Scent Almanac
Laundry powder
The classic homemade mix of grated bar soap, washing soda and borax. It's cheap and simple, but read the honest note about soap versus detergent first.
- Difficulty
- ●○○
- Time
- active 20 min
Safety first
- Honesty note: Homemade laundry 'soap' (bar soap + washing soda + borax) is soap, not detergent. It cleans lightly soiled clothes, but in hard water it can leave a dulling film and build up in HE machines and on towels. Many washer makers advise using only HE detergent. For a truly 'homemade' route, use the powder on everyday loads, strip-wash towels now and then, and add scent with the salt boosters rather than more soap.
- Washing soda is alkaline and irritating. Wear gloves, keep it off skin and out of eyes, and don't use it on wool, silk or aluminum.
- Borax must not be swallowed. The EU classes it as a reproductive toxicant. Store the mix sealed and labeled, away from children and pets.
- Wear a dust mask while mixing. The fine powder irritates the nose and throat.
- Never use this powder in the same load with chlorine bleach and a vinegar or citric acid rinse. Bleach plus any acid releases chlorine gas.
- Oxygen bleach releases gas when wet. Keep the mix dry and never store it damp in a closed container.
Steps
- Read the honesty note in the safety list. This is soap, not detergent, and it suits lightly soiled everyday loads in soft water best.
- Grate the soap bar finely, or pulse it in a food processor, so it dissolves quickly. Let fresh soap shreds air-dry for a day if they feel soft.
- With gloves and a mask on, mix the soap, washing soda and borax (or its substitute) in a large bowl until evenly blended.
- Store it in an airtight, labeled container with a scoop.
- Use a small amount: 1 tablespoon per load, or 2 for heavily soiled loads. More soap means more residue, not cleaner clothes.
- For cold washes or HE machines, dissolve the dose in a cup of hot water first, then add it to the drum.
- Every month or two, strip-wash towels (a long hot soak with washing soda) to clear any soap build-up. Check your washer maker's advice on non-HE products.
If something goes wrong
- Clothes look dull or towels feel stiff
- Soap film from hard water. Use less, strip-wash towels, and consider switching to an HE detergent for towels and work clothes.
- White flecks on dark clothes
- Soap didn't dissolve. Grate it finer and pre-dissolve it in hot water.
- Clumping powder
- It picked up moisture. Store it airtight, break up clumps with a fork, and add a food-safe silica packet to the lid.
- Weak or no scent
- Soap rinses scent away. Add scent booster crystals to the load instead of more powder.