Easy DIY Powder Laundry Detergent

As a mother of four and a wife of a man that seems to change clothes three times every day, it is my reality that laundry is NEVER done.  It seems I am always separating, switching, folding, or putting away.  Along with our heaping hampers comes massive amounts of needed laundry detergent.  I feel like I am constantly on the hunt for a detergent that destroys stains, leaves our clothes smelling clean and fresh, and doesn't break the bank.  While I have been happy with how a few perform, I have never been happy with the price.  For that reason, I have made my own Easy DIY Powder Laundry Detergent.  

After researching many other homemade laundry detergents out there, I created my own combination that is compatible with high efficiency (HE) washers, and I immediately fell in love with it!  I have been using it for the last six weeks and haven't been disappointed yet.  Our laundry comes out clean and smelling awesome!  Just a couple weeks ago, my sister-in-law walked in as I was folding clothes and quickly asked what the great smell was.  She was blown away when she found out the detergent was homemade.  

She was even more shocked when I told her the cost.  I was able to buy all the ingredients for just $26, and I will do about 280 loads.  Yes...that is under $.10 per load.  I can now proclaim that I will NEVER buy laundry detergent from a store again!  

Now it is your turn to be amazed!  Follow my simple instructions below and begin cleaning that laundry without cleaning out your wallet.

Ingredients Needed:

- OxiClean with Odor Blasters (3 pounds)

- 1  box of Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda (55 ounces)

- 1 box of Borax (76 ounces)

- 1 box of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda (4 pounds)

- 3 bars of Fels-Naptha Soap

- 1 container of Downy Unstopables - scent of your choice (19.5 ounces)

Supplies Needed:

- 5-gallon bucket with lid

- OxiClean container and scoop (I use this to store the perfect amount of detergent next to my washer.)

Step 1: Grate Fels-Naptha with a cheese grater.  (My daughter had a blast with this, until I caught her trying to convince our three-year-old that it was cheese and he should eat it.)

Step 2: Pour all ingredients into a 5-gallon bucket.  I randomly alternate them to help the mixing process.  Once everything is in the bucket, seal the lid and start shaking.  

It is that simple.  This Easy DIY Powder Laundry Detergent is both affordable and effective.  I store my access detergent in the sealed 5-gallon bucket and have used the OxiClean container to house a smaller portion that I keep close to my washer.  The OxiClean scoop is also the perfect amount to use for one large load of laundry.