Mum divides homeowners after revealing how she makes her own washing powder using Borax

A mum has left homeowners divided after revealing how she saves money by making her own washing powder.

The woman, called Meagan, posted on Facebook, where she said she combines bicarb soda, Borax, washing soda and soap to make her own washing powder.

She said the ingredients only cost $20 from Woolworths, and for her family of four, the mix lasts ‘a minimum of nine months’.

Meagan wrote: ‘I know this isn’t edible, but it’s a recipe and will save money.

‘To make your own washing powder, you need 2kg of bicarb, 1kg of Borax, 1kg of washing soda, two bars of Velvet soap grated and half a bar of Sard Wonder Soap grated (optional, to boost the smell and for kids’ stains)’.

She added that to make it, you just need to liquid boil all of it to fill a 10-litre bucket.

Once you have your mix, Meagan said a top loader machine will require two level teaspoons for a normal load, or three level teaspoons for a large 10kg load or especially dirty.

For a front loader, use just two level teaspoons. 

‘$20 at Woolworths for ingredients will make our family of four that washes bedding weekly and towels/clothing each use a minimum of nine months,’ Meagan said.

‘It leaves more money for food. Use a mask to mix it, Borax isn’t nice to inhale.’

The woman, called Meagan, posted on Facebook, where she said she combines bicarb soda, Borax, washing soda and soap to make her own washing powder (pictured)

While some people online were impressed with her cost-cutting measures, others highlighted that it’s not safe to use Borax in a washing capacity and it ‘seems excessive’.

‘I don’t know about washing your clothes in Borax. Borax has a warning. Warning: May impair fertility. May cause harm to an unborn child. Do not swallow. Not to be taken,’ one person commented.

Another added: ‘Good lord, please do not do this. You’re going to gum up your washing machine with scrud’.

While a third wrote: ‘Please don’t take it the wrong way, but Borax is for cleaning drains.  To wash your clothes in it can cause irritation to the skin I would have thought’.

Meagan responded to this, writing: ‘The Borax breaks down the soap. My machine is 12 years old and this recipe has not clogged it or the pipes in the laundry. 

‘It works for me anyway and has for a long time. A lot of people have said they do it too and it’s great.’

Cleaning website For The Love of Clean said you should steer away from homemade washing detergents because they don’t rinse clean (the washing powder pictured)

Cleaning website For The Love of Clean said you should steer away from homemade washing detergents.

These are most often a combination of water softeners (borax, washing soda, baking soda), boosters (oxi), and soap (grated or melted of various brands and types).

The reason why is because it ‘doesn’t rinse clean’.

‘Bar soap is just that, SOAP, it is not meant for laundry, it’s not intended to wash clothes in a washer, the bar soaps, even the ones in the laundry aisle, all say they are a pre-treater or booster, NOT a detergent,’ the website states. 

‘Over time soap scum (think bathtub ring) will trap particles of soil in the fibres of your clothes, because soap is oil based and does NOT rinse clean from cloth fibres.’

The website added: ‘The physical bulk of most versions of homemade soap is made up of water softeners and boosters! These items do have a purpose, but it is NOT to clean, it is to allow the cleaning agent to function better at its job’.