The average American family runs 6 loads of laundry per week. The average cost of detergent per load of laundry is 9 cents. The average cost per week for laundry detergent equals 0.54 cents a week. Homemade laundry detergent cost on average 3 cents per load which given the average of 6 loads of laundry per week comes to 0.18 cents. The added bonus of homemade laundry detergent is that it is safer for the environment and increases the life expectancy of clothes. Here are a few recipes and interesting tips for successful frugal laundry agents.  

Test each of the following recipes on the fabric first. 

Laundry Detergent:

Generally, one cup of homemade laundry detergent per load will be sufficient. 

Ingredients:

1 bar soap (preferably Fels Naptha)

1/2 cup Borox

1 cup washing soda

3 gallons water 

Directions:

• Cut up the bar of soap into hot water

• Heat until the soap completely dissolves, boiling the water is not recommended

• Add the dissolved soap to 3 gallons of water

• Mix well

• Add one cup of washing soda

• Add half a cup of Borox (optional)

• Mix well and let cool

back to top

A less frugal and less time consuming version of homemade laundry detergent is using 1/3 cup of the regular store bought laundry detergent and 1/2 cup of baking soda. It is an easy money saver. 

Fabric Softener:

2 cups white vinegar

2 cups baking soda

4 cups water

Mix together into container. 

Bleach

An easy bleach is to add 1/2 cup borax per wash load. Another more work intensive way of bleaching clothes is to soak clothes in lemon juice and hang dry in direct sunlight.  

back to top

Spray Starch  

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons of cornstarch

2 pints of water 

Directions:

Fill a spray bottle with cold water and mix in the cornstarch. Shake before each use.  

Spray Starch for delicate fabrics: 

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons of granulated sugar

3 cups of hot water 

Directions:

Fill a spray bottle with hot water and mix in granulated sugar.

back to top

Stain Removal 

Homemade Pre-treating Stain Remover  
Ingredients:

1/2 cup ammonia

1/2 cup white vinegar

1/4 cup baking soda

2 tbsp. liquid soap

2 quarts water  
 

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in a spray bottle.  

Quick tip:

Air-dry the garment to avoid dryer heat from setting a stain permanently.

back to top

Homemade Stain Remedies: 

Coffee/tea

Soak in strong vinegar solution or rinse with seltzer.  

Chocolate

Rub with vegetable oil, or a paste of washing soda/water.  

Grass

Soak in vinegar, or use a solution of rubbing alcohol and water  

Grease

Rub stain with salt, bread, baby powder or dry soap and wipe off.  

Ink

Spray hairspray to get ink stains out of regular clothing, 

Lipstick

Rubs shortening into stain to dissolve color then remove grease by rinsing in washing soda and warm water. 

Perspiration

Rub with lemon juice in water and to get the odor out add ½ cup baking soda 

Blood

Rinse with club soda and rinse in cold water.

Collars

For soiled collars, brush a bit of shampoo into stain.  

Frugal fanatic tip:

Eighty-five percent of the energy used by a washing machine goes to heating the water. To save on energy lower the water temperature and washing everything possible in cold water. It saves wear and tear on the material and gets clothes just as clean. Wash in hot water only if the purpose is to sterilize the laundry. Washing in cold water can save the typical family over $120 a year.