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Have you ever wanted to create your own laundry detergent that is both eco-friendly and cost-effective? Discover how you can make homemade laundry detergent tabs infused with essential oils to transform your laundry experience. It’s simple, affordable, and customizable to your favorite scents!
Why Make Your Own Laundry Tabs?
Creating your own laundry detergent tabs allows you to:
- Save Money: Each load costs just about 7 cents.
- Reduce Chemicals: Enjoy a natural alternative without harsh chemicals.
- Customize Scents: Select essential oils that suit your preferences.
Supplies need for making Homemade Laundry Detergent Tabs:
- 1-1/2 cups of washing soda (can be found here or at your local supermarket)
- 1 bar of Castile Soap: Known for its gentle, natural cleansing properties. (this is what I used)
- 2 tbsp Epson Salt: Helps soften fabrics. (found here or your local supermarket)
- 1/3 – 1/2 cup Vinegar: Acts as a binding and cleaning agent.
- 15-20 drops of essential oils: Choose from favorites like lavender, lemon, or a blend. (see here for what I use)
- Mold for Squares: Shapes your detergent into convenient tabs. (this is the one I have)
- Container: Store your finished tabs in a glass jar.
Note: While borax and regular baking soda are often used in homemade cleaning products, this particular recipe skips them for an even simpler approach.
The first thing I did was grate the bar of Castile soap, I used the fine grade side of my grader. Yeah, this part sucks a bit but it goes fast. Note: you can also use a food processor to complete this step.
Then I added the washing soda, Epsom salts, and slowly added in the vinegar until it became the consistency of wet sand. Add more vinegar as needed.
After it was mixed I added in the essential oils. This time around I used 5 drops of Young Living Purification (to help with disinfecting) and then added in 4 drops of Citrus Fresh (would have added more but that is all I had left), 6 drops of lemon, and 4 drops of lavender. Stirred it well and then packed it into the molds.
The best thing about using EO’s is that you can make them fit your ideal smell, mix, and match to whatever you like.
If you have a HE machine you probably only have to fill the molds until 3/4ths filled but I was trying to use up everything and really stuffed them to use it all up. It didn’t all fit in the mold so I still had to make a few with a tablespoon and place them on parchment paper anyway. In the future, I will probably purchase another mold so I can so them all at once and not have to mess with the tablespoon. Once they were in the molds I used a spray bottle with a mixture of vinegar and water and drenched them. Then I let them sit overnight to dry out.
Step-by-Step instructions for making homemade laundry soap:
- Grate the Soap: Use the fine side of a grater to grate the Castile soap. For ease, a food processor works great too.
- Mix Ingredients: In a bowl, combine the grated soap, washing soda, and Epsom salts. Slowly add vinegar until the mixture feels like wet sand. Adjust vinegar as needed.
- Add Essential Oils: Stir in essential oils. This blend can be customized to your liking with scents that have disinfectant properties, like lemon or lavender.
- Mold the Tabs: Firmly pack the mixture into molds. If needed, create additional tabs with a tablespoon on parchment paper. Drench molds with a vinegar-water spray and let them sit overnight to harden.
- Store Your Tabs: Pop the dried tabs out of the molds and store them in a decorative jar. A clear jar not only looks appealing but makes it easy to see how many you have left.
The next morning I popped them out of the mold and added them to the jar (I found the jar at Michaels and then decorated it with my Silhouette). Amazon has some cute ones too.
I used these tabs this morning for two loads of laundry and all turned out great! I have hard well water and this made the laundry come out bright and soft… And not egg-smelling! Something I usually didn’t get unless I was using those heavily toxic store brands.
Using Your Laundry Tabs:
These tabs are perfect for HE machines—use just one per load! For non-HE machines, consider using two. They dissolve easily and work well even in hard water, leaving your clothes bright and fresh.
Additional Tips and Ideas:
- Experiment with different essential oils to achieve unique fragrance blends.
- Consider gifting these homemade laundry tabs—they make thoughtful and eco-friendly presents.
With each wash, you’ll enjoy the satisfaction of using a product that’s gentle on the environment and your wallet. Happy laundering!
Remember to pin this recipe for easy reference, and share your experiences in the comments below. Enjoy a cleaner, greener laundry routine today!
Take your laundry to the next step and check out this article from Porch on how to take care of your clothes.
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This is awesome – would be a great gift idea for some friends of mine! 🙂
So far it’s they are working out well here… and what a wonderful idea for a gift. Might make a good teacher gift too! I always like to find something useful for them!
I have been wanting to make my own soap too. Have tons of enzyme, will try soon. Thanks!
Great advice! I use homemade detergent, too. My advice is to mix lavender and orange oil. It will smell fantastic. I have never put vinegar in it. Next time I will try. Greetings!
What do you use instead of vinegar?
I used vinegar.
How Many tabs Do you use for one load? super excited to try this!
I use 1 tab for a HE washer. If you have a non-HE I would use 2.
The picture shows regular baking soda but the recipe and the directions don’t talk about you using them?
No I didn’t end up using the regular baking soda, just the washing soda
use the grater blade of the food processor to grate the soap. works fantastic in seconds
Awesome tip Jennifer! I actually did that with my last batch and it worked great!
I really like them, but they are so fragile. Am I doing something wrong. They break apart so easily. I picked one up and it feel apart in my hand.
Probably just need to add a little more liquid or little more spray when you spray them in the molds.
I have noticed this happens sometimes in the summer when it’s dry out.
I am thinking about trying your laundry tabs. the only question is will it dissolve in cold water or does it need to be warm to hot water only.. I normally use cold water to wash my laundry..
thank you
I haven’t tried them in cold water yet but I would think they would still dissolve well, they break apart easily.
Hi Jen, I wanted to know if could use the tabs for cold water instead of warm to hot water ..I normally use cold water for my laundry.. Do you think it would dissolve the shavings..thanks so much
Hi Jen, does it matter if I use liquid castile soap? Thats what I already have available at home and curious if there is a particular reason for grating a bar instead.. thanks!
You could use it, but I’m not sure you will be able to put it in the mold to make tabs. Let me know how it works 🙂
I was wondering about the liquid castile soap also that is all I have the only bars soap I have fels naptha and zote and then I have the liquid castile and I also use a he front load washer can you help me out with some suggestions on what to do?
I would use the fees naphtha… you could try the liquid soap, but I’m not sure you will be able to put it in the mold to make tabs. Let me know how it works
Can I use any bar soap or does it have to be this castile?
I have only used the Castile but I’m guessing another soap type would work.
Do you put the tab in the laundry soap spot or into the washer drum?
I put it right in the washer with the clothes
What type of glass container is safe for the essential oils?
I think any type of glass container would be good
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