Natural Laundry DetergentUpdated 4 months ago
What is Laundry Detergent?
Detergent (Merriam-Webster) -any of numerous synthetic water-soluble or liquid organic preparations that are chemically different from soaps but are able to emulsify oils, hold dirt in suspension, and act as wetting agents.
Whether in liquid, powder, or pod form, laundry detergent has been around for a quite a while. While some type of cleaning agent has been used since ancient times, laundry detergent came
into being around the early 20th century, due to the shortage of available ingredients in Germany during WWI to create soap for washing. Synthetic detergents, while they may be produced from petroleum or traditional fats and oils, are not derived from fatty acids. Their chief advantages over soap are that they can be formulated at lower pH and that they perform well even in hard water. This was a more chemical alternative to washing soap (which was in either a solid, flake, or liquid form) and has been popular commodity ever since. Today, you can find it in a more natural and sustainable form of laundry detergent which we will discuss here.
What's in (Natural) Laundry Detergent?
Natural laundry detergents have only a few common ingredients. Its the combination, lack or use of these ingredients that makes each formulation unique.
Borax a.k.a Sodium Borate - a natural component that has an effectiveness often compared to OxiClean. It works by converting water molecules to hydrogen peroxide. It has a pH of 9.3 and produces a basic solution in water which increases the effectiveness of cleaners.
Baking Soda - a natural particle that dissolves while cleansing. It is a natural alkaline that neutralizes acids and washes away oils and dirt. It is great to use in soaps, bath salts, and skin scrubs.
Washing Soda a.k.a Sodium Carbonate - an excellent stain remover and sometimes used as a water softener. Often used in combination with sodium borate, also known as borax. It increases the effectiveness of laundry detergent and is also a cleaning agent.
Tip: A lot of commercial detergents will use softening agents in their products to soften clothes while washing by leaving a residue on the fabric. Natural Detergents have no such additive. Using White Vinegar in your load much like fabric softener will provide the softness but with out the harsh chemical component. Don't worry, the vinegar smell dissipates in the washing cycle (there is a possibility that the white vinegar may degrade the rubber components of the washer over time, so check your appliance's user guide and don't use it too frequently).
Soap - a surfactant used in conjunction with water for washing and cleaning. Can come in a solid or liquid form and is the base ingredient in detergents. You can make your own soap, or buy a popular brand name bar used in laundry like Fels-Naptha or Zote (If making a liquid detergent you can also use Dr. Bonner's Liquid Castile Soap)
Fragrance - an optional additive that makes the formulation as well as your clothes smell wonderfully.
All of these ingredients can be found on our sister websites, Wholesale Supplies Plus, MakeYourOwn.Buzz, Elements Bath and Body, Rustic Escentuals, and Just Scent.
As always, test any new formulation or ingredient before use to ensure it works as intended and make sure you are in compliance with all FDA regulations.
Recipes to try:
Green Laundry Care with Dr. Bronner’s