3 DIY recipes for laundry enthusiasts

If you have some free time and don't mind raiding your pantry for ingredients, you can try any of these three DIY recipes! Some are so easy, all you need to do is pour (seriously). These recipes not only make for a fun activity but will also expose some conventional laundry products for the money drains that they are. Sorry, not sorry! 💁🏽‍♀️

1️⃣ DIY Linen Spray

Freshen up bed linens, sheets and clothes in between washes with linen spray. Linen spray is very easy to make and requires just three ingredients. Don't spend money on linen spray in fancy bottles—make yours at home and customize the scent to your preference!

What you'll need:

• Witch hazel or rubbing alcohol (¼ cup)
• Your favorite essential oil or essential oil blend (30 - 40 drops)
• Distilled water (½ cup)

You’ll also need:

• A spray bottle (rinse out and reuse any bottle; a facial mist bottle, for example)
• A small funnel
• A measuring cup

How to make linen spray:

• Step 1: Place a small funnel on top of an open spray bottle.
• Step 2: Pour ¼ cup of witch hazel (or rubbing alcohol) into the spray bottle.
• Step 3: Add ~40 drops of essential oil.
• Step 4: Top up with distilled water.
• Step 5: Replace the bottle top, shake and spray!

Since oil and water do not readily blend, the alcohol or witch hazel act as an emulsifier to blend the two together. Always give a little shake prior to using your DIY linen spray for optimal scent!

2️⃣ DIY Fabric Softener

Mildly acidic, white vinegar dissolves soap and residue buildup in your laundry, which is where the "softening" action comes from. White vinegar benefits don't stop at softening! The pantry staple can also whiten, brighten and reduce odors in your laundry. 💯

If you prefer your vinegar fabric softener to have a fragrance, add a few drops of an essential oil to the bottle of white vinegar that you use for laundry purposes.

What you'll need:

• Distilled white vinegar (¼ - ½ cup)
• A measuring cup

How to use white vinegar as fabric softener:

• Step 1: Add your portioned out white vinegar to the fabric softener compartment of your washer and run a normal wash program.
• Step 2: Sit back while your washer releases white vinegar in the rinse cycle.
• Step 3: Unload your washer and marvel at the fact that there's no lingering vinegar scent at the end of the cycle!

3️⃣ DIY Laundry Powder

Detergent manufacturers in the US aren't required to disclose ingredients on their product packaging or make their ingredients public, but you can know exactly what goes into your cleaning product by making it at home.

What you'll need:

• Baking soda (1 cup)
• Washing soda (1 cup)
• A bar of unscented castile soap, like Dr. Bronner’s, or vegetable soap, meaning soap that is not derived from animal fats, but rather plant-based fats like olive oil or coconut oil (~5 oz)

You’ll also need:

• A box grater
• A measuring cup
• An airtight container (like a mason jar)

How to make and dose laundry powder:

• Step 1: Use a box grater to make soap flakes out of your soap bar; 5 oz is usually about a full bar.
• Step 2: Add 1 cup of washing soda.
• Step 3: Add 1 cup of baking soda.
• Step 4: Combine the ingredients in an airtight container.
• Step 5: Use a measuring spoon to dose 1/2 Tbsp into the drum of an HE washer. Double the dosage for extra dirty loads or standard (non-HE) washers.

Not sure how you feel about DIY-ing the main product in your laundry routine? No worries! We did the work for you with Corewash. It's made in the USA from the same ingredients as the ones we listed above—baking soda, washing soda and vegetable soap (nothing more, nothing less). It's ready to go and comes in plastic-free packaging. You can also subscribe to save! 🥳

Tips by Corinna & Theresa Williams
Compiled and edited by Mutia Adisoma
Photos by Mutia Adisoma