Making your own laundry detergent is one of those “adulting” hacks that actually pays off. It saves you serious cash, cuts down on plastic waste, and gives you total control over what touches your skin.
If you are tired of mysterious ingredients and overpriced jugs, you are in the right place. We have tested the best DIY formulas to bring you recipes that actually clean your clothes without the fuss. Whether you prefer powder or liquid, we have a simple, cost-effective solution for you.
Key Takeaways
- Powder Recipe: Mix grated organic soap, Borax, and washing soda in an airtight container for a simple, shelf-stable detergent.
- Liquid Recipe: Dissolve lye-based bar soap, Borax, washing soda, and baking soda in hot water to create a gel-like liquid detergent.
- Cost Efficiency: Homemade powder costs about 8 cents per load, while liquid costs roughly 5 cents per load, saving significantly over store-bought brands.
- Safety First: Always label your containers and wear a mask when mixing powders to avoid inhaling fine particles.
How To Make Homemade Powder Laundry Detergent
If you prefer powder detergent, this recipe is incredibly easy to whip up. It requires minimal storage space and lasts a long time. Here is how to make a batch that cleans just as well as the commercial stuff.
What You Need:
- 14 ounces of Borax.
- 14 ounces of washing soda.
- 1 bar of organic soap, such as Ivory bar soap.
Instructions:
- Grate the soap: Use a cheese grater to shred the bar soap into small pieces.
- Pulse the mixture: Combine the grated soap, Borax, and washing soda in a food processor. Pulse it until you have a fine powder that will dissolve easily in water. Note: Let the dust settle inside the bowl before removing the lid so you do not inhale the particles.
- Store it: Transfer the powder into an airtight container. Keep a tablespoon measure inside the jar for easy dosing.
Cost Savings Breakdown For Powder Detergent
Is the effort worth the reward? Let’s look at the math.
This recipe produces about 32 ounces of detergent. Since you only need one tablespoon per load, a single batch yields approximately 62 loads. Even if you have a heavy soil load and double the dose, you still get 31 washes.
We compared this to three popular eco-friendly store brands, which averaged out to 20 cents per load. Here is how the homemade version stacks up:
| Ingredients | Amount | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Borax | 14 oz | $3.01 |
| Washing Soap | 14 oz | $1.26 |
| Ivory soap | 4 oz (1 bar) | $0.96 |
| Total per recipe | 32 oz (62 loads) | $5.23 |
| Cost per load = $0.08 | ||
Cost Savings
How To Make Liquid Laundry Detergent
If you prefer a liquid formula, the process is a bit more like a science experiment. You will need a large bucket and some patience, but the cost savings are massive.
Ingredients And Equipment:
- Hot water.
- 1 cup Borax.
- 1 cup washing soda.
- ½ cup baking soda.
- 1 cup of lye-based bar soap (avoid this if washing cloth diapers).
- 10-20 drops of essential oil (optional; tea tree, lemon, or lavender work well).
- Dust mask and protective gloves.
- 5-gallon bucket with a lid.
Instructions
- Prep the soap: Cut the bar soap into chunks, then use a cheese grater or food processor to grind it into a fine powder.
- Protect yourself: Put on your dust mask and gloves. Ingredients like washing soda and Borax are highly alkaline and can irritate skin or lungs if handled carelessly ( source).
- Melt the soap: Place the grated soap in a pot on the stove. Add just enough water to cover it and simmer on medium heat. Stir occasionally until completely melted.
- Combine dry ingredients: Pour the melted soap mixture into your 5-gallon bucket. Add the Borax, washing soda, and baking soda. Stir well to combine.
- Add water: Fill the bucket with hot water, leaving about five inches of space at the top. Stir thoroughly with a long ruler or paint stick.
- Cool and set: Allow the mixture to cool completely. If you want a scent, add your essential oils now (10-20 drops).
- Let it gel: Cover the bucket and let it sit overnight. It will thicken into a gloopy, gel-like consistency similar to commercial detergent.
- Store and use: You can keep it in the bucket or funnel it into old detergent jugs. Shake or stir well before every use. Use ½ cup to 1 cup per load.
Cost Savings Breakdown For Liquid Detergent
Liquid detergent requires more water, which stretches the ingredients further.
We averaged the price of three eco-friendly store-bought liquid detergents and found they cost about 28 cents per load.
This recipe makes about 5 gallons (640 ounces). Even if you use a generous ½ cup per load, that is 160 loads of laundry.
Detailed breakdown:
| Ingredients | Amount | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Borax | 8 oz (1 cup) | $1.76 |
| Washing Soda | 8 oz (1 cup) | $0.72 |
| Baking Soda | 4 oz (0.5 cups) | $0.24 |
| Lye-based soap | 4 oz (1 bar) | $5.24 |
| Essential oil | 10 drops | $0.15 |
| Water | Fill up to the brim (about 615 oz) | |
| Total per recipe | 640 oz = 5 gal (160 loads) | 8.11 |
| Cost per load = $0.05 | ||
Cost Savings
Additional Tips For Success
Transitioning to DIY laundry care is easy, but keeping these tips in mind will ensure your clothes stay fresh and your machine stays happy.
- Label everything: It is easy to forget what is in that random jar three months from now. Label your containers with the ingredients and the date you made it.
- Check ingredient sources: You can find most ingredients in the laundry aisle, but if you are stuck, try international grocery stores or hardware stores for things like washing soda.
- Temperature matters: This detergent works in both hot and cold water. However, for the most eco-friendly wash, stick to cold water settings.
- Skip commercial softeners: Do not ruin your eco-efforts with chemical-heavy softeners. Add ½ cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle instead. It acts as a natural fabric softener and removes residue.
- Consider storage space: If you live in a small apartment, the powder recipe is superior. A 5-gallon bucket for the liquid recipe takes up significant floor space.
Homemade Laundry Detergent FAQs
Is Liquid Better than Powder Detergent?
It depends on your water and your machine. Store-bought liquid detergent is often preferred because it dissolves instantly and treats oil-based stains better ( source). However, homemade powder dissolves just fine in most modern machines.
Commercial powders sometimes contain sodium sulfate, a filler that can clump and harm pipes. Our homemade recipe omits this, making it safer for your plumbing. Ultimately, choose the format that fits your storage space and preference.
How Do You Make Homemade Laundry Detergent Smell Good?
Essential oils are the best way to add natural fragrance. They offer scent without the synthetic chemicals found in commercial “parfum” ( source).
Great options include:
- Lemon: Fresh, bright, and possesses mild disinfecting properties.
- Eucalyptus: Excellent for removing musty odors and fighting germs ( source).
- Tea tree: A strong antiseptic, perfect for washing gym clothes or towels ( source).
- Lavender: A calming floral scent that is perfect for bed sheets ( source).
Pro Tip
What Does Baking Soda Do to Laundry?
Baking soda is a laundry powerhouse. It is alkaline, which helps neutralize acidic odors like urine or sweat. It also helps boost the pH of the wash water, allowing the detergent to work more effectively at breaking down stains and dirt.
Is Borax Toxic?
Borax (sodium tetraborate) is a naturally occurring mineral, but “natural” does not always mean harmless. It is generally safe for laundry when used correctly, but it can be toxic if ingested or inhaled in large quantities ( source).
Follow these safety rules:
- Avoid inhalation: Wear a mask when pouring dry Borax to avoid irritating your lungs.
- Wear gloves: Prolonged contact can irritate the skin.
- Rinse thoroughly: Ensure your washing machine rinses clothes well so no residue remains against your skin.
- Store safely: Keep it high up and locked away from children and pets. Ingesting large amounts can be fatal.
Monitor Your Reaction
How Do You Make HE Laundry Detergent?
Good news: The recipes above are naturally HE-friendly. High-efficiency (HE) washers require low-sudsing detergents. Since homemade recipes lack the foaming agents (like sodium lauryl sulfate) found in commercial brands, they create very few suds, making them perfect for HE machines ( source).
Quick Tip
Does Homemade Laundry Soap Clog Drains?
It can if you are not careful. Because homemade detergent is technically “soap” (made from bar soap) rather than synthetic “detergent,” it can react with minerals in hard water to form soap scum. Over time, this can build up in pipes. To prevent this, use vinegar in your rinse cycle regularly and run a hot water maintenance cycle on your machine once a month to flush out any buildup.
How Long Does Homemade Laundry Detergent Last?
Homemade powder detergent has a very long shelf life. As long as you keep it in an airtight container to prevent moisture from getting in (which causes clumping), it will last indefinitely. Liquid detergent is best used within 6 to 12 months. If you notice mold growth or a rancid smell in your liquid batch, toss it and make a fresh supply.
Get Clean
Making your own laundry detergent is a small change with a big impact. You save money, reduce plastic waste, and eliminate unnecessary chemicals from your home. Just remember to follow the safety tips when handling the raw ingredients.
Once you mix up your first batch, you will likely wonder why you ever paid for the expensive stuff in the first place. Your clothes will be clean, fresh, and budget-friendly.
