How to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent
Laundry detergent is unnecessarily expensive, and in these difficult and uncertain economic times finding a way to wash clothes and dishes without emptying your pockets is a pragmatic cash saver that can never outlive its utility. Laundry detergent costs anything from KES 725 in Nairobi and some days that’s just not pocket friendly. UP Magazine has a simple and accessible recipe for both the liquid and the powder detergent depending on your style. The ingredients can be found at your local grocery store. Here you go:
Basic Laundry Powder (works best in warm or hot wash water)
Ingredients:
2 cups soap flakes or grated plain bar soap
1 cup borax/vinegar/baking soda
1 cup washing soda
Directions:
Combine ingredients well and store in a jar with an airtight lid.
Use 2 tablespoons per load.
Liquid Laundry Detergent
Ingredients:
2 cups of bar soap
2 cups of washing soda (or soap flakes)
2 cups of borax/vinegar/baking soda
Directions:
- Boil one quart of water and add the bar soap, mixing until it has completely melted.
- Pour the soapy water into a large bucket or jug and add the borax and washing soda, mixing until it is all dissolved.
- Add 2 gallons of water and mix thoroughly.
Use about 1/4 cup per load.
By Ondi Madete
