4 Cup Arm & Hammer Pure Baking Soda
50 drops Essential Oil - I prefer to use lavender essential oil because it is a subtle scent but you can use whatever essential oil you would like.
Instructions
In a large pot mix together the Washing Soda and Baking Soda with enough hot water until it is dissolved.
Pour this into your laundry detergent container.
Fill the container with warm water almost to the top, leaving a couple inches of space at the top.
Pour in the Castile Soap and gently mix. I love castile soap because it takes me back to my grandmothers house. She used Castile and Fels Naptha soap for laundry and her clothes were always soft and smelled good.
Add your Essential Oil and mix again.
Keep a wooden spoon or something similar with the container so you can give the detergent a quick stir before using each time.
Use 1/3 of a cup of the detergent according to your washing machines instructions.
