I love to make my own homemade laundry detergent. Homemade laundry detergent costs 2-3 cents per load, versus 15-30 cents per load for storebought detergents.
It’s good for the earth too, since all the ingredients are natural and you’re not buying plastic containers of laundry detergent. All the ingredients come in cardboard, which is biodegradable.
I usually triple or quadruple this recipe so I can make a bunch at once and have it for months. It’s a fun weekend project to do with kids.
I have seen lots of recipes online for liquid homemade laundry detergent — but they look so messy and and time-consuming to make. This powdered version of homemade laundry detergent is easy! It literally takes 10 minutes if you have a food processor. (Although I have since been told that the liquid version is easy to make, too.)
Thanks to Prairieland Herbs for this wonderful recipe. It works great.
You can find all the ingredients for homemade laundry detergent at most grocery stores. I get everything except the washing soda at Costco because that’s where it’s the cheapest (the washing soda I buy at the grocery store). I buy in bulk so I only have to buy this stuff once every six months or so.
Homemade Laundry Detergent
Use 1 tablespoon to 1/4 cup per load.
Equipment:
Food processor (optional — you can use a cheese grater)
Large plastic tub or bucket (preferably with a lid — you could also recycle an old cardboard box of detergent)
Ingredients:
Borax (2 cups)
Washing soda (2 cups)
Baking soda (1 cup)
Bar soap (1) –it doesn’t matter what kind you use.
Optional: Essential oil — if the soap is scented, you may not want to add this
1. Cut the soap up into large chunks with a knife.
2. Throw the chunks into the food processor and blend into a powder (or as close to a powder as possible).
3. In a large plastic tub or bucket, stir together the Borax, washing soda, and baking soda. Be careful not to breathe in the powder while you mix. Let it settle first and then continue stirring.
4. Stir in the grated soap.
5. Stir in drops of essential oil if you like.
And yes, this laundry detergent works great for cloth diapers. You can use it for front loaders, too. See the comments below.
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This post is part of the Real Food Wednesday blog carnival. Visit Kelly the Kitchen Kop for more recipes and tips about real food and living sustainably.
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{ 55 comments… read them below or add one }
Stupid question
Where do you find washing soda? I’d love to make this, it would save us a TON of money and make me feel better about our part in saving the environment 
Not a stupid question at all! Washing soda can be hard to find.
I buy it at my local Albertson’s grocery store.
Call around to grocery stores in your area. It comes in a yellow box and it’s usually on the shelf next to the Borax.
It looks like this: http://www.greatcleaners.com/ah-soda-booster.html?cid=googlebase
That apron is fantastic. I leave my pins on the clothesline (yes, where they rot), but that cute apron almost inspires me to change my behavior.
The recipe sounds great. I got a front loader about nine months ago and haven’t experimented with anything handmade in it. I’m not sure I’m that brave just yet.
Amanda
I’ve made this with Ivory, Zote, and Fels Naptha bar soaps. The Fels gives it a kind of medicinal smell, but they all worked well. If you take the wrappers of the soap and let it dry first, it powders more easily in your food processor. Caution – it can come out of your food processor in a cloud if you grind it very fine, and that hurts to breathe in, so be careful to let the dust settle before opening. I use a coffee measure to scoop out the right amount of finished product; one scoop works for normal loads, and two for heavily soiled. Once your clothes have been washed several times in the homemade soap, they will become softer and less wrinkled. You won’t need (or miss) the fabric softener.
I’ve used several bar soaps but I have found that nothing works like fels naptha. It made a huge difference in the stain removal. I told a friend who works at a division of the company that makes Tide about the difference and she said they use naptha in Tide. You can find it in the laundry aisle next to the other stain removers and stuff like washing soda. I haven’t tried adding baking soda. I’ll try that next time!
Hi, I’ve been making my own laundry soap for a few months now. You can’t beat the cost savings and the quality over store bought. I prefer the liquid and it isn’t messy to make at all and takes very little time. I do up a triple batch and have it kept in a large bucket with a scoop. Especially if you live in the country and have a septic system Liquid is easier on the system. I use the recipe @ http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm. And over all our clothes are getting cleaner with homemade.
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Hi Ann Marie… do you use this laundry detergent in a front loading washing machine?
Will this detergent clean out cloth diapers?
Great post; I’m so motivated to try this! Anyone have suggestions re: adding essential oils? I do like our clothes to be scented, but not overly so. I’m thinking lavender and orange…anyone have other recommendations?
Thanks!
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Liz -
I don’t have a front loader. I think you have to use liquid detergent in a front loader…
If I were you I’d try making the liquid version Pamela recommends above (I might try making it, too, just for fun).
Sarai -
Yes, I use this detergent for cloth diapers.
Hi, Amanda!
I’m bad about the clothespins, too. In fact, I’m so bad, we took the clothesline down last summer when we had a backyard BBQ and I’ve been too lazy to put it back up. I’ll put it back up this week. It’s silly to run a dryer when you don’t have to!
Nancy -
I have not had any problems getting out stains. I find that regular soap works just fine.
But I never use Tide anyway — I just use Arm & Hammer or “green” detergents. So maybe I don’t know what I’m missing! I will try the Fels Naptha and see if I like it better.
For stains, I use hydrogen peroxide and it works really well. Especially if you get the 30% H202 (you can order it online). You just add a tiny bit to a sink full of water — it will take any stain out.
Cool! I made a terrible powdered detergent once and have been too spooked to try it again. I’ll have to try this recipe though. Usually we use Ecover or 7th Generation.
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Thanks! I’m going to try it. I’ve been using a natural detergent “Nellie’s Nuggets” and it seems to dissolve just fine and it’s certified for my front-loading washer. My only issue with Nellie’s is it’s expensive! I like being ecologically responsible and not exposing my family to harmful toxins, but I’d like to be frugal too. It seems all the recipes I’ve seen for homemade detergent are for liquid and for some reason I like powders better, so I’m going to give this a try very soon. I’ll let you know how it works out with my front-loading washing machine!
WOW….I am making this tomorrow. I am so excited to try it. Oh, for homemade dryer sheets, I put some Lavender Essential oils (just a bit) on a cloth and throw in the dryer
I like it! What do you do for static cling if using a dryer?
Some people prefer to pour a bit of white vinegar onto their clothes during the washing machine’s rinse cycle. As with fabric softener, vinegar can soften clothes, and it has a mild anti-static effect. As a bonus, vinegar works well to get rid of mildew.
I read this article somewhere and it does work. I put vinegar in the washing machine fabric softener dispenser. I use about 1/2 – 3/4 cup and the clothes do not smell like vinegar after the rinse.
Hope this helps!
Making laundry detergent is brilliant, of course… but I’m totally digging that photo of the apron.
I would be curious if anyone has more information on homemade soaps for front-loaders. I know my mom’s is UBER sensitive to suds, so a low suds formulation would be absolutely key.
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What about HE machines?
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I am going to try this but usually use fabric softener, will my wash still be as soft? Or do you still have to use dryer sheets?
Hi AnnMarie,
I fogot to ask. How many loads is single batch?
For those with babies: I used to make this several years ago until I had a baby and it didn’t get out spit-up smells. Even after washing a few times I could still smell spit-up. Also, I washed diapers in it and my baby got a horrible rash that went away every time I put a disposable on him. Our local home economics extension service said it was probably from the Fels Naptha. I switched to BioKleen and have never looked back. Maybe I’ll try again someday when I’m done having babies.
From the Wikipedia Fels-Naptha page :
According to the “Chronic Health Effects” section of the National Institutes of Health’s MSDS for Fels Naptha:
Chronic toxicity testing has not been conducted on this product. However, the following effects have been reported on one of the product’s components. Stoddard solvent: Repeated or prolonged exposure to high concentrations has resulted in upper respiratory tract irritation, central and peripheral nervous system effects, and possibly hematopoetic, liver and kidney effects.
Stoddard solvent is another name for mineral spirits, which are, like petroleum distillates, a mixture of multiple chemicals made from petroleum. Exposure to Stoddard solvent in the air can affect your nervous system and cause dizziness, headaches, or a prolonged reaction time. It can also cause eye, skin, or throat irritation[2].
Julie – thanks for posting that.
Yeesh guess we shouldn’t be using Fels Naptha!
Wow! What a great idea! Thanks for the recipe – I’ll definitely be trying this one.
Hi,
I use the liquid recipe and it is great. I have used bergamont, lemon and grapefruit essential oils and like them all. This soap doesn’t make much suds. Hardly any at all. I use white vinegar as a rinse and it works well. It also cleans the washer as a bonus. As for the diapers, my daughter is using cloth and I make them. I found a good pattern in a Backwoods Home magazine with elastic in the legs and across the back for a more fitted look. They work great.
Question: How does the powder form work in cold water? Does it mix pretty good?
Yes, you can use powdered detergents in a front loading washing machine. I have a front-loader Bosch and use powdered Tide and powdered Oxi-Clean. You might have to dissolve the powdered detergent in some water first if you notice it isn’t dissolving when using cold water. I always use warm water and haven’t had any problems.
What about using Kirk’s Castile soap instead of the Fels-Naptha? Kirk’s Castile bar soap is located in many grocery stores along with other bar soaps.
At the website http://www.soapsgonebuy.com you can purchase homemade laundry soap using the Borax, washing soda and Fels-Naptha. They also sell grated Fels-Naptha by the bag. There are also lots of other fun things at this website too.
I’m curious though if you use your food processor to grate soap for laundry detergent, do you use this same food processor for food too?
I enjoy your blog!
Hi Ann Marie~
I love your blog! Thanks for all the useful information you share!
I have wanted to try homemade detergent for quite some time but a while back I read that 1) Fels Naptha was not a good choice – but the blogger didn’t specify why (so thanks, Julie, for clearing that up) and 2) that borax was not good for septic systems. Can anyone verify this or help me with an alternative to the borax?
Thanks so much!
I’m really excited to try this! Is it okay to use my blender if I don’t have a proper food processor per se? The blender I have is a Waring and it’s pretty powerful. I have a Kidco electric food mill but wasn’t sure if that would be appropriate to use. Also, are there other bar soaps that anyone can recommend?
Thanks for the great info!
I was using this recipe for a while, but the borax is so harsh I have to hold my breath every time I open the container so I’ve been looking for other options.
), so one replacement for one family may not work as well for another (ie sweat vs diapers vs diapers vs ?).
Borax, read on a few sites incl Wiki, has more than one purpose in this recipe (look it up
One replacement is the occasional whitening for whites:
equal parts Hydrogen peroxide to Vinegar/lemon juice/citric acid – a couple Tbls each works for mine – wash or rinse load works.
Another is to occasionally do warm or hot water or even to soak the load before allowing it to run. (the washing soda directions on box actually recommends this for overnight)
However, for a few weeks now I have found what is good so far for us:
(I just measure into my hand)
small palm-ful of Castille liquid soap (I use peppermint since it is the bottle I bought for shampoo but found it to be too harsh for us)
large palm-ful of Washing soda
large palm-ful of Baking soda (neutralizes the Chlorine – though I’m sure it does other things too)
and a swig+ of vinegar (I usually add this to the softener dispenser thingy – which by the way should be removed and thoroughly cleaned before using if softener had ever been used before!)
Any feedback? I also read about some ionizing balls that look legit, http://shop.truegreenonline.com/product.sc?productId=93, vs “similar” but gimmicks out there. It is the same concept of surfactants,… etc.
HELP!!! I can not find washing soda. I went to target, Mothers, Lowes, Albertsons. We are here in Huntington Beach, CA. Anyone know where to get washing soda?
I have recently read about laundry washing balls and dryer balls, which you can read about here: http://shop.truegreenonline.com/contact-send.sc
I was wondering if anyone else knows anything about these or has used them. I realize this will make a very long post, but here is a list of benefits of using washing balls (I am very tempted to try them myself.):
LAUNDRY BALL BENEFITS
Reduces environmental pollution.
Hypoallergenic with no remaining chemical detergent residue in clothes. It’s a must for those with sensitive skin.
The Antibacterial agent eliminates mold, pathogenic organisms, and unpleasant odors.
Free of dyes and fragrance therefore if you miss the smell you can use fabric softener in the washing machine or dryer sheets.
Excellent cleaning with cold water and therefore uses less electricity.
As there are no synthetic detergents there is no need for the rinse cycle which saves electricity and water.
Protects the discoloration and oxidation of fabric caused by chloride in the city water and helps to maintain the elasticity of fabric.
The most spectacular Bright Whites without bleach.
Soap and detergent free – no soapy film or residue left on clothes.
Reduces Scale, Rust and Lime buildup in the washing machine and pipes.
Easy, Effective, Economical and Portable – I bring it on extended vacations.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE
The TRUEGREEN washing ball is capable of cleaning up to about 18 lbs per wash load. For bigger loads use two washing balls.
Pre-treat clothes with a stain remover when necessary.
It is recommended to wash whites and colors separately.
There is no need to remove the washing balls during rinse, spinning or drying cycles.
The laundry balls can be left in the washing machine or in a laundry sink ready for next use.
Drying in the sun monthly for a few hours will preserve long lasting performance.
LIFE SPAN
The TRUEGREEN Laundry Washing Ball can be used for 6 months on the basis of 18 pounds of laundry per day.
To safeguard the washing ball efficiency place it in the sun for 1 hour every month to regenerate the ceramic micro beads.
We can notify you when it is time to replace the washing ball and hopefully you will choose to recycle (prepaid postage) the used washing ball.
INGREDIENTS
Powerful magnets – activate water clusters, softens the water and minimizes the size of the water molecule which helps with scale and rust removal of the washing machine and pipes.
Far infrared and negative Ions – break water molecules hydrogen combinations into small clusters and forces the small water cluster being activated to increase its molecular motions, penetrations force and allows for a powerful washing power. It radiates negative ions to weaken the surface and inter-fabric adhesion so that the dirt comes off easily without any detergents.
Antibiotic – for sterilization eliminates mold and pathogenic organisms in the washing machine.
Alkali – Keeps the PH spectrum at the level of ordinary chemical detergents.
Chlorine Exclusion – eliminates the chloride compound in water.
And another thing I thought of myself is that no shelf space is needed for laundry soaps! Yay!
I had to check this post-very interesting.
Have you heard of soap nut? .I remember my gran telling me that they used to use it to wash their silk saris as it was very mild and didn’t spoil the silk. Lot of people still use it in India for rinsing the hair. It also has a very sweet fragrance.
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I’m new to this, but I was wondering if you are concerned about using Borax?
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Nevermind, I saw your answer over at Passionate Homemaking. Thanks!
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Sweta, I actually use soap nuts all of the time. Love them! I made my own soap but my white started getting dingy and I read it was from the soap scum left behind in the soap based detergent. I also couldn’t’ use homemade detergent on my diapers. So I switched to soap nuts and they are primarily what I use.
A friend of mine put together a co-op and here is where we got ours from: http://www.buysoapnuts.com/index.html (They will send you a sample if you ask)
Hi guys;
just a quick note about Washing Soda. You can make it from Baking Soda.
I get non-food quality Sodium BiCarb from the local mill. All you have to do is bake it. Something about heating it up causes a chemical reaction which makes washing soda.
I’ve found several different ideas about how to heat it – they all seem to work. The hotter your oven the less time you have to keep it in there. I normally do about 5 pounds at t time in a large baking pan, about 400 degrees for about a half hour (it doesn’t have to be precise). I stir it every ten minutes or so.
You can see the difference when it’s ready – baking soda (which we are all familiar with) has a chrystal-ish appearance and tight texture. Washing soda is duller, more powdery. You have to be careful! The washing soda is caustic and the dust will make you sneeze for five minutes!!!
I hope this helps.
Allison
Allison – that is interesting – thank you!
I checked Passionate Homemaking, but I couldn’t find the comment referenced above: what is the consensus on using Borax in homemade detergent? I still have a bunch of the Kirkland (Costco) “Environmentally Friendly” detergent, as well as a kilo of soap nuts, so it will take me a while to get around to making the detergent. Still, there are other household uses I’d like to try Borax out for…
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Hi Anne Marie,
Perhaps you recognise my name from some of the WAP yahoo groups.
I just wanted to add a comment on the price of home made detergent being cheaper than store bought. We live in New Zealand and so far with the cheapest prices I have found for the ingredients, I use the same recipe as you do, it still works out as the same price as some of the top end eco detergents! At that price why would you bother to make it when you can buy ready made good quality detergent. Perhaps prices are much different in the US for things like borax and washing soda…:-(
If any one reads here, who is in NZ, please let me know if you have been able to make your own laundry detergent cheaper for a good price!
Thanks
I have tried making my own laundry detergent powder. I used 3 ingredients; grated soap, baking soda and borax. Is soda ash light the same as washing soda? I bought it in a chemical supply store.
I loved the outcome of this project. Clothes came out clean and white.
Regarding Julie’s comment on Fels Naptha, I read this somewhere else regarding making laundry soap using :
“Fels Naptha soap was reformulated in 1998 and the Stoddard Solvent was removed.” Hope it is true
Is the homemade laundry soap beneficial to well water users? I can’t remember what I read years ago regarding this topic. Thanks in advance!
I’ve been making my own detergent for over a year now but I’ve noticed(or my kids have) that their Tee shirts have these tiny holes in them. I don’t know if the borax or what is eating holes into the clothes. I use 1/2 cup borax, 1/2 cup washing soda and 1/3 bar of fels naptha soap. It was working great but now I think it may be too harsh, really not sure what the deal is. I am using about 1/4 cup in a front loading machine. Super cheap!!
I’ve been making my own soap for almost 3 years now. with 5 kids you need to watch every penny! I do pre-treat the clothes with spray and wash. besides that for the grass and sauce stains my soap works wonders to clean the rest of the clothes! and it only costs me less then $1.50 to make a huge batch that lasts us about a month. I don’t make mine with wash soda because i can’t find it anywhere. so i use baking soda instead and it works just fine for powder and the liquid.
I have been using a homemade laundry soap for a couple of years. I use equal parts grated soap and washing soda. I buy Kiss My Face soap, which is pure olive oil soap, no additives, and it’s easy to grate on the fine side of my cheese grater. I then just mix it with an equal volume of washing soda. It works just great. I don’t scent it, because it comes out smelling of soap, which I love. If I need to soften the clothes, I put a cup of white vinegar in the rinse cycle. For stains, I use either hydrogen peroxide or Nature’s Miracle for a pre-soak.
I was just reading the Wikipedia site and it says that the OLD formula for Fels Naptha had Stoddard Solvent in it that is bad for you…the new formula is not harmful
Did some research and cooking baking soda does NOT turn it into washig soda, that is just totally ludicrous, it’s a totally different chemical compound…sheesh….stupid people get o my nerves
Where did you get your information? Ehow says you can heat baking soda and it will change the chemical composition to washing soda. A google search came up with other sites with information on this also.
http://www.ehow.com/way_5393341_washing-soda-substitute.html
Fels Naptha and Ivory doap have chemical fragrance which is very toxic to people, animals and the environment. Choose a pure, natural soap with no fragrance/perfume/parfum. Oxyclean free (fragrance/perfume free) is a great non-toxic whitener and stain remover. I use vinegar instead of fabic softener. Most fabric softeners are toxic. Particularly the.fragranced ones. If you must use one then choose 7th Generation, Earth Friendly, etc. You only need it for.synthetic fabrics and vinegar works well.
My husband’s workout clothes smell horrible – even right out of the wash. I have not tried homemade, but I have tried several “natural” brands. He wants me to buy “real” detergent and wash his clothes separately but I don’t really want to do that. What is the best thing for getting out odors?
That is a good question because my husband says the same thing. I think it is important not to go back to a regular brand. I am more worried about exposure to chemicals than food even sometimes. I wonder if vinegar in the rinse cycle might help with strong odors?
thank you for the recipe! I have always wanted to try this!
Interesting, but I don’t know if I am inclined to make my own laundry detergent!
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