ZERO WASTE LAUNDRY DETERGENT

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Looking at a plastic bottle of clothing detergent in the stores and thinking that I would have to try and make my own sounds so confusing and daunting - HELL TO THE NO. However, the reality of making your own detergent is as easy as making a quick dinner. Only a handful of steps and you have your very own zero waste, eco friendly, and long lasting detergent! The best part for me is that I am really sensitive to synthetics and fragrances so making my own has actually saved my skin from flaming itchiness and skin rashes - not to mention saving forests from getting burnt down for palm oil which is in about 90% of all store detergents (if you find one without it, please let me know!).

 
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EASY LAUNDRY DETERGENT
Ingredients:
- 15 oz or 1 small box of baking soda
- 8 oz of baking soda in a bowl
- 8 oz shredded soap bar (Kissmy face has a wonderful lavender soap bar that would work great! It’s palm oil free too!)
-10 drops of your favorite essential oil! (This is optional! I use lavender.)
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450 F.
2. Dump the 15 oz of baking soda into a baking dish -any will work and bake for one hour stirring in between a couple times.
3. Take out and let cool. Turn off oven! VOILA! That baking soda now turned to washing soda in the oven, congratulations.
4. Take the washing soda, the 8 oz of baking soda you set aside in a bowl, the shredded 8 oz of soap and 10 drops of essential oil and put in a big container.
5. SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE - DONE!
** A note: The reason why you want to bake the baking soda and turn it into washing soda is that it gets stronger in cleaning efficacy! When you then mix the baking soda with the washing soda, you are making it gentle enough for all your clothes. Woohoooo!
***When doing laundry, you can add 2-3 TBSP per load!***

I also LOVED this post by ‘Bren Did’ on the deeper dive to DIY detergent and what happens when you experience soap residue.
-”Any “soap scum” (residue that may form when soap is used in hard water) can be eliminated by adding white vinegar to the final rinse water. Vinegar naturally breaks down soap residue. I fill my fabric softener dispenser with white vinegar or use a Downy ball full of vinegar in each load.”