Both my husband and I (and now unfortunately our son) suffer from excessively sensitive skin. For decades we had no other choice than to use expensive hypo-allergenic detergents that shroud their ingredients in a veil of (somewhat suspicious) secrecy. But after I saw a multitude of recipes on Pinterest I decided to give my own concoction a shot. We’ve been using this powdered mix for over a decade and it’s been invaluable for the health of our skin, clothes, and wallets!

Two of the most common ingredients in homemade detergent – softener beads and Fels Naptha – have been cut from my master recipe, and without remorse. Adding the heavily fragranced and chemical-laced softeners to our mix was counter-productive, so I eliminated that in the very beginning; and after spending hours grinding Fels Naptha bars into tiny pieces (which wouldn’t fully dissolve in our cool water wash cycles anyway) I was well and done with that portion pretty quickly.

Now that OxiClean is readily available in a fragrance-free variety I feel like we’ve reached the perfect ratio of ingredients. Just 1/4 cup cuts through the grease and grime of my hubby’s work clothes like a sharp knife, but at the same time it’s gentle enough for our other less-hardy clothing items like my beloved ring-spun cotton t-shirts and Leroy’s tiny pajama pants. It’s streak- and residue-free, works great with HE machines, and goes SO much further than a traditional bottle of detergent.

I will often double or triple this recipe to fill the container that sits atop our washing machine. It’s important to keep it in an airtight container to keep it from clumping, since it doesn’t have anti-clumping agents like other commercial powdered detergents. We use this leftover pet food container and it actually works amazingly. I also save the scoops from the OxiClean boxes and reuse them!

For an extra dose of freshness you can use any sort of wool dryer ball and sprinkle a few drops of essential oil on them for use in the dryer. This is a fabulous and chemical-free way to get that wonderfully refreshing feeling from a freshly dried load of laundry. Some of my favorites are lavender & tea tree, sweet orange, and eucalyptus mint.

If you have really tough grime, dirt or outdoor items to clean, you can use up to 1/2 cup of this detergent in a heavy-duty wash cycle to really kick tough-to-clean items.

Recipe Card

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Homemade Powdered Laundry Detergent (Hypo-Allergenic)

Author: Elizabeth Ann

Servings: 1

Description

This fragrance-free, hypo-allergenic detergent is a staple in our home. Use just 1/8 cup per load for fabulously fresh garments and linens!

Ingredients

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Servings

• 1 box Borax (4lb)
• 1 box Washing Soda (4lb)
• 1 tub Oxy Clean FREE (3lb)

Instructions

1. Reserving the measuring scoop from the Oxy Clean, combine all ingredients (slowly, to reduce dusting) and mix well. To prevent clumping, store in an airtight container. Use 1/4c in a regular load of laundry, and up to 1/2 cup for heavily soiled clothing.