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!
Hi Natasha 🙂
If the grated soap is working out (both in terms of cleaning your clothes and dissolving properly) I’d continue as you have been. The recipes were intending a fine grate (using the smaller holes on the grater). The washing soda and the Borax help clean too, so I think you’re covered as-is (since your results are good).
I use a lay good lemon zester plane and it grates the soap to an incredible fine (almost powder like) consistency. This has made the melting process so effortless. I am also going to add the tea tree oil for the anti-bacterial properties; not sure how much is enough–if you have any suggestions, I’d like to know–my recipe batch makes 5 gallons. My grandmother and mother have made their own soap, as well as other household products for years, so I am so glad to see this trend to going back to our roots coming about. I am almost 50 yrs old and am just sorting to make my own products—i sense this is really what it must be like to be a ‘homemaker’ and I love it! Makes me feel a bit proud to make my own and love the money I save. A suggestion for those who must work full time and feel that they are unable to do this, but would like to save the money and try it—partner with a part-timer or a stay at home mom/wife and offer to buy the ingredients and split the detergent with them for their time. I know if someone approached and would ask me, I’d be happy to partner with them—-the ingredients or so cheap to buy for the outside home worker and the at home mom/wife saves even more (virtually free product) to make and share :o) Thanks Tipnut for this website—I am so enjoying it–it’s great, BUT addictive!
I wasn’t specifically referring to consuming, or splashing in the eyes, but ALL powders are inhaled to some degree when used. Also, even though the boxes of wasing soda don’t have a caustic labeling on them, the websites I mentioned in my previous post all found it to be very caustic and in particular unsafe to use when washing baby items. I also speak to the effect this product would have on the environment. The reason we turn to alternative household products are to cut down/eliminate the damage to the environment commercial products cause. I feel like washing soda is a damaging product and should not be included in the recipe; however, to each his own. People need to do their own research and judge for themselves. I wasn’t attempting to discredit the detergent recipes listed here by any means, but rather to enlighten the readers of this site concerning something that could be of harm to them, their families and the environment. Other than that one item I think the recipes are wonderful and really enjoy reading the ideas on this site.
From all my reading on acids and caustic materials, they all refer to the PH of a product. Caustic means it is Alkaline, which is the opposite end of acid. While both can cause burns and should be handled with care, so much of the environment is tainted with acids, and bacteria and most fungi and the sources of most disease can only survive in acidic environments. H2O2 is also Alkaline and the 35% food grade is very caustic, yet super natural and very good for environment, septic tanks and all. It breaks down to oxegen and water. So, just because it says it is caustic – it doesnt mean it is bad for people or the enviroment, it is simply a rating of PH and an indication that caution should be used along with an awareness of the elements, and what they break down into.
Although PH is a measurement, it’s kind of general, most important is really the the total of them. Just because some thing has a high or low PH doesn’t mean it will burn you.
Beverly you’ve presented washing soda here as something very dangerous and that it needs every precaution to prevent skin burns based on what you’ve read elsewhere. You have those concerns and I appreciate that, but I feel we’re comparing apples to apples–detergents and soaps are harsh or contain harsh ingredients.
I decided to test how caustic Washing Soda is and sat here for a full minute with my hand sitting in a bowl of powdered Washing Soda. I didn’t get burned and my skin is still intact. I had no fear because if it really was that caustic, it would have to have symbols and warnings on the box (by law, I live in Canada), just like laundry bleach has.
Next I mixed a 50/50 ratio of water and Washing Soda and dipped my fingers in, moved them around the bowl for close to a minute. Again, I have no burns, experienced no discomfort and the skin is still on my fingers.
Washing soda has the same care needs as all soaps and detergents, you shouldn’t consume it, breathe it or splash it in your eyes.
If you’re concerned about environmentally friendly detergents, you’re right, this isn’t the most earth friendly detergent available (along with the rest of the laundry detergents on the market). If it’s a specialty laundry detergent (certified green and earth friendly), these aren’t the recipes for you and I realize that they may be hard to find locally, but shopping online for “organic laundry detergent” or “green environmentally safe laundry detergent” may bring some results.
Tip Nuts,
I have very sensitive skin. I once used a dish detergent which had bleach in it, from the tips of my fingers to my armpits and shoulders turned into one big red rash. Tide makes me itchy I have to rinse my cloths twice in the washer.
Today for the first time I used Washing soda and Borax without using my rubber gloves and guess what?
I did not have a reaction and I hand washed a load of Whites using a wash board.
I can’t speak for anyone else but I can’t do this with Tide.
I make my own soap and use washing soda and Borax with vinegar in the rinse cycle.
I have clean cloths and no skin problems.
Thanks for the Laundry Tips
Myrna
Myrna, What is your recipe for making your own soap? I would love to make my own soap too. Thank so much, Alfred
i tried recipe 1 mine did not gel or look like thick goop …..it looks clabbered (like clabbered milk) or slightly curdled.I did everything the direction said …i don’t know where i went wrong.May be i should try the dry recipe after this batch is gone …i dunno
Amanda ..when you leave your batch of soap ,and it goes all goopy like.. Get a stick blender and give it a blast.. It does thin it out a bit…but always shake the bottle before you use the laundry soap… And guys I am lovin this site.. And the comments …could read them all day..How boring am I … But honestly I am lovin it…. Thanks for the ideas…
This batch will still work Amanda, it’s hard to say why it isn’t goopy for you. How fresh is the batch? It will take a couple days to get thicker, just make sure to stir it up well so the soap doesn’t settle at the bottom.
I just today stumbled onto this idea of making one’s own laundry soap, while I was looking for some cute reusable grocery bags. How interesting! I really like the idea of the powdered type, as it sounds so easy to make as well as less expensive than commercial laundry soaps.
After reading lots of information and everyone’s tips here on this site, I do still have a couple of questions…
I really don’t want to have to start using warm/hot water in my laundry, not only because of the increased electric bill but because I don’t want to shrink or damage my clothing. How successful has cold water been (for those who have used it) in really getting the laundry clean?
How harsh are these products (Borax, Washing Soap, Vinegar) on fabrics? I worry that they won’t be gentle enough for my nicer clothes. I’m worried about fading of my dark slacks, my black fabrics, my sweaters, etc. ???
Other than these two concerns, I really like the idea of making my own detergent, and would go in search of the products today!
Hi Melinda, I’ve had no problems using homemade detergent for the same items that commercial brands can be used for. I noticed no issues with fading.
For laundry temperatures, I agree that a lot of things just can’t be washed in hot water. Laundry comes out visibly clean in cold water, but I linked to that article to show how cold water laundry doesn’t kill or fully remove all invisible nasties (that was for any detergent). I decided things like bedding, towels, underwear, cleaning cloths & sponges should really be washed in hot water or at least given a good length of time in the dryer and/or a glug of laundry bleach in the wash if possible. It’s nice to be able to save money/energy or be more environmentally friendly, but E. coli and salmonella are nothing to be fooled with IMO.
As far as the nasty germs go, get you some Certified Pure Therapudic Grade essential oils like DoTerra brand. Use 15 or so drops of Melaluca (tea tree) oil, lavender, lemon, cinnamon or the like that are antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal ect and mix with the detergent or add directly to the wash load. It will kill all the pathogens and make your clothes smell nice too. Cinnamon especially has been proven to kill 100% of bacterial and viruses it’s exposed to. And it helps keep blood sugar down for diabetics 🙂 I wash in cold water all the time, have for years, and never knew about the germs left in the wash. I will be adding cinnamon to my next batch of laundry and see what happens.
Thanks for the response, Tipnut. I actually do wash “things like bedding, towels, underwear, cleaning cloths” in hot water. I agree with you there. It’s my clothes that I wash in cold water, so they don’t shrink or fade. But, you don’t have any problems with the homemade detergent in cleaning your clothing? You find it gentle enough for nicer clothes? That’s good to know!
Thanks again!
That’s right Melinda, I experienced no problems at all with any of my nicer clothing items. I did use Ivory soap bars in my recipes, but I don’t think any of the other bars would cause problems.
it is now 3 days old …
granules(it looks like ) are on top and colored water on bottom.
it looks like it has seperated.I am am stiriing well and using it any way .
Just got back from Krogers, where they had the Fels Naptha, Borax, and A&H Super Washing Soda! Yes! I also got a bottle of white vinegar & a Downy ball. I’m all set, and off to grate some soap and try my 1st load!
Oh, and BTW…told Dh all about it, and how much money it will save, so of course he’s all for it! 😉
I’ve been making my homemade laundry detergent for a few years and it won’t gel or get goopy very well unless the soap has been mixed really really good when you first make it and the water is still hot. Its still good to use though even if it isn’t thick. I use Fels Naptha as the bar soap and the clothes come out just as clean as store bought soap. Washing soda doesn’t burn or I’d be blistered from head to toe by now.
I love that I found this site! I want to try one of the powdered recipes, but I was wondering if you can add essential oils to the dry recipes? If so, what kind of oil ratio would you use?
Dee, I made and am using the powdered laundry detergent, as well as using white vinegar in a Downy ball for a softner/final rinse. Very happy with the results!
But, I have the same question as you re: essential oils…can I use an essential oil with my vinegar, and if so, how much of the EO do I add to the 1/4 to 1/2 cup of vinegar?
I have used these recipes for several years now and add essential oil.
I have a front loader washing machine and I have halved the water amount to make a extra concentrate solution and use halve the amount in my washer.
I use bleach with whites when needed and always add baking soda for that extra boost. I have just found old fashioned bluing and will try that.
You may wash your clothing in the hottest water, but ecoli and salmonella have to be ingested to get sick.
I am use in the one that makes 10 gallons, I have 8 children so you can imagine why! Lol, have been thinking about half in my water amount, but have been worried it may come out way to thick doing that, I use 1 or 2 cups per load, so it would be great for storage space and make ing multiple batches at a time if I can find out how! I have been going through 10 gallons in right at 2 weeks. With 13 total in our home ……I do 6 to 8 loads EVERY day! Most people don’t believe me, as crazy as it sounds, make ing my own soap has been a Huge money saving blessing for me!,
For the vinegar rinse, I would make a big batch at once, about 10 drops per gallon or so of vinegar.
For the powdered laundry detergent, I don’t have anything specific for adding essential oils so you’ll have to wing it (but sure, you can add EO to the dry version). If you start small and work a drop or two up, you’ll find the right mix for you. If I were to try, I’d start with this:
Recipe #4 (Powdered)
I’d start with 5 drops, mixed in very well.
Reipe #9 (Powdered)
I’d start with 20 to 25 drops, mixed in very well.
The amounts of essential oil given (above and in the original post) are just suggestions. You could add more or less to accomodate your personal preference.
If anyone has some tried & true amounts of adding EO, please feel free to add your tips :).
The reaction between the White Rain product and the alkali (borax and/or washing soda) was almost certainly production of ammonia gas from an ammonium salt in the White Rain product. For instance, ammonium lauryl sulfate is a common ingredient of shampoos.
ok i tried another small batch of #1 this time i got colored water on the bottom and a thick (reminded me of that thick slime you could buy for kids to play with) on top LMAO i give up . maybe it was just not meant to be for me to make detergent hahaha ..nah i am gonna make the powder and hopefully i will have better luck.in the mean time my family is haveing fun laughing at me for my efforts .
What color is the water Amanda and what bar of soap are you using? If you’re mixing things well, I’m at a loss as to why things are separating like that. Things are pretty busy right now for me, but when I get a chance I’d like to mix up the batch and try to reproduce those results you’re getting just to see why it’s happening for you.
My efforts at the liquid soap were similar. One batch would be super gelly and the next perfect and then yet another would totally separate. They all washed great, some just needed more shaking in the bottle before use (which is kinda a pian in the butt). So I switched to the powdered version (made with exactly the same ingredients as my liquid minus the h20) and it is perfect!!!!!! I use a 1/4 cup in each load, grate my fels naptha with small side of my cheese grater (got one just for laundry so I dont have to keep washing soap off of it) and sometimes add oxiclean. It has saved me hundreds of dollars. Always works great! I have two boys in football and baseball – and I just make a paste of the same stuff to pre-treat big ugly stains and it works perfect!
I haven’t tried making my own laundry powder yet, but for folks concerned about the laundry powder dissolving in cold and/or hard water I have a tip. Dissolve the powder in a 1-2 gallon bucket of hot water and then pour into the washer. We used this method to dissolve Borax before adding to a cold wash and it seemed to do the trick.
I just made recipe #6.
How thick or gel like is this supposed to be. Once it cooled down
I am shocked at how THICK it actually is…I put it into an empty Tide container, so now not sure how I will mix it before I use it. Will it be fine if I just shake it with all my might? LOL! Thanks, Dawn
Hi Dawn, it should be easy enough to pour, it’s pretty gloppy but not so thick it won’t pour. If you want to thin it out a bit you can add about 1 cup of boiling water to the batch and shake/stir like crazy. That should make it less thick without reducing too much the amount of soap per load.
I’ve made the powdered version #4 mentioned above. So far so good. I have a question however. I usually add liquid clorox bleach to my whites. Can I still use clorox with this recipe?
Thanks
Shelly I used a splash of bleach in my whites with no problem. I double checked the boxes on Borax and the washing soda and there’s nothing on them that says not to use with bleach.
I have a friend who makes goat’s milk soap and I have used that for my soap in my homemade detergent. I have also used Zote, which is a pink bar laundry detergent I found at a local store. I am not too crazy about the scent though.
If you can locate a soap maker near you, you might be able to get seconds or chips for next to nothing. They might also be the coconut free variety if they are doing the lard stuff (which my friend does).
I found this link from typing in Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda: thelaundrybasket.com
At that link it gave me this information:
“We offer Super Washing Soda in a 55-ounce carton. If you are having trouble locating this product, you may want to ask your local store manager to order it for you. It may be helpful to provide the UPC number: 33200-03020.”
I went to my local grocery store and told them the UPC and they ordered it! 🙂
Just thought that you might find this helpful to use where you live.
🙂 ~B
Admin Edit: fixed link
Great tip Becky, Thanks for sharing that :).
Just wanted to say that I’ve been using recipe #4, but we have hard water, so I’m wondering if something in the recipe should be adjusted? More soap? More Borax or A&H? Anyone know?
Also, for dirtier clothes (Dh gets sweaty, greasy, and grungy when working on his cars) does adding a scoop of Oxyclean really help?
Thanks!
Hi everyone. My mom and I have been making homemade liquid laundry soap for a few months. We often get samples of laundry detergent in the mail. One weekend while cleaning house, I decided to mix a Tide sample with the gloppy homemade laundry detergent. I shook it up and when I went to start my next load, it wasn’t gloppy! So, if the “gloppyness” of the homemade laundry detergent, bothers you, try adding a cup or so of a store bought laundry detergent to your liquid soap mix and shake. It pours out of the used laundry detergent bottles easily and helps keep the glop and water from seperating. There must be something in the store bought detergent to resolve this problem. I use a generic bradn so that it doesn’t add alot of cost to the homemade detergent.
As for the toxicity of the detergents discussed above, have you ever seen a fly or any other bug on a bar of soap? and if so, survive? This is true of even the most gentle soaps. That is kinda the point.
My mother is allergic to Quaternium-15, formaldehyde and the nearly 30 compounds that might have them. I need to make laundry detergent for her. My problem is the soap that you add. I need to know if any of these ingrediance are there. How do I find this information?
Hi Elsie I was wondering if you found a soap for your mother. My wife has the same problem.
I am chemically sensitive. I just use washing soda for laundry, sometimes add a little baking soda or borax powder for extra cleaning power. I pretreat stains with shampoo or dishwashing liquid. A problem I have had is that they usually sell washing soda in the detergent isle and it absorbs some of the obnoxious fragrances from the other detergents. I have solved this by putting a little of the washing soda at a time in a separate box and adding a little baking soda and letting it sit a few days. I read the recipes for making washing soda from baking soda and will try it. Thanks! I use vinegar if softening is needed but usually don’t bother.
Can I use soap base? My mother is sencetive to smells. This seems perfect, but I have to get confirmation from someone.
Elsie try a search online for the product name and Material Safety Data Sheet…you should be able to find the ingredients that way. For example, search for:
Ivory soap Material Safety Data Sheet
I haven’t tried making the laundry detergent with just a soap base, I think it would work but I really don’t know.
Thanks for the info. I just found this morning the web site householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/product.htl
You can find almost everything manufactured there.
as for the toxicity of nuclear waste, have you ever seen a fly or
germs survive that stuff? using my brilliant logic, that should make an excellent soap, and it might even get rid of gloppyness, which is a big concern.
(duh)
I’m so glad I came across this site. I’ve been making my own detergent for a little over a year now, and I’m very pleased so far with the results. I started out using a liquid recipe, but I found a dry powder to be much simpler to make. I like to add tea tree and lavender oils to the mix (about half a dropperful of each, then mix well). I like the scent it adds, and tea tree oil has natural cleansing properties as well. I’ve used a bit of patchouli as well, but my husband isn’t so crazy about the scent, so I don’t use it anymore.
If you have trouble finding washing soda, you can ask your grocer to special order it for you, or you can google it and order it online. I’ve done both.
I do have one question regarding recipe #10 – would this be safe to wash newborn or infant clothes in instead of using a traditional baby laundry detergent, like Dreft or Ivory Snow? Would any changes need to be made to make extra sure that it would be gentle enough? Thanks.
Meredith there’s been some debate here about Washing Soda, but Arm & Hammer has it printed right on the box that it’s useful as a diaper soak.
Martha Stewart also suggests adding some Washing Soda in her Baby Laundry Article, see Baby Laundry 101.
I think Liquid Castile would be ok, an alternative would be a switch to a grated bar of Ivory Soap (to make 1/4 cup, first melted down in a bit of water).
Update….so far so good!
I am happy with my laundry results.
Clean clothes with a fresh scent.
I do have another question….
I had a very difficult time melting the soap, is this something that gets better with practice and does anyone have any other tips and tricks.
It seemed to take FOREVER!
Brenna!!! Thank you very much for the craft store tip for soda ash….that price sounds very reasonable!
~~Dawn~~
Just a word of caution, if you are planning to add vinegar to your rinse water, please DO NOT use chlorine bleach in the wash. The combination produces a deadly gas and can kill. Even tho it’s down the drain, it’s still in the clothes and it’s lurking in the drain. Please be careful when rinsing with vinegar and washing with chlorine bleach.
I’ve been making a recipe using the Fels, borax and washing soda – both wet and dry. If I’m washing something in cold water I will take hot or boiling water and put it in a recycled cool whip container and mix until disolved (I do with both types, wet or dry), then add to washer and use as usual. Never had a problem not dissolving.
I love adding drops of citrus – lemon, orange, grapefruit essential oils. When I wash sheets, I mix a batch using lavander oil.
I learned of Homemade detergents a few years ago but it clicked in my mind today that it realy works even better than industrial ones.
I now want to get the exact recipes for the dertegents so that i can try them out and experience the goodness of the new technology.
can someone please come to my aid.
Hi moses, there are 10 recipes at the top of the page you can try.
http://www.chemistrystore.com carries most of the ingredients
Another question…is it the borax that is actually doing the cleaning? I just noticed that recipe #9 has a lot more borax than the other ingredients in the recipe, and also that there is baking soda, compared to recipe #4. Does anyone have any experience with one recipe cleaning better than the other (just between recipes 4 & 9)? I’ve been using #4 for a couple of weeks now, and I’m still not sure I’m happy with the results. Sometimes, once they’re dry, I notice they don’t smell clean.
Any thoughts?
A few questions…
1. If you use the powdered versions of the laundry detergent, must you wash in hot water?
2. Has anyone had experience using this for cloth diapers?
3. I am a little concerned about soap residue. I know that vinegar in the downy ball was recommended. Can you also put white vinegar in the fabric softener spot (in the center spinner thing- are you following- lol!)?
I was THRILLED to find borax, washing soap, and FEls Naptha in HYVEE grocery store today. I actually cheered in the laundry isle and got strange looks from people. Can’t wait to try the recipes…!!!
Hi,
I put my vinegar in the fabric softener spot it works great and it also keeps it clean.
Hi Melinda, all the items contribute to cleaning. I don’t know if Borax is a stronger cleaner than the rest though. When you say your laundry doesn’t smell clean sometimes, is it that they stink or have lingering odors from not being fully cleaned, or is it that you’re missing a fragrance normally found in commercial detergents? If it’s that they aren’t coming out clean, you can try increasing the amount of detergent used. If it’s that you’re missing the commercial fragrance, you can try adding some essential oils to the mix, see if that helps.
Emily, you don’t have to wash in hot water. I haven’t tried using this for cloth diapers (haven’t washed diapers in YEARS, lol) but some of the products do recommend themselves as diaper cleaners. Both Borax and Arm & Hammer Washing Soda recommend themselves to be used as a diaper/baby clothes wash. Yes you can try replacing fabric softener with vinegar.
I think the clothes that were smelling not so clean were my husband’s clothes he wears when working on the cars (his toys). I’m going to try increasing the amount of detergent for those clothes.
Thanks Tipnut!
We have a vegetable garden for the first time this year and being that last summer, we were in a serious drought in our area, I am worried about watering our garden. Does anyone know if the “gray water” from our washing machines rinse cycle would be safe to water garden if we use recipe #9, the powered detergent? I am worried about phosphates and the affecting of our plants.
Thanks!
Stacey I don’t know enough about that to say for sure, hopefully someone reading this can give some advice because I think that would be a great idea if it’s safe to do.
To Stacey: Regarding watering your garden with the washer’s “gray water”, you might want to check with your local County Extension Office. They usually can offer some great suggestions to my problems and questions.
This is the recipe I have been using for years. And yes, I have a HE washer ann dryer.
Homemade Laundry Detergent-Powdered
Ingredients:
2/3 bar Laundry Soap (equivalent of 1 cup grated) (any soap will work but Fels or Zote better for stains)*
½ Cup 20 Mule Team Borax
½ Cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda.
Container large enough to hold 2 cups of laundry detergent
Directions:
Grate the Fels Naptha laundry soap with a grater or use a food processor. Approximately 2/3 of a bar of soap will make 1 cup of grated soap.
Add the ½ cup of Borax and ½ cup of washing soda to the grated soap.
Shake and/or mix well
Use:
One tablespoon of detergent is sufficient per load of wash. If you have a high-efficiency machine, you might want to experiment with using a little less detergent for normal loads. If your clothes come out feeling stiff, lower the amount of detergent. For clothes that are heavily soiled, add a teaspoon more of the detergent..
Yield:
The recipe yields 2 cups of laundry detergent. If you use 1 tablespoon per load, you will be able to wash 32 loads of clothes.
Cost:
20 Mule Team Borax: $2.50 for 70 oz. – Cost per batch: .14 (4 oz needed for recipe)
Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda: $2.50 for 55 oz. Cost per batch .18.(4 oz needed for recipe)
Fels Naphtha: $1.24 per bar. Cost per batch: .83 (2/3 bar of soap needed for recipe) *
Total cost to make: $1.15 Yields 2 cups which translates to 3.5 cents per load.
*Chop into chunks w/ a knife and throw it in the food processor. Then put it in a roasting pan for a day or two to dry out, then into the food processor again to make a very fine powder. (Fels you don’t have to let it dry out) Actually the powder is so fine that I put a damp kitchen towel over the food processor while blending, and let it settle for a minute or so before opening so I don’t breathe in soap powder. This extra is just personal preference, and not necessary-many folks just use it grated up and mix the powder well before measuring out each load.
I made the recipe of 1 cup borax, 1 cup washing soda and 1 bar soap (I used Kirks coco bar) and made it EXACTLY the way the recipe said. It did not “set up” so I made a small pot of hot water, 1/2 cup borax and 1/2 cup washing soda and added it to the mix and stirred well. I let it sit overnight AGAIN and it STILL wasn’t gel. I repeated this TWICE MORE! So I now have a 5 gallon bucket with “soap water” in it and almost 2 1/2 cups borax and 2 1/2 cups washing soda, lemon essential oil and 1 bar of kirks soap. The bar soap seems to have separated and is almost a haze in the water. The only way to describe it is “snot in water” how the snot gets liquidy but doesn’t dissolve.
Anyway, I just washed a load of blankets to see if it will have the same effect as if it were gloppy.
I do have a HE washer and I do use vinegar in my fabric softener resevoir. I NEVER use bleach anymore (bad bad bad for you and the environment!). If I need to brighten colors or whites, I add half a cup lemon juice to the liquid soap resivouir and it works well.
I used Tide Clear and Gentle and the vinegar and my clothes were clean and came out with NO smell, even my towels!
My question is if I make the powder, how do I use it in the HE washer? Mind you, I have 4 kids so I’m looking for something that’s EASY to use! I usually wash 3-7 loads PER DAY! So I really don’t have the extra 10 minutes per load to get the detergent “ready” to wash with.
PLEASE HELP!!
I do like all of these ideas and will try some of them soon! I am concerned though. My husband is a pipe & tank welder and works in a refinery. My old top loader has finally quit. We used to wash repeatedly to get a minimal amount of cleaning done to his clothes. We also have a front loader and since the top loader has died we recently purchased another front loader. I would love to have his clothes come lots cleaner. Plus I would like to preclean his clothes before I put them in the front loader, whch of course uses less water. I have used lots of things in trying to clean the smells and nasty oily gunk off his clothes. Oxi-Clean works nice (& best so far) but still doesn’t completely do the job. I hate that they still look dirty and smell horried after I wash and wash and wash them. What can I do differently? Please help! Thank you!!
A friend of mine always washes her husbands dirty clothes with ammonia and she says it gets all of the smells out. I am not sure what it’s reaction would be to the other detergents. But you could try a wash in ammonia and then another with the homemade detergent.
My hubby is in the oil/gas industry and he comes home filthy. I use Purex or Arm and Hammer tablets and a scoop of Sun Oxy. I get both from Wal mart. Even Tide didn’t do anything. I would think the homemade would work, but I am going to add baking soda to the load also. I think that is the key. It neutralizes the odors and the chemicals.
Good luck.
Amy my grandson spilled gas on swimming clothes and a blanket. I tried everything and nothing worked to get rid of the smell! made this stuff liquid version. took the smell out completely. i was so impressed! still using this for all my laundry!
My husband did a lot of chainsaw carving for years, & as a result always had chainsaw oil in his pants ~ heavily! I used one can of coke or pepsi, and my home-made laundry detergent & his jeans always came out looking new, with no chainsaw oil or saw dust or anything else in them. If one can doesn’t work, use two ~ it completely cleans the oils up! I have never had to use more than 2 cans of coke or pepsi for a load of 6 – 8 pairs of jeans, & almost always only used 1 can. That stuff will also clean any oil stains or vehicle leaks off of your driveway cement, too! Just pour it on. let it sit for an hour, & rinse it off ~ it breaks down the oils & gas stains ~ good stuff…. but I wouldn’t drink it!! ;-D
Hi FixItMom:
Here’s a trick I use, I also have a front loader as well, to help clean your husbands clothes, and the one I used that has worked well. Use Dissolvo you can find it at your local laundry mat for about .75 a box, first wash his clothes with that, and use vinegar as the softener to help remove residues from the washer, do not add homemade soap to this wash load, then rewash the clothes with your homemade laundry detergent as normal. This has worked for me in the past and I hope this works out for you as well.
Please let me know how you made out.
Thank you Melinda, lots of folks will be interested in that recipe :).
FixItMom: I don’t think you can do anything more than allow a period for pre-soak, then a full laundry cycle. You can try extra soap and some vinegar in the rinse cycle. See if that helps :).