Laundry products are some of the most frequently used chemicals in the home, yet most of us have very little understanding over what’s actually in them.

DIY allows you to not only control the ingredients but understand them in a way that makes it valuable to tackle many cleaning task you will come across in life.

This guide walks through a simple low-tox laundry system that covers everyday washing, stains, softening, and delicate items.

 

For the wash cycle

Most laundry needs can be handled with a single, well-designed laundry powder. A good DIY laundry powder works because each ingredient has a clear function:

  • Washing soda to degrease and soften water
  • Soap to lift and suspend dirt
  • Borax and bicarb to boost cleaning and control odour
  • Sodium percarbonate to handle stains and whitening

You can make the laundry powder yourself using this Laundry Washing Powder recipe.

For this recipe, hot water above 40°C gives the best results. Heat is needed to activate the percarbonate and dissolve the ingredients. If cold washing is unavoidable, dissolve the powder fully in hot water first before adding it to the wash.

If you prefer something between a powder and a liquid, try this Multi-Purpose Cleaning Paste (aka Laundry Butter) it has a soft, creamy consistency that works well for laundry and a range of household cleaning jobs.

Added bonus: This powder can be dissolved in warm water to create a soapy cleaning solution for showers, baths, tiles, outdoor furniture, patios and even dishes.


For the rinse cycle

Laundry can sometimes feel stiff or rough, even when it's clean. This is often caused by a build-up of detergent residue, soap residue or minerals from hard water. True softness comes from removing leftover detergent and soap residue, not adding another product.

This simple Fabric Softener solution works by:

  • Neutralises alkaline soap or detergent residue
  • Helps dissolve hard water minerals
  • Allows fibres to relax and rinse clean

You can also choose your own fragrance by using essential oils, the citric acid is great at dispersing them in the wash. Simply leave them out for a fragrant free option.


For removing stains

When it comes to brightening whites and tackling general stains all you need is sodium percarbonate, the active ingredient found in many commercial laundry soakers and oxybleach products.

This is your eco-friendly alternative to chlorine bleach and is used in many DIY solutions that need heavy duty cleaning. When mixed with warm or hot water, it releases oxygen that helps break down stains, lift body oils and brighten fabrics.

It is safe to use on colours, removes yellowing from sheets and lifts stain from the fabric. It does this through the power of oxidisation. 

Not all stains are equal: This stain removal guide which explains how to identify common stain types and choose the right cleaning approach using simple green cleaning principles.


For delicates and wool

Not every load needs a full laundry powder delicate items and hand washing a simple liquid soap solution is often enough.

Castile Soap is a great solution as you can adjust the strength by diluting, it cleans gently and rinses easily. This approach is especially useful when heat, agitation, or strong alkalinity isn’t appropriate.

See the Wool & Delicate Wash recipe for more details.


Where this guide fits in the system

This guide explains the overall laundry approach. For:

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