With salt and vinegar you can make your own homemade detergent

### ✅ **Ingredients:**

* 1 cup baking soda (optional but highly recommended for extra cleaning power)
* 1 cup white vinegar
* ½ cup salt (coarse sea salt or kosher salt works best)
* 5–10 drops essential oil (optional — lavender, lemon, or tea tree are great choices)

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### 🧪 **How to Use It:**

1. **In the Wash:**

* Add **½ cup of salt** directly to your washing drum.
* Pour **1 cup of white vinegar** into the fabric softener compartment or during the rinse cycle.
* Optional: Add a scoop of **baking soda** with the salt for extra deodorizing.

2. **For Pre-Treating Stains:**

* Make a paste using salt, vinegar, and baking soda.
* Apply directly to the stain, let sit for 15–30 minutes, then wash as usual.

3. **For Odor Removal (like gym clothes or towels):**

* Soak in a mixture of **1 cup vinegar + ½ cup salt + warm water** for 30 minutes before washing.

> 🧼 *Note:* This recipe is ideal for regular laundry but may not be strong enough for heavily soiled items. You can use it as a **booster alongside mild detergent** if needed.

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## 🌎 Why Make Your Own?

* **Save money** on store-bought products
* **Reduce plastic waste** and packaging
* Avoid synthetic fragrances, dyes, and harsh chemicals
* Customize the scent and ingredients to suit your needs
* Safe for **HE (high-efficiency) machines** when used in moderation

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## ⚠️ A Few Quick Tips

* Always **test on delicate fabrics** first
* Do **not** mix vinegar with bleach — the fumes are dangerous
* Store any leftover mixture in a sealed glass jar (if pre-mixed)

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## 🧺 Final Thoughts

Salt and vinegar might be humble pantry staples, but when it comes to **cleaning clothes naturally**, they’re a powerful pair. Whether you’re cutting chemicals from your routine or just looking to try something new, this simple DIY detergent is a great place to start.

It’s effective, gentle, and a little bit of old-fashioned wisdom made modern again.

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**Tried it?** Share your experience with us using **#HomemadeDetergentHack** — we’d love to see how it worked for you!

Want a printable recipe card or label template for your DIY laundry supplies? Just ask!