DIY Natural Laundry Soaker
I have been working on this DIY natural laundry soaker recipe for over a year and I am finally happy to share it. Simple to make with natural low tox and eco-friendly ingredients you are gonna love this recipe!
Natural Laundry Soaker with just 4 Ingredients
Yep you read that right! Just 4 natural ingredients! And the best news is they are easy to get your hands on. We stock 3 of them in our online store and most of the ingredients can even be purchased from your local supermarket if that where you prefer to shop.
Washing Soda
Washing soda (Sodium Carbonate) is used in this natural laundry soaker as its high alkalinity allows it to act as a solvent in removing a wide range of tough stains such as grease, blood, tea, and coffee stains. Washing soda is also a super water softener and raises the pH of the cleaning water providing a more effective clean. It does this by helping other cleaning ingredients lift soil from the fabrics and suspend the soil in the wash water. The washing soda binds to the minerals which make water hard and allows the detergent to be absorbed into fibers properly to clean clothes.
Oxygen Bleach
Oxygen Bleach (sodium percarbonate) is a great natural alternative to chlorine bleach being safer for both you and the environment as well as being safer for your clothes. Unlike chlorine bleach, it is colour safe and non-corrosive so won’t break down fabric fibres or bleach the colour from your favourite shirt. Oxygen bleach breaks down in the presence of water into washing soda and hydrogen peroxide. The washing soda adds more water softening power. Whilst the hydrogen peroxide disinfects, sanitises and removes stains by releasing oxygen. This oxygen lifts off stains and dirt from the laundry.
Sodium Bicarbonate
We are all familiar with baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate, bicarb) in the kitchen, but did you know it is also great in the laundry. Baking soda is a natural deodorizer, cleanser, and water softener. Baking soda is great for whitening whites and brighter brights and is excellent for neutralising odors. Bye-bye stinky gym clothes and musty towels.
Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Eucalyptus oil is a great essential oil to use in the laundry. It is great for removing oil, sweat and grass stains. Whilst its excellent deodorising properties help cut through even the toughest of odours and leaves your washing smelling fresh and clean. Eucalyptus scores bonus points for killing 90% of dust mites when used in the laundry, which is excellent news for those families with allergy sufferers.
Doubles as an In-wash Booster
Like with most laundry soakers this natural laundry soaker recipe can be used as an in-wash booster. It helps to whiten and brighten your clothes, tackle stains and remove funky odors. Just add to the compartment along with your regular washing detergent. For extra power dissolve in hot water to activate the oxygen bleach before adding to the machine.
If you love this recipe be sure to check out some of our other Natural DIY Cleaning Recipes to help you kick toxins to the curb and save money!
We Also Have A collection of DIY Personal Care and Beauty Recipes To Nourish Your Body Naturally…
DIY Laundry Soaker
Make your own low-tox laundry soaker and in wash booster using this simple DIY recipe
Ingredients
- 500g washing soda
- 500g oxygen bleach
- 250g bicarbonate soda
- 1/2-1 tsp eucalyptus essential oil
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix thoroughly (but gently to minimise dust) to ensure well combined
- Transfer to an airtight container
TO USE:
As Soaker - Dissolve 2-4 tablespoons in warm water then add clothes. If extra oxygen cleaning power is needed use hot water to dissolve the powder. Once dissolved top up with cool to warm water before adding clothes. Sodium percarbonate remains active for around 6 hours so soaking beyond this is not necessary.
As in-wash booster - Add 2-4 tablespoons to the machine with your usual laundry detergent and run a warm cycle. If extra oxygen cleaning power is required or if using a cold water cycle dissolve the powder in hot water prior to adding to the machine.
Notes
- Don't soak metal items, such as buttons or zips
- While oxygen bleach is safe on most fabrics, it should never be used on silk, wool, or any garment that has leather trim or wooden buttons.
Hola I would like to get all the ingredients for your laundry soak recipe
Hi Silvina,
You can find all the ingredients for this recipe in our online shop. To make it easy there are product links at the bottom of the post, plus the ingredients that are shown in green are hyperlinks and are “clickable”. If you are not is Australia you should be able to find these items bulk shops or online. Hope this helps.
Kind Regards,
Jenny
Hi, With your laundry soaking powder, can you use another oil. I can’t use eucalyptus essential oil in my septic system. Thank you, Bron
Hi Bron,
You sure can!! Use whichever essential oils you like. Lemon would be a great replacement if its safe for septics as it is also great for cutting through grease and bad odours.
Can I use homemade oxygen bleach made from washing soda and peroxide? If I can, do I still need to put 500g washing soda in?
Hi Maki,
Good question! As far as I am aware you cannot make sodium percarbonate (oxygen bleach) at home and it is an ingredient that needs to be purchased. Hope this help.
Hi, it says not to soak metal items but I mostly have baby grows to soak with metal poppers….Will it rust things, I’m assuming?
It makes them go a funny colour, many baby clothes have a coating over the press studs, not raw metal. But we have soaked baby onsies, just don’t leave soaking for days and days and bear in mind if there is bare metal is just might get a bit tarnished looking.
Hi there – when will you stock these items again. They are all listed on your website as being out of stock. Thanks so much.
Hi Trudy, Sorry we wont be restocking these items as we are closing our shop down