Here is a nice stack of different recipes for making homemade laundry detergent that I’ve collected over the years. Do they work? Yes, I’ve had good luck with them. At the time I was using them, we had a relative who was in trade school living with us. Every day he was mechanic grease from head to toe–the clothes still cleaned up nice!
As with making all DIY household cleaning products for the home, this is a discipline when done on a regular basis and it’s not for everyone…but the loss of convenience definitely shaves money off the budget, sometimes just costing pennies a load!
Update 2023: Congratulations! You have found the original homemade laundry detergent tutorial and reference guide that’s been online since 2007. This page has been referred to millions of times by DIYers over the past 15+ years!
There are all kinds of tips, tricks and ingredient ratios to be found here, including a growing FAQ section packed with more helpful information. Enjoy!
Before getting started, here are a few tips:
- For the bar soaps required, you could try Fels-Naptha, Ivory, Sunlight, Kirk’s Hardwater Castile, and Zote.
- Avoid using heavily perfumed varieties.
- Washing Soda and Borax can normally be found locally in the laundry and cleaning aisles or bought online at places such as Amazon.
- Some people with really hard or well water may have to adjust the ingredients if the clothes look dingy.
- Although several of the detergent recipes have the same ingredients, the measurements are different–some contain a higher soap to water ratio.
- Test and see which works best for your needs.
- You can make huge pails of this at once, or smaller quantities.
- If you can get your hands on a few empty liquid detergent bottles, they work great for storing large batches. Just whip up a big batch and pour in bottles, cap then shake before each use.
- Some batches need large amounts of water. Check with a local restaurant to see if they have any empty large pails from deep fryer oil–that’s how many restaurants buy the oil.
- See if you can have one or two of the pails after they’ve emptied it–just wash them out really well before using. They’re big, heavy plastic and very sturdy when stirring.
How To Make Homemade Laundry Detergent
Here Are 10 Easy Recipes You Can Try
You’ll also find a very useful
Frequently Asked Questions section at the bottom of this page
Lots of info here to get you started, good luck!
Recipe #1
1 quart Water (boiling)
2 cups Bar soap (grated)
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda
- Add finely grated bar to the boiling water and stir until it is all melted. Keep on low heat until this happens.
- Pour the mixture into a large, clean pail and add the Borax and W.S. Stir well until all is dissolved.
- Add 2 gallons of water, blend until well combined.
- Cover pail and use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry. Stir each time you measure (will gel).
Recipe #2
1 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1 Soap bar
- Grate the bar and add to a large saucepan with hot water to cover. Whisk over medium-low heat until it dissolves and is melted.
- Fill a 10 gallon pail half full of hot water. Add the mixture, Borax and W.S., stir well until all powder is dissolved. Top the pail up with more hot water.
- Use 1 cup per load, stirring first (will gel).
Recipe #3
1/2 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1/3 bar Soap
- In a large pot, heat 3 pints of water. Add the grated bar and whisk until melted. Then add the W.S. and borax. Stir until powder is dissolved, then remove from heat.
- In a 2 gallon clean pail, pour 1 quart of hot water and add the heated mixture.
- Top pail with cold water and combine well.
- Use 1/2 cup per load, stirring first (will gel).
Powdered – Recipe #4
2 cups Fels Naptha Soap (finely grated – you could also try the other bars listed at the top)
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax
- Mix well and store in an airtight plastic container.
- 2 tablespoons powder per full load.
Recipe #5
1 bar (4.5 oz) Ivory – grated
1 cup Washing Soda
- In a large saucepan add grated soap and enough hot water to cover. Heat over medium-low and stir until dissolved.
- Fill a large pail with 2.5 gallons of hot water, add hot mixture. Stir until combined well.
- Then add the W.S., again stirring well.
- Set aside to cool.
- 1/2 cup per full load, stirring thoroughly first (will gel)
Recipe #6
2.5 gallons Water (hot)
1 Bar soap (grated)
3/4 cup Washing Soda
3/4 cup Borax
2 TBS Glycerin
- Melt soap over medium-low heat topped with water, stir until dissolved.
- In a large pail, pour 2.5 gallons of hot water, add hot mixture, W.S., borax and glycerin. Mix well.
- 1/2 cup per full load.
Recipe #7
2 cups Bar soap
2 cups Washing Soda
2 – 2.5 gallons hot water
- Melt grated bar in saucepan with water to cover. Heat over medium-low heat and stir until dissolved.
- Pour hot water in large pail, add hot mixture and W.S. Stir very well.
- 1 cup per full load.
Recipe # 8
2 gallons Water (hot)
1 bar Soap (grated)
2 cups Baking soda (yes, baking soda this time–not washing soda)
- Melt grated soap in a saucepan with enough hot water to cover. Cook on medium-low heat, stirring frequently until melted.
- In a large pail, pour 2 gallons hot water. Add mixture, stir well.
- Then add the baking soda, stir well again.
- 1/2 cup per full load, 1 cup if very soiled.
Powdered – Recipe #9
12 cups Borax
8 cups Baking Soda
8 cups Washing Soda
8 cups Bar soap (grated)
- Mix all ingredients thoroughly and store in a sealed tub.
- 1/8 cup of powder per full load.
#10 – (Powdered)
1 cup Vinegar (white)
1 cup Baking Soda
1 cup Washing Soda
1/4 cup liquid castile soap
- Mix well and store in sealed container.
- I find it easiest to pour the liquid castile into the bowl first, stirred in the W.S., then baking soda, then added the vinegar in small amounts at a time (the batch foams up at first).
- The mixture is a thick paste at first that will break down into a heavy powdered detergent, just keep stirring.
- There may be some hard lumps, try to break them down when stirring (it really helps to make sure the baking soda isn’t clumpy when first adding).
- I used 1/2 cup per full load with great results.
*Admin Update: clarified instructions for #10 and liquid detergent notes.
Quick Tips & Notes
*If you can’t find Fels-Naptha locally, you can buy it online (check Amazon).
Liquid Versions:
- This will be lumpy, goopy and gel-like which is normal. Just give it a good churn before using.
- Make sure to keep covered with a tight lid when not in use.
- Another good option is to pour the mixture in old (and cleaned) plastic detergent bottles, cap tightly and shake well before each use.
Optional Fragrance:
- You can add between 10 to 15 drops of essential oil (per 2 gallons) to give it a nice scent.
- Add once the batch has cooled to room temperature. Stir well and cover.
- Essential oil suggestions: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil
Frequently Asked Questions
Update: I first published the above recipes in 2007 and this post has been one of the most popular articles posted here on Tipnut.
I’m proud to say it’s one of the most informative resources available for learning how to make your own laundry detergent (but maybe I’m biased 😉 ), and it’s about to get even better with this compiled FAQ sheet.
With several hundred comments, many of them packed with helpful info, I’m finding that many of the questions posted in the comments area or sent to me through the contact form have been asked and answered several times, and that’s understandable since who can possibly keep track of all the information shared!
I’ve decided to gather together all the frequently asked questions into one handy information sheet so people can refer to it and find answers more easily.
Where Do You Buy Washing Soda?
- The brand I’m most familiar with is Arm & Hammer.
- Look in the laundry aisle of your grocery store or Walmart, that’s where I find it.
- You can order it online quite easily, just do a search for it on Amazon or Google.
- It’s apparently also known as Soda Ash and can be found at art supply stores, JoAnn Fabrics, and other places that sell textile products.
- Try asking your local grocer to order it for you if they don’t carry it. The UPC code is 33200-03020 or 033200-030201.
- You can try calling Church & Dwight the suppliers/makers for Arm & Hammer…1-800-524-1328…give them a UPC # 33200-03020 and they can direct you on where to find it locally or purchase it through them over the phone. You can also contact them via their website here: Church & Dwight – Arm & Hammer.
Where Can I Buy Fels Naptha?
- Check the laundry aisle in your local grocery store or Walmart.
- Fels Naptha is part of Summit Brands. You can check their website to locate the nearest store that carries it: Summit Brands – Store Location. Select “Zout” in the Brand pull down menu and then you can select Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar & Stain Remover.
- You can order it online at Amazon.
Help! It’s Too Thick, Too Loose, Too Chunky, It Separated, It’s A Solid Mass, It Doesn’t Look Like I Think It Should!
- Making your own laundry detergent is not an exact science. If it turns out differently than expected, still give it a try since the ingredients are all there. I can’t tell you what you did wrong or why a batch turned out differently than expected.
- If you followed directions to a “T” (combined really well, used hot water, measured correctly, etc.), then the likely culprit is the brand of soap.
- If the mixture gelled into a solid mass, try mixing in more hot water. If it’s too thin, try adding more soap or Borax or Washing Soda.
It Doesn’t Look Like Commercial Brands, It Looks Like Goopy Glop!
- Congrats! That’s how it’s supposed to look.
Will My Favorite Brand Of Soap Work?
- You’ll have to experiment by making a batch first to know for sure. I would cut batches in half (or even less) when first experimenting. This way there won’t be as much waste if it turns out poorly.
- You don’t want anything heavy with perfumes or oils since this may transfer to your clothing (stains). They may also cause a chemical reaction with the other ingredients.
- From the comments area: Any brand is okay that lists sodium palmate, sodium cocoate, sodium tallowate, etc.
- Just be sure you are using real soap and not beauty bars with added free oils. (i.e. dove, etc).
- I wouldn’t incorporate beauty bars or shower gels or body wash.
Are There Alternatives For People Who Have Allergies Or Sensitive Skin?
- Try brands that you know you’re not allergic to, but watch the ingredients in the bar to make sure it won’t react with the rest of ingredients. The only way to know for sure is to try it.
How Do You Grate The Bars?
- I do this on a handheld cheese grater but you can also use a food processor (just make sure you clean it well afterwards). Grate the bar first before tossing into a food processor then chop until fine.
Is Liquid OK Instead Of Grating A Bar?
- Again, this is not an exact science–there’s lots of room for experimentation. For liquid varieties, I myself have not tried using liquid soap instead of a bar. I think Liquid Castile would be ok, you might want to dilute it with water first (no, I don’t have a dilution ratio to suggest). If you do try it, let us know how you made out in the comments area below.
What Is The Difference Between Washing Soda And Baking Soda?
- Washing soda is Sodium Carbonate Decahydrate. Baking Soda is Sodium Bicarbonate. No they are not interchangeable and results will vary if substituting one for the other.
How Long Can It Be Stored For?
- The powdered version seems to last forever, but I have no exact expiry date to advise. The liquid varieties also last quite awhile, but will thicken up over time. It was also suggested in the comments area that bacteria may grow in the detergent if it’s stored too long–what too long actually is, I can’t answer.
Is This Safe For A High Efficiency Washer (HE Machine)?
- I have no experience with this but there are lots of comments that say it’s fine. Be aware that using anything other than what your machine manufacturer recommends may void your warranty.
- Go through the comments and you will find several suggestions for HE machines.
- Homemade detergent is low sudsing which is important for HE machines.
Can You Use It In a Front Loading Machine?
- I have no experience with this but there are lots of comments that say it’s fine to use. Be aware that using anything other than what your machine manufacturer recommends may void your warranty.
I Have Hard Water & My Clothes Don’t Come Out That Clean, Suggestions?
- Try incorporating baking soda or oxyclean or vinegar as laundry boosters, suggestions for baking soda are to start with 1/2 cup per load.
Aren’t These Ingredients Caustic? Poisonous? Are They Safe To Handle?
- As with all cleaners, common sense is needed when handling cleaning agents and products. Going against dire, dire warnings about how dangerous Borax and Washing Soda are to the skin, I handled all ingredients with bare hands and experienced no burns and all flesh is still intact. If I had small cuts or scrapes on my skin, my experience may have been different. To be safe you may wish to wear rubber gloves.
- Avoid breathing in any of the powders and ingredients. I imagine breathing in a mouthful of commercial laundry products, or getting it in my eyes or up my nose, would be very uncomfortable and unwise for health reasons, the same goes for homemade detergent ingredients.
- It goes without saying: Don’t eat it to find out if it’s poisonous or not. And of course: Keep this out of reach of kiddos just like you would for any other household cleaning product.
Can It Be Used With Cold Water Instead Of Hot?
- Sure it can. If you notice clothes don’t come out as clean as you’d like, try a laundry booster such as vinegar or oxyclean.
Can It Be Used For Laundering Baby Clothes & Diapers?
- This question is asked for two reasons: Will it irritate baby’s skin and will it be strong enough to clean nasty diapers. Although I’ve never tried homemade detergents for this purpose myself, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work. Martha Stewart recommends both Washing Soda and Borax as boosters when laundering diapers.
- The instructions on the box for Arm & Hammer suggest as a diaper soak.
- Many have affirmed that baby items clean up nicely with no ill effects.
How Fine Do You Have To Grate The Bar?
- Grating the bar first is done so that it melts faster when heated or dissolves better in the wash. The finer it is, the quicker it melts.
Will It Fade Dark Colored Clothing?
- I have noticed no fading or damage to clothing. I’ve laundered work clothes, everyday clothes and office attire.
Freshly Laundered Clothes Smell Like Nothing! Can You Add Essential Oils For Fragrance? If So, How Much?
- You bet! Essential oils are a nice touch (freshly laundered clothes really don’t have any nice or noticeable scent with homemade detergent). How much you add depends on how strong the fragrance is that you’ve chosen and what recipe you are using. Experiment for yourself to see what you like best.
- For starters you can try these two suggestions as guidelines: Recipe #4 (Powdered) I’d start with 5 drops, mixed in very well. For #9 (Powdered) I’d start with 20 to 25 drops, mixed in very well. Also noted in the original post: Try between 10 to 15 drops of essential oil (per 2 gallons).
Can Bleach Be Added?
- Bleach has been used by myself successfully with no harmful effects. You will want to watch the ingredients in your laundry soap items though (make sure the bar you use can be mixed with bleach safely), bleach will react negatively with vinegar for example.
Is There A Residue On Clothes After Laundering?
- I haven’t noticed it but if you do, here are a couple things you can try: Increase the water amount, decrease the load size or decrease the detergent used per wash. You can also try a vinegar rinse by using a Downy ball or during the rinse cycle.
Can I Safely Use the Gray Water In My Garden?
- I have no idea, sorry.
Are These Safe For Septic Tanks?
- I have no idea, sorry.
Why Aren’t There Any Suds Forming?
- Homemade detergents are low sudsing, you won’t see many suds in the wash. No worries, this is normal and your clothes will still come out clean.
After Mixing Ingredients Together, The Mixture Smells Really Strong & Foul–What’s Wrong?
- The brand of soap is likely causing a chemical reaction with the other ingredients. Throw out the batch (don’t get it on your skin or breathe it in) and try a different brand.
It Isn’t Completely Dissolving, Why?
- If you’re having problems with chunks of detergent not dissolving, try mixing it in some hot water before adding to the load.
- If you are using the powdered version, try grating soap into finer pieces.
Any Ideas Of What I Can Use For Storing The Liquid Version In?
- Pails made from heavy plastic, make sure there’s a lid or cap to keep it sealed. I found some big heavy pails through a restaurant, if you know someone working in a restaurant, see if they can help you out.
- Comments have suggested empty plastic vinegar jugs.
- Comments have suggested large plastic kitty litter containers.
Is This Stuff Safe For The Environment? I’m Trying To Find An Eco-Friendly Solution!
- According to the Environmental Working Group, Arm & Hammer’s washing soda is rated “low concern” for environment impact: ewg.org.
- Borax is an ingredient included in many natural “Green” recipes.
- I would guess that it’s better than most regular commercial products.
How Much Is Needed Per Load?
- Read the instructions for the particular recipe you’re working with, each of them have suggested amounts to use. Feel free to adjust as needed.
Ugh! This Stuff Didn’t Clean My Clothes At All!
- It could be one of two things: because not enough detergent was added to loads or the brand of bar soap utilized. Experiment with the amounts, you should discover the necessary amount.
- The suggested amounts may not be right in your case since the brand of bar soap incorporated might not be as effective a cleaner as others.
Is It Really Worthwhile Making Your Own?
- The powdered varieties are the easiest to manage in my opinion (for both mixing and storing). It doesn’t cost that much to give it a shot and see how you like it. If you do find it works well for you–imagine the money you’ll save over time!
Increasing Some Antiseptic Quality
This is a great tip sent in by Susan and I think it should be added to this main section so it doesn’t get missed (thank you Susan!)…
- For readers who were worried about bacteria surviving in the wash using cold water they could try using Dr. Bronner’s teatree soap or adding teatree oil to their detergent for it’s antiseptic properties. I’ve had some success with this. I used this on my son when his winter eczyma became irritated and resulted in a bad skin infection. It cleared up in about half the amount of time his pediatrician predicted. Also, adding vinegar to the fabric softener cup on the washer will help to keep things more sanitary by breaking up leftover residues.
I’ll add to this list as questions arise. If you have any advice to offer, feel free to do so in the comments area below, and thanks again to everyone who shared their knowledge!
Hello Kendall here again the reason why I ask this is because I’m what u call a prepper if u watch doomsday preppers you’ll know what I’m talking about and yes again I want a powder form of laundry soap
I love that show!! I love the Book of Revelation in the Bible better though! I don’t think there will be a problem with mold or bacteria, but if you are worried about it you can either:
1.) make smaller batches, I did.
2.) Put Melaluca (tea tree) essential oil in with the powders when you mix them. Other good oils that are good germ fighters are Lemon, Lavender and Citrus oils.
Personally, I would store up the base ingredients since that is what is going to disappear from stores first, and just mix up the powder a little at a time. Ingredients like Baking soda and Vinegar each have at least 75 different uses for them, so it won’t hurt to stockpile them.
re: scent,a bottle of lavender or other essential oil will go along way for fragrance (found at health food and vitamin stores). vanilla would probably work as well. To mix large buckets of powder, just leave half empty and flip from upright to upside down & agitate several times,use two buckets as you repeat process,then add the second half to the first for a whole mixed bucket. Now,if we could use this method of homemade,do it yourself,save a small fortune while using healthy alternatives for all the products we buy,WOW! God bless all for sharing good stuff.
could i use a bar of dove soap for my homemade laundry soap
I was at Walmart today and was lookin for the zote bar (I like it better)and found a box of it all ready in flakes it a 17.6oz. box that equal to bars. And it only about $2.36. Going to try and make my soap tonight. I have a really bad rash on my chests.
Hi,
Love your site, it saves me loads of ££! Living in the UK (moved with UK hubby, originally from US) has presented its own problems trying to find supplies. I find my borax & washing soda on eBay through chemical companies cheaper than I find them (when I can – borax is hard to find here) in the supermarkets. Do a search for: Borax = SODIUM TETRABORATE; Washing Soda = SODIUM CARBONATE; Baking Soda = SODIUM BICARBONATE – if you find them hard to locate.
Hope that helps!
Amanda,essential oil(few drops ) to rinse cycle should work if using powdered form or to liqiud soap in wash cycle.lavender,vanilla,lemon ,orange etc.
Hi there. I’ve just mixed recipe number 10. 1/4 cup liquid castile soap, 1 cup baking soda, 1 cup washing soda and 1 cup vinegar. The consistency is meant to be like paste but mine is very sloshy. Are the quantities in this recipe right? Should there be less vinegar?
I hope that someone can advise.
Many thanks
as a first timer we found the borax very easy to find but the arm & hammer super washing soda was a lot more difficult. places that i thought might carry it did not but our local Wal Mart did have it in our area of northern Ohio. so good luck and we’ll be experimenting with diffrent formulas to see which one works best for us.
I’ve been using sears powder laundry detergent(large box stating it does 275 regular loads-@1 ounce per HE or midsize auto washer &1&1/2 ounce for large auto washers.)It costs $24.99.For making smaller portions,every cup=8 oz(times 3 for 3 one cup ingrediants,bs,ws+soap)and you should get approx.24 loads per the 24oz batch.I’m assuming that the sears brand is comparable to homemade and so one oz or one and a half oz for extra large capacity auto washers should suffice.This does not seem like enough soap but I’ve been using 1oz for 2 years would good effect and no soap residue(itchy skin,heavy feeling clothes,strong odor etc. My teens started using 2 scoops and the repair man said that too much detergent is being used as he saw white residue on the front glass door.For any one using 1/4cp,that would be 2oz(50%to double the needed amount costing twice as much or 50% more and I would try just one or one &1/2oz and see.also,I noted that oxyclean is sodium carbonate and sodium percarbonate.Not sure of the ratio,but since we know how to make sodium carbonate cheaply,what is sodium percarbonate,is it found redily in powder form and would it be economical to make ourselves?Almost forgot,one box of borax is approx 12 cups,FYI.
Hate shredding the soap? Discovered this while doing a science experiment with the kids. Place a bar of soap on wax paper and microwave for a few minutes. Fels Natpha does work doing this method. I recommend that you cut the larger bars in half before nuking. Ivory soap will look like a fluff and the fells naptha will look like bread. Allow to cool, slice the nuked bars into pieces to allow them to completely cool, then place in a baggie or bowl and crumble to powder. No shredding at all. I done 6 bars in no time. If you have any unmelted pieces just put them back in the microwave for a little bit. Watch close and it great to get the kids involved.
Pam glad to know this as I only have use of 1 hand and arm. My thumb has problems on good hand and don’t like grating the soap.
Thanks for the tip…
Beckie
I’ve been able to find the washing soda at the local Menards, Tractor Supply & Rural King. The “farm” stores seem to carry things like that. Dollar General carries the Borax; I have found the Fels Naptha at Kroger/Payless & my small neighboehood grocer.
I am really interested in the #9 Powdered Laundry Detergent, but was wonder 2 things.
A)wouldn’t it be easier to use a powdered soap (natural only) in place of grating a bar(s). If you think this is a good idea, then what would be the best type to use without getting all the extra stuff that isn’t wanted? I can’t find any that is strictly basic, non fragrant, non conditioning, etc.
B)I sell DoTerra oils and am interested in finding out if you would be able to add some for their benefits based on personal needs. Some ideas are – citrus for energizing/purifying, lavender for calming, etc. I am worried that by adding a liquid to this recipe I would be causing it to become clumpy.
I would greatly appreciate your ideas and opinions. Thank you.
I sell DoTerra oils too, best in the world!!!!!!!! I haven’t added any oils to the powder, what I do is sit a bottle of Citrus Bliss on the dryer. I made up a modified batch of recipe#4, and have done 2 loads, for the first I added my dissolved-in-HOT-water detergent to my cold water, and I added a few drops of the oil blend too. For the second load, I only added 6 drops to the 1/2 cup of vinegar in my downy ball. I always wash in cold water, both ways seem to do just fine! Clothes are bright, soft, no static cling, and smell great! My hubby’s nasty sweaty work clothes come out of the wash smelling very faintly of vinegar, but that’s a HUGE improvement over how they were going in!! I am very excited by how well it has done, and will be giving out samples for my family and friends.
As far as the powdered soap question, I have no idea. I don’t think it will change the recipes much, I have thought about using something like Ivory snow for the liquid versions, but I need to read thru more comments because I think this question was answered a few scrolls up.
Keep on with doterra, like I said best stuff in the world! It has cured a UTI, prevented another, cured a systemic yeast infection and lowers my blood sugar! I haven’t been sick at all since I have had my OnGuard, and my little brother’s colds are cured in half the time when I diffuse it around him! 🙂
Thanks TipNut for the website and the posts and everyone for the comments!
I made a batch of homemade detergent and used Dove and now I read that is one NOT to use…. Why and what happens if I use it… Also making the batch with grated soap,water and baking soda does that have to sit over night before using? Thanks! 🙂
Hello again! I have been making & using homemade laundry detergent for about 5 yrs, now, & it is wonderful, because not only does it save money, but it also saves my very sensitive-skinned husband & children from itching & getting hives from all of the fillers & detergents in store-bought laundry soap. My recipe is very simple: 2/3 fels naptha bar ~ grated, 2 cups Borax, 2 cups washing soda, & five gallons of hot water, along with a five gallon bucket, a lid to fit it, & an extra mug to dish it out with. I just add 1 gallon hot water after each ingredient (starting with the grated fels-naptha), & I use one of those hand-held mixers to mix it up with in between each ingredient as well. One of the things I have been adding of late is one capful of Melalueca lemon blossom stain remover. ( yes, you can still use bleach in the wash, if needed, there is no chemical reaction at this dilution rate.) This not only adds a delightful springy lemony scent, but it also aids in removing any harsh stains, & it is an all-natural, non-corrosive agent that does not irritate my kids’ skin. Plus, the scent lasts straight through the dryer. We use a rolled up ball of tin foil as our lint & static remover in the dryer, which also works very well, & the clothes & sheets & towels still come out soft & wrinkle-free, despite the fact that I have not used a dryer softener sheet in 3 yrs! Another handy bonus in not using the dryer sheets is that there is never a greasy feel to the fabrics, the lint catcher does its job better, & there is less (almost none!) product build-up on the lint screen. ( I still reccomend a complete soap & water scrub-down of lint screens every 2 to 3 months, however~ lint screens can be a major fire hazard if left unkempt.) Anyway, I hope this helps someone out ~ & once again Tipnut ~ you so rock!
Please, I have never heard about using a rolled up ball of foil.
How large of a piece of foil do you use to roll up?
Do you use it rolled tight, or just a loose rolled ball?
Can I keep using the same ball all the time?
And, is it regular foil, or the heavy duty stuff?
Thanks for this idea! I want to try it with my next load!!!
I would think twice before putting felsnaptha in the microwave!Not sure about other soap brands but I spent hours trying to get out the chemical odor both in the microwave(over days and weeks)after 2 months there is still a faint flavor of soap in the water and food heated in the microwave.An ounce of prevention… While it is time consuming to grate that brand,there is probably a better way short of nuking.I would like to know of folks tried and true brands of soap to try.Thank you and happy frugal washing`!
About 15 years ago there was a laundry soap on the market called White King. It is no longer manufactured. It was like tiny bits of ground up soap (had a bit of a waxy feel). This made all my baby laundry AMAZINGLY soft. I am looking for a way to make it since I can’t locate anything like it on the market. I know that real soap is made with oil, but none of your recipes are close to that; they only call for bar soap that has already been made. I know the detergents are made with petroleum based oils, whereas soaps are made with plant based oils. Do you know of any laundry soap recipe were you actually can make the soap itself?
Look up forums for hobby and cottage commercial soap makers, of which there are many. Many of the people there can give you recipes for laundry soap.
If you want soap that softens clothes and is gentle to the fabric, the recipe is easy if you just want to start with grocery ingredients: soap. That’s it, soap, nothing more. If you feel you must add additional alkali, use at most 1 part to 4 of soap.
Just curious have you ever tried Irish Spring deodorant soap? It has the ingredients listed above that you can use but it also says moisture blast with hydrbeads? (this would be with dry laundry soap)
Another method to produce fine soap is to use an old coffee grinder (find them cheap at second-hand stores) and dedicate it for this. It works great for me. I now don’t have to worry about leaving any soap residue in my processor.
Method: cut into small chunks soap. Place chunks in grinder ( leave room for blades to chop) Grind until very small pebbles are produced. I use the pause method on my grinder so it does not cause too much friction on the motor.
Clean after use
I have been making soap for about 6 mo. I use the borax, washing soda, & zote soap. I love it. For really tough stains I add 1 tblsp. Oxi clean. I also use a downy ball for softner. My question is would mixing do sowny unstopables into my powder soap create a reaction? I want to try it. But figured if anyone else has already done I and if how did it turn out. Thank you
WARNING: I notice that some people have mentioned using “PH+” as found at pool supply stores. Please note this is not the same thing as washing soda – it’s similar, but a very different strength.
– Baking soda too is similar, and can be converted to washing soda,by removing the water with heat.
– Washing soda can irritate the skin, but I mostly don’t have problems if I wash my hands soon after using it. It might be found in the washing aisle of a supermarket.
– “PH+” is Caustic Soda (I use it for dyeing fabrics and cleaning the loo), this is a much stronger chemical than washing soda and I certainly don’t recommend using is in a detergent recipe. When mixed with water it creates heat and I have had chemical burns from it when not wearing gloves. Please do not use this as a substitute for washing soda!!
I was just wondering about recipe #1 the amount of boraz and washing soda?
Does that sound like a lot? I usually use 1/2 cup of each? Was just wondering if that would be too much?
In recipe #1 does that sound like alot of borax and washing soda. My recipe is the same, but it calls for 1/2 cup each? Was just wondering if anyone used that much and how it turned out?
Both my wife and I are allergic to laundry detergent containing borax. Fab makes me break out and I look like I have chicken pox. Is there something I can use in place of the borax? Or will it work okay without it?
As an aside, I work in a machine shop and get lots of oil in my clothes. My wife gets the oil out quite effectively by adding original-flavor Pine Sol (not the lemon stuff) to the laundry. Works like a charm.
I mixed in an empty kitty litter pail: a box of borax, a box of washing soda and a box if Ivory snow. Mixed well and when I wash I add a 1/2 cup of Hydrogen Peroxide into the water. My clothes a bright white, and sanitary.
I also make my own fabric softener with vinegar and cheap hair conditioner. Clothes are soft and smell great too.
I’ve been making mine in powdered form using 3 cups Borax, 3 cups Arm & Hammer Washing soda and 2 bars of Fels Naptha (all three ingredients available at Ace Hardware). This is enough to refill the last box of detergent I bought – a handy place to keep it. I put about 4 or 5 tablespoons into each load and it works very well – I’ve had NO problems at all with lingering stains or odor or any gray wash. I’m beginning to think I’m using too much in each load after reading these comments. Or I may just be using to much Fels Naptha. The scoop that came with my last box of detergent holds a surprising NINE tablespoons of powdered detergent. I had noticed that these scoops have been getting bigger over the years – probably as a way to get consumers to use more and therefore have to buy more.
I have never been in the habit of using fabric softener until they came out with the Bounce bar that sticks inside the dryer. Might anyone have a recipe for replacing it?
Those dryer sheets are really environmentally dangerous. Using bags of dried lavender, or a cloth with organic essential oils would be a much better choice. I understand that people get used to using these, also for static cling, but when you think about the cost to our dear and irreplaceable planet, the choice is clear.
Hello,
Exploring and loving the idea of making our families laundry detergent. I have some Q’s… Thinking since 1st attempt that I’ll try #9 or #10, seems powders are easier to prepare. First if I cannot find liquid castile can I substitute with grated Ivory and how much would I use? I heard above not recommended microwave method for breaking up soap, opinions?
With # 9 would I require a vinegar rinse? Also, My daughter and myself recently switched to cloth pads, which can not use fabric softener so would any ingredients including vinegar harm them?
Is this a trying switch over from commercial brands? Please be honest. Family of 6 here and can’t afford to waste time or money.
Any additional tips for a newbie appreciated 🙂
Also, skin sensitivities and allergies here.
Oops! sry, one more… theses can all be done with cold washes?
Thanks, Lisa
Can you use homemade soap for the bar soap in these recipes?
This is nice Information blog. Thanks for Sharing.
Hi. I just made my first batch of detergent using one of the recipes above. How long do I need to wait to use the detergent?
Hi DIYers- I made my first batch of laundry detergent recently; have only used it 3 times so far. I want this to work, but not do damage to my septic system. My recipe (from several other web sites) is very similar to powdered #4- only difference is it has 1 bar of Fels Naptha, rather than 2 cups. Perhaps, if someone else made #4 they can tell me if they used the whole bar to get 2 cups. For a load of laundry I mix approx. 2 T powder with 1-2 cup of hot water, mix well, into washer. The soap didn’t fully dissolve, so I prepped some for the next load and let it sit until the next day. Next day the undissolved soap formed a ‘cork’ at the jar top. I squished it up with my hand (it was pretty soft, but a solid), and most of it dissolved. Then I prepped another batch, this time using boiling water (about 1.5 cups). The soap dissolved and when cooled was a solid gel mass. I could turn the jar upside down and nothing moved. I’m not sure if I want to use this detergent ‘block’ or not, and I’m nervous about this turning into a gel inside the septic tank and clogging things up. One thing I will try is to put the laundry powder batch thru a sifter to isolate the soap and then mix half of it back in. Has anyone had a similar experience? Thanks Folks, Lois
I have actually used an immersion blender on a small portion and it helped when I had this problem. It stayed more liquid for much longer. And I have put some through a rice strainer and it helped too.
My whole family makes their own washing detergent, works very good. I bought a paint mixer to use in my drill at Lowes for $8.00 to stir it with in the 5 Gal. pail, works very good. I let it set a couple days, stirring couple times a day with my mixer before using. We use #2 process except, we let the 5 Gal set over night, next day we stir it well using the drill and mixer, then empty half of it into another 5 Gal. bucket, then we finish filling both buckets with hot water, mixing well. This makes 10 Gal. Let them set over night. Mix well with the drill and mixer a couple times before using, not as thick but works great, shake the container before pouring into washing machine. Next time it only cost $1.00 for a bar of Fels- Naptha soap. Cant tell the difference from Tide.
I just made a 1/2 batch of #1.. I did add several TBS of OxiClean powder to the mix.. I have hard water..I have suds .. lots of suds.. sitting on top of the liquid.. Should I just let it sit or should I skim off the suds..My liquid is not gel.. but is still warm it may turn to gel as it cools.. iS this normal I have not seen any comments about suds. Thanks patti
What is the best recipe for hard water? I have mostly iron/rust but also some calcium? or maybe it’s lime? I have not yet made mine but am leaning towards the powder so I don’t have to have a ton sitting around in storage.
Thanks,
Andrea Steiner
In recipe #9 – how many bars is 8 cups of grated (since how it is grated will make a difference in the cup size)? Thanks!
I love my home made detergents, both the liquid and the powdered. As far as worrying about the Borax or the washing soda these make big batches so I sure am not afraid of using them. There is too much “stuff” in detergents that you buy.
These are a big money saver plus the cleaning of them is unimaginable. My whites are so white and the bright colors stay bright. I use the vineger as my rinse agent (just like I do in my dishwasher)
By the way at our WM the baking soda is in the laundry aisle but it is on the opposite side of the detergents on the second shelf from the bottom, could not see it because there was only one box left and it was to the back. I knew it had to be there somewhere. lol. Anyway I love the detergents and yes just now making all this stuff at the age of 70. Wow think of the money I wasted after all these years.
Homemade laundry detergent IS safe for septic tanks. It’s actually better for your septic tank than the detergents bought from the store. And I have heard that alot of front-loader washing machines these days advise you to use homemade, non-commercial detergents to make your machine last longer. Commercial detergents and fabric softeners leave behind horrible residues and line your pipes and hoses coming from and to your washer which can become very hazardous and cause you to have to prematurely purchase a new washer when you could’ve prevented that by making your own homemade, safe detergent.
Also, most homemade soaps have very low suds so most are ok for front-loaders. It all has to do with the suds levels with front-loaders.
Hi I sure hope you can help me !! I made the Laundry Soap Yesterday and I was so Excited!this morn. I stirred it and I put Essentials oil in it,
it smells sssooo good. BUT I gave my Neighbor a bottle to try , she tried it on sheets and after starting her wash she so no suds, I forgot to tell her that there will be no suds. I called to see how she liked the detergent she liked it, smelled Good her Hubby even commented on how good it smelled Well the COMPLAINT was when she took her MAROON colored Sheet “she uses to cover her Sofa” she took it out of the Dryer and put it on her sofa and it has SPOTS on the sheet that looks like she said (“OIL”)what did I do wrong? and how do I fix this problem?? !!!!! I am so sorry for her! Do I add more Hot water to the Bottles? or what can I put in the Bottles that’s filled with laundry Soap to take out the oil?? I think I put more oil than it calls for Could that be the Problem? and she said when she didn’t see suds she put more Laundry soap in the wash.. !!! could it be possible too much Essentials oil? OH I feel so terrible!! I Don”t want to ruin any more clothes, especially our Good clothes .. PLEASE HELP ME !!!!!! Thank you kindly….
this is exactly why I had to stop using the homemade laundry detergent. She can wet a bar of Ivory soap and rub it on the spots and rewash in regular detergent. That did the trick for me. By the way, I used Fels Naptha as the bar soap and was disappointed in how many “oil spots” were on our clothing….
I can relate. When I switched to home made soap my first clothes got spots and I could not figure out why. I did not put oils in my batch. I studied the spots for awhile and realized that they were from the side of the washer. ( The drum) The new soap had cleaned the washer from previous residue buildup in the washer from the old soap I had been using. After that episode I no longer have spots. PS My understanding in using oils is to make sure that they should be good grade, water soluble essential oils.
When looking for containers for mixing or storing, I would recommend going to a home improvement store (such as Lowes or Home Depot). They usually carry 5 gallon containers that have never been used. Contractors use them to mix paint or anything else they need. You would be safe from contaminants and not have to clean it. They are usually fairly cheap, have lids and some of the stores offer them free as an incentive.
Hello,
I am hoping that I can get some feedback on a question I have about making Home-made laundry soap. First off, I facilitate these groups called Learning PODS for where I work. We would like to do a class on teaching them how to make their own detergent! My question is, since I will have like 10 people in my class, how could I make enough so that each member gets a good amount of powdered laundry soap? Is there a way to double, or even triple these batches, so that there would be enough for 10 or so people to take home with them? Any help is greatly appreciated!
I make the liquid soap and store it in 12 one quart canning jars. You could try that and it would give you enough for everyone. If you don’t want to invest the money in the jars, ask around. You probably know someone who has some old jars in their basement.
I was told that if you microwave the bar soap it will turn to a fine powder, surely this would be better than grating if making the powder detergent, or melt much quicker for making the liquid version???
Are these all HE safe?
I buy Arm & Hammer washing soda, Borax and Fels Naptha bar soap,
all at Wal-Mart. All in the same area.
They have caught on that people are making their own laundry soap.
The cashier says, “making laundry soap ? I say, “yes, I am ”
It is so convenient that they have it in the same area, almost on the same shelf.
On my second batch, we are retired and we love it.
Our daughter put us on to this,, just this summer.
I do bleach my towels and use powder laundry detergent, with it, in hot water, and they say this should be done to clean the washer and drains of any residue.
Many Thanks,
Patty
Hello
I made the recipe #8 (baking soda) using my own bastille soap bar (olive, coconut, palm oil and few other oils i cant remember. I just used too many oils back then)
I didnt know that when i used HE load i onky needed smaller amount of detergent. Anyway i used full cup for a full 7 kg load as my hubby’s bike gear smelt terribly smelly.
It worked! The clothes came out very clean and was no longer smelly. Very cool
I made the recipe no 8 with baking soda. I used half of the recipe. I used my castile soap as a base. used half a cup in my cold HE wash. It came out great!
I used a quarter cup of ACV with water for the rinse.
thanks for the recipe
I’ve just started to try out some homemade laundry recipes. I worry that I need more soap to properly clean my clothes. can I use both fels naptha and Dr bronner’s castile soap in the recipe w the borax and washing soda?
Thanks
There’s no danger in combining the soaps, but I don’t see any advantage. Simpler just to reduce the amount of borax & washing soda; try leaving them out entirely and see your results.
All these recipes for homemade laundry detergent are what would’ve been considered cheap & inferior formulas in the days when most such products were soap-based. The better products had less alkali and more soap, so they didn’t degrade fabrics as quickly as the alkali-heavy brands. Some like Ivory Snow had some soft potassium soap in addition to hard sodium soap, to dissolve faster.
Borax & washing soda aren’t the best “builders” for laundry soap either, it’s just that they’re most easily available in retail amounts. Better would be sodium silicate, but there you’ve got to know enough not to use too alkaline a sodium silicate. Sodium hexametaphosphate or (penta)sodium tripolyphosphate would be excellent, but obviously not if you want to minimize your household’s phosphate output to the sewer (but good plant food in gardening).
There are some very good laundry detergent formulations (not the ones circulating online, though) based on soap, but they include some ingredients it would be hard for you to get cheaply in small amounts, and they may not be low sudsing enough for HE machines, although they were OK in the old front loaders that used more water & didn’t rotate as fast in the wash. The Shine-O-Matic Detergent used in Brillo (soap, low-alkalinity sodium silicate, non-ionic surfactant of alkyl ethoxylate or alkyl phenol ethoxylate type) would be excellent for laundry if the soap were chosen for detergency (coconut or palm kernel) rather than ability to stick to steel wool. You can actually get that type of non-ionic surfactant (to prevent lime soap deposition, improve cleaning, and reduce the suds of soap somewhat) as, for example, Shaklee Basic H, maybe also as Lestoil, but it might not be cost effective even though you’d use it as only a minor additive.
I just want to add, some bar soaps will damage clothes. I made the mistake of using a bar soap in an emergency to quickly hand wash a shirt once, I think it may have been Zest but not sure. It bleached the fabric and ruined the shirt. If you want to use something besides Fels Naptha or the other bar soaps suggested above, test it out on something you don’t mind getting ruined – Don’t make my mistake 😉
I have tried a TON of homemade laundry detergent recipes. The easiest one that works for me is this.
1-2 teaspoons of Tide liquid
1 TBS of Borax
1-2 teaspoons of oxyclean
This is not really homemade but it brings the cost down substantially.
I have been making mine for a while now and love it but I make it different then you I add the baking soda and the ocy to all my batches I make along with purex crystals and its last for ever and we are farmers and the stuff takes everything out had to work with the amount to use as for every load is differnt but thanks for all the infor
When I microwaved the Fels Naptha, the whole great room smelled of it. I turned on the kitchen fan. The microwave smelled of it too. I wiped it out using soapy water (joy dish soap) with a few drops of real vanilla in it. Washed the inside and the plate, etc. Seems to have worked. No more smell. I have also used vanilla on a small piece of paper towel to wipe out smelly refrigerator and freezer, and coolers. Takes the smell away every time.
I have enjoyed reading all the comments. I made the powdered soap today and used it on some dirty white rugs. Came out nice and clean and white. Used 1/4 cup vinegar and 2 rinses. I added 1 cup of baking soda to the soap, borax, washing soda mix. I just hope that I am not allergic to the fels naptha. It has fragrance in it. I have learned to avoid fragrance to avoid itching and rashes. Maybe the second rinse will get it all out. I handled the wet rugs and have not broken out. Usually it starts within 5 minutes.
I like using the pink Zote when I make my homemade powdered detergent because it has citronella in it which is a good bug repellent. It works well in the summer time because of all of the mosquitoes and gnats…etc.