Shake up your laundry routine: DIY detergent that's gentle, fragrant, and saves your money

To make your detergent, all you need is baking soda, castile soap, and a bit of water. Baking soda is a versatile ingredient with benefits beyond kitchen use. It functions as a stain remover and revitalizes fabric fibers, making them soft and delicate. Our grandmothers had good reason to always add some to their laundry. Castile soap is perfect for those with allergies or skin conditions. It's unscented, cleanses gently, and nurtures damaged skin. It adds spotless power without harsh effects on fabrics.

Prepare a heaping tablespoon of baking soda and half a bar of castile soap. Preferably natural soap, easily accessible in most stores. You'll also require a half-liter jar and some warm water. Grate the soap, mix it with the baking soda in the jar, then add warm water and shake until everything dissolves. The mixture should have a watery consistency, soap lumps aren't a problem. If you want your laundry scented, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Use the same amount of this homemade mix as you would with store-bought detergent.

The detergent recipe mentioned above is a basic version, open to enhancements. When washing towels or bed linens, it could be beneficial to add an additional ingredient to the mixture - rice water. It's known to soften and fluff up fabrics.

Rice water is easy to prepare. Just grind a handful of rice and soak it in a glass of warm water. Leave it for at least half an hour to allow the rice to release as much starch as possible. After that, strain the liquid and add it to your homemade laundry detergent. This blend will leave your towels remarkably soft and fluffy right out of the washing machine.