Laundry Detergent Recipe: How to Make your Own Laundry Detergent
This is the best laundry detergent recipe I have used! It was very simple to make, turned out well, and I love that it’s got all natural ingredients! I have sensitive skin and this has worked fantastically. I used to use All Free and Clear but now this is my one and only laundry detergent.
Before I started, I gathered up the following supplies:
- A pot to melt the soap in
- Bar of soap (I chose Ivory soap because it is non irritating)
- 1 gallon jug
- Trash can to store laundry detergent in
- 1 box of Washing Soda
- 1 box Borax
- Long handled spoon to stir mixture
Where do you buy washing soda? It was a little tough to find, but my local grocery store carried it in the laundry detergent aisle. I called 1-800-524-1328, put in my zip code, and it told me where I could find it.
Here is the recipe for dry laundry detergent:
- 2 1/2 ounces soap bars, grated into flakes (Approx. a half a bar of soap)
- 1 cup borax
- 1 cup washing soda
Here’s the homemade laundry detergent recipe for liquid laundry detergent:
- 1 bar of soap of your choice
- 1 cup washing soda
- ½ cup borax
My first step was to almost boil about 4-5 cups of water, and shave the bar of soap into the water, stirring occasionally. Once that was done, I let it sit on the stove while I poured three gallons of hot water into my trash can. I then measured out 1 cup of washing soda and 1/2 cup of borax. I took the hot soap mixture, added it to the water in my trash can, and stirred until it looked pretty evenly distributed. Then I slowly added my 1 cup of washing soda until that was dissolved, and then did the same to the borax. That’s it. Fairly simple. I’m going to let it sit and get cool before I try to use it. It’s pretty liquid right now.
I have a front loading high efficiency (HE) washing machine. I’m use about a half a cup of this for my laundry loads.
I love making my own laundry detergent! I have not done so in a few months though because I’ve been a slacker! lol!!
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Let us know how it works out!
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Very cool. I haven’t made homemade laundry detergent yet, but I did read this week that vinegar works just as well as fabric softener. Have you tried that? I’ll be eager to hear how you like your laundry detergent.
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This is a great post! How did the detergent work out in your HE washer? Are you happy with the laundry results?
Am enjoying your blog very much!
Sheri
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Hi Sheri! Thanks so much for your compliments! Your blog is one of my favorites.
The laundry detergent works really well for me in the HE washer. I never have soap residue, the clothes smell great (no perfumey smells, which I love!), and my skin doesn’t get irritated. It is fantastic!
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I made my own detergent, using a slightly different recipe than listed but I love it! My husband thinks it is disgusting but lets face it, he never does laundry! I rinsed out two milk jugs and used them to hold the detergent. So far, so good!
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Thanks for the recipe! I use the same ingredients for my powdered mixture: equal amounts of grated soap, borax and washing soda. I use 1 Tbsp per load. I have never tried making a liquid detergent, but I’ll have to give this recipe a try.
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