Hey readers! I've got a new series coming at you every Tuesday called "Is It Worth It?". The idea is to see if it's worth the trouble to choose one option over another. Handmade or pre-made? Organic or conventional? Car wash or wash your own car? You get the idea. So, today's first installment is homemade laundry detergent. 
If you are a regular pinner, you know Pinterest is flooded with MANY DIY ideas, including home cleaners. I thought it would be fun to do a test. I've compiled the ingredients needed for a homemade laundry detergent powder. I have bought what I would consider the equivalent store brand of the product. Here are the two contenders:
1. Homemade Laundry Detergent ingredients:
-16 cups baking soda ($9.00, bought in bulk)
-12 cups borax (Cost: $16.29)
-8 cups grated castile or glycerin soap flakes* ($18.00)
-3 tablespoons lavender, lemon or grapefruit essential oil (Cost: $14.95)
*Combine baking soda, borax and soap flakes. Add essential oil and mix with a wire whisk. *Use 1⁄8 cup per load. *Yield: This recipe makes enough powder to last a family of four one year.
Total yield is 36 cups of detergent (or 288 loads). Total cost of all ingredients used: $58.24 Cost per load: .20 cents.
Pros: You control the ingredients, lasts the whole year, reduced impact on the environment due to less packaging
Cons: Need to buy/order from various sources, invest in container to hold the detergent, time
-12 cups borax (Cost: $16.29)
-8 cups grated castile or glycerin soap flakes* ($18.00)
-3 tablespoons lavender, lemon or grapefruit essential oil (Cost: $14.95)
*Combine baking soda, borax and soap flakes. Add essential oil and mix with a wire whisk. *Use 1⁄8 cup per load. *Yield: This recipe makes enough powder to last a family of four one year.
Total yield is 36 cups of detergent (or 288 loads). Total cost of all ingredients used: $58.24 Cost per load: .20 cents.
All images courtest Amazon.com
Pros: You control the ingredients, lasts the whole year, reduced impact on the environment due to less packaging
Cons: Need to buy/order from various sources, invest in container to hold the detergent, time
2. Seventh Generation Powder Detergent, 112 oz box, $14.39. Recommended measurement per load is 1/3 cup.
Box thus yields 70 loads. Cost per load: .21 cents.
Pros: Pre-made and ready to use, eco-friendly, saves times, widely available
Cons: You use the scents pre-made, excess packaging (although it's recycled)
Conclusion. Well, you save a penny per load by making your own detergent. Based on the pros and cons I outlined above for each version, I have to conclude that it is NOT worth it to make your own detergent. Unless you are really picky about scents, there are plenty of good, eco-friendly choices out there that are comparably priced to homemade detergents. Furthermore, you can scout good deals on eco-friendly detergent at places like Costco and Wal-Mart. Most eco-friendly detergents come in recycled packaging (whether it's liquid or powder).
Box thus yields 70 loads. Cost per load: .21 cents.
Pros: Pre-made and ready to use, eco-friendly, saves times, widely available
Cons: You use the scents pre-made, excess packaging (although it's recycled)
Conclusion. Well, you save a penny per load by making your own detergent. Based on the pros and cons I outlined above for each version, I have to conclude that it is NOT worth it to make your own detergent. Unless you are really picky about scents, there are plenty of good, eco-friendly choices out there that are comparably priced to homemade detergents. Furthermore, you can scout good deals on eco-friendly detergent at places like Costco and Wal-Mart. Most eco-friendly detergents come in recycled packaging (whether it's liquid or powder).
