How to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent

A woman's hand holds a cap with washing powder in front of a washing machine with clothes in it. — Detergent can easily be made at home with household ingredients. africa_pink / Shutterstock

Have you ever wished there was an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to store-bought laundry soap? Well, guess what? You can make your wish come true by crafting your own homemade laundry detergent recipe! Think about it: while saving money and reducing plastic waste, you can make a homemade formula that is just as effective as commercial brands — but often with fewer chemicals.

In this article, we'll delve into the benefits and strategies to creating a DIY laundry detergent at home. But first, let's make sure you have the necessary ingredients to make your own laundry soap.

Homemade Laundry Soap: What You'll Need

There are hundreds of laundry detergents on the market with fancy packaging, expensive advertising, and big promises. The truth is you can easily make a comparable detergent from basic ingredients in your own home.

Here's what you'll need:

½ bar of soap
½ cup of washing soda
½ cup of borax
Empty 4-gallon (15-liter) bucket
Scented essential oil, which is optional

Your Choice of Ingredients is Key

While the components to making your own laundry detergent are pretty straightforward, you still have choices to make. For example, you can choose any soap, but natural or hypoallergenic options are best for sensitive skin. Castile bar soap is a fine choice.

Borax is another key ingredient. It boosts cleaning power and is a natural mineral compound. Lastly, essential oils are optional for fragrance. Lavender, lemon, or eucalyptus are popular choices for a fresh, clean scent.

Making Homemade Laundry Detergent

Here's what to do:

Gather your ingredients. Most basic bars of soap, washing sodas and borax will work well.
Grate or break apart the soap into small pieces. You can use a cheese grater. Place the grated soap pieces in a saucepan.
Add 6 cups of hot water and stir over medium heat until the soap melts and dissolves into the water.
Fill the bucket with about 1 gallon (4 liters) and 10 cups of steaming hot water.
Mix the melted soap solution, ½ cup of washing soda and ½ cup of borax into the bucket of water.
Stir the mixture really well until all the powder liquefies.
Cover the bucket and allow the mixture to cool overnight. The mixture will thicken into a watery gel.
Fill an old, empty laundry detergent bottle with your homemade liquid for easy dispensing.
Use about half a cup of detergent with each load of laundry. Shake your detergent before using it [source: Lehmans].
Add 10 drops of essential oil to each load of laundry. This will add a subtle fragrance to your laundry, while acting as a stain remover and a fabric softener [source: The Real Essentials].

How to Use and Store Homemade Laundry Detergent

Use your homemade laundry detergent no differently than how you'd use any commercial detergent. For a regular load of laundry, use one or two tablespoons. This amount is effective yet shouldn't leave any residue on your clothes. Your homemade laundry powder should work with any high efficiency washing machines.

For storage, choose an airtight container. It keeps the detergent dry and clump-free. A recycled jar or an old detergent container works well. Remember to label the container for safety and convenience. Keep it in a cool, dry place to make sure it maintains its cleaning ability.

Benefits of Homemade Laundry Soap

Remember why you're undertaking this fun little project in the first place: it offers so many benefits! Firstly, homemade laundry powder is eco-friendly. By making your own detergent, you significantly reduce the use of plastic packaging. This small change contributes to a larger environmental impact.

Secondly, it's cost-effective. Store bought detergent can be pricey, but homemade detergent is often made from inexpensive ingredients. Thirdly, it's skin friendly. Many commercial detergents contain toxic chemicals that can irritate sensitive skin. Since you control the ingredients being used, you can ensure a gentler wash.

Finally, it's customizable. You can adjust the scent and strength according to your preferences. This can make your laundry routine more enjoyable, as you adjust your powdered detergent with each wash load. Your laundry room might become your soap-making laboratory!

Reduce Harsh Chemicals An Easier Way

If you don't want to make your own laundry detergent, but do want a natural way to reduce the chemical-laden products you use when doing laundry, try:

Vinegar: Adding some white vinegar to your washing machine during the final rinse will help get rid of any soap residue left in the clothing. Vinegar will also eradicate any synthetic fragrances.
Baking soda: Replace your commercial fabric softener with baking soda. You can also reduce the amount of chlorine bleach you use if you add baking soda to your washing machine when you start the load [source: MSU].

Wash Clothes With Your Own Detergent

Keep in mind that it's also possible to make liquid detergent at home. Many recipes prefer liquid castile soap as the main cleaning agent, rather than bar soap or soap flakes. There's even a homemade laundry detergent recipe that incorporates dish soap!

Needless to say, you can spend a lot of time fine-tuning your special formula. And all the while, you can avoid the laundry aisle and save money. Who knew laundry soaps could be so interesting?!

This article was updated in conjunction with AI technology, then fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.