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Laundry Sheets vs Homemade Detergent
We have a lot of respect for DIY folks. Making your own detergent is thrifty, fun and a little bit rebellious. But it's worth knowing the tradeoffs before you grate your fifth bar of soap.
Quick answer: most homemade recipes are soap, not detergent. Soap can leave residue and soap scum, especially in hard water. Sheets rinse cleaner and take zero grating.
Common DIY recipes
Most recipes mix three things:
- Grated bar soap
- Washing soda (sodium carbonate)
- Borax
Fun fact: sodium carbonate is in Just 7 too. So DIYers are one-seventh of the way there.
Soap vs detergent
Soap and detergent aren't the same. Soap reacts with minerals in hard water and can form scum that sticks to fabric. Detergents are designed to avoid that.†
The tradeoffs
| Homemade | Sheets | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Often low | Varies (read it) |
| Effort | Grating and mixing | None |
| Residue | Can build up | Rinses clean |
| HE washers | Can over-suds | Designed for HE |
When sheets win
- You have hard water.
- You have an HE washer.
- You'd rather not grate soap on a Sunday.
When DIY might suit you
If you have soft water, love the process and don't mind an occasional rinse-only cycle to strip buildup, DIY can work. Just keep borax well away from kids and pets.
FAQ
Is homemade laundry detergent bad for washing machines? Soap-based recipes can leave residue, especially in HE machines.
Why are my clothes stiff with homemade detergent? Often soap scum from hard water.
Is homemade detergent cheaper? Often, yes. Factor in your time too.
What's in Just 7 that's in DIY recipes? Sodium carbonate, also called washing soda.
Seven ingredients. Zero compromise.
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