This powdered homemade DIY laundry soap recipe lasts for over and year and is only $20 to make. Not only is it budget-friendly, but it is also HE friendly as well.
Have you tried your hand at making laundry soap? You should. And I’ll tell you why.
One batch of this soap almost filled this 2-gallon jar. This photo is after several months of use.
Can I use homemade laundry soap in a HE washer?
I have a HE washer and it works great in there. My mom uses the same recipe in her top loader and it works awesome in there too.
In case you’re wondering about long term effects I have used this recipe in my machine for 6 years now. No issues whatsoever.
How much DIY laundry soap should I use?
I use a coffee scoop to measure it out. I use 1 tablespoon per load.
Unless it’s a particularly big or dirty load. Then I’ll use 2 tablespoons.
At 1 tablespoon per load, I can do 320 loads with one batch of homemade soap. Craziness!
Do you know what else it’s good for? Getting out baby stains. Or any stains really but baby stains can be particularly tough sometimes.
You just get their little clothes wet, sprinkle some soap on the stain, rub it in, and let it sit.
Then you just toss it in a future load of laundry and the stain is magically gone.
No matter which end of the baby it came out of. Gotta keep those cute little clothes looking fresh and clean.
What is that jar of blue things? Those are Downy Unstopables in Fresh scent.
Have you tried them? They’re great. I was a little skeptical at first, but I was with my mom when she was buying some to try and the cashier at Target said she loved them and the scent lasted forever.
And after my mom confirmed that her laundry smelled great and the scent lasted I went out and bought some. And it really does last.
I put about a teaspoon in the compartment with my laundry soap and BAM! Fresh laundry smell for days.
Plus the soap is so cheap I feel like I can splurge and buy the laundry scents.
So how do you get your own giant batch of laundry soap? Here’s what you need:
Homemade Laundry Soap Recipe
- 1 box of Borax (4 lbs 12 oz) = 76 oz
- 1 box of Washing Soda (3 lbs 7 oz) = 55 oz
- 1 box of Baking Soda (4 lbs) = 64 oz
- Oxyclean or Sun Oxygen Cleaner (1.5 lbs) = 24 oz
- 2-3 Laundry soap bars – Whether that be 3 bars of Fels Naptha, 2 bars of Zote, a combination, or any other kind you can get at your local store. I have seen it $1-2 a bar at Wal-Mart and Winco, so check around. I use 3 Fels Naptha at 5.5 oz each. = 16.5 oz
How to make homemade laundry soap
Note: All of these ingredients can be found on your local laundry aisle with the exception of the baking soda which is on the baking aisle. I bought a 3-pound bucket of Sun oxygen cleaner and just measured out 1.5 pounds.
- Grate up the bar soaps. I have a fine cheese grater that I used, but I decided that I wanted them smaller still so I put them in my food processor. Don’t worry. These bar soaps dissolve almost instantly so they won’t clog anything up.
- Put all the ingredients into a garbage bag and mix.
- Pour laundry soap into the jar.
- Do laundry. (Just kidding. Kind of. )
Is homemade laundry soap worth it?
Now let’s do the math.
All of my soap ingredients came to around $20.
Combined this recipe makes about 234.5 oz.
1 tablespoon = 0.5 oz
So that’s 234 loads at 2 tablespoons per load or 469 loads at 1 tablespoon.
That is $0.09 cents per load and $0.04 per load respectively.
Now when you compare that to the average price of name brand detergent being about $8 for 32 loads of laundry, that comes to $0.25 a load.
So you are saving at least half by making it yourself. And you can do laundry almost every day for a year for about $20. You can’t beat that.
UPDATE (6/18/14): I finally made a second batch of this. The first batch lasted 22 months!! Keep in mind that we don’t do laundry every day and I only use 1 tablespoon per load. I find that our clothes are good and clean with this amount of soap.
UPDATE (7/26/19): I still use this soap recipe. It works great and is so cheap compared to purchasing laundry detergent.
Be sure to share this with all of your friends. Maybe have a soap making party. How fun would that be?
Homemade Laundry Soap Recipe
This homemade DIY laundry soap recipe lasts for over and year and is only $20 to make. Not only is it budget-friendly, but it is also HE friendly as well.
Materials
- 1 box of Borax (4 lbs 12 oz) = 76 oz
- 1 box of Washing Soda (3 lbs 7 oz) = 55 oz
- 1 box of Baking Soda (4 lbs) = 64 oz
- Oxyclean or Sun Oxygen Cleaner (1.5 lbs) = 24 oz
- 2-3 Laundry soap bars - Whether that be 3 bars of Fels Naptha, 2 bars of Zote, a combination, or any other kind you can get at your local store. I have seen it $1-2 a bar at Wal-Mart and Winco, so check around. I use 3 Fels Naptha at 5.5 oz each. = 16.5 oz
Instructions
- Grate up the bar soaps. I have a fine cheese grater that I used, but I decided that I wanted them smaller still so I put them in my food processor. Don't worry. These bar soaps dissolve almost instantly so they won't clog anything up.
- Put all the ingredients into a garbage bag and mix.
- Pour laundry soap into the jar.
- Do laundry. Just kidding. Kind of.
Love this! This is almost the exact recipe that I used to use. My daughter has super terrible eczema which eventually meant switching to an expensive free and clear soap. Wish I could go back!
I wonder if you could still make your own but use Ivory soap and maybe wash her clothes separate and use half the detergent….
There are bars of a soap called Castile. If you switched that part of the formula it would probably do it. I also fill the rinse dispenser w/white vinegar. This rinses residues of soap and hard water out better. I also would make sure the Oxi clean is scent free.
The borax is what most people react too with sensitive skin. I took it out and use organic epson salt in its place, plus baby oxy clean. I’ve had zero issue with my skin since using this mixture.
That’s good to know. Thanks Debra for sharing your tips on making the recipe safe for sensitive skin.
This is the same recipe we use, right down to the Downy Unstoppables! It’s awesome.
Does anyone know if this can be used on Kawaii Cloth fitted diapers?
My understanding about homemade laundry soap for cloth diapers is that you don’t want to use and bar soaps. So no Zote, Fels Naptha, Ivory, etc. They will build up on the diapers and repel the water. But I think you can use this same recipe without the bar soaps have it work great, although I have not tried it myself since I don’t cloth diaper.
I use this kind of homemade soap mix and have used it on my cloth diapers (both microfiber pockets and cotton prefolds) for about 2 1/2 years. The last year I’ve used the mix minus the bar soap for the reason Amber gave. I was having some problems with leaking and stink but cutting out the bar soap seems to have fixed that. My diapers are still in great condition.
Wow!! First of all, I never even thought about making my own laundry detergent so this is wonderful! I can’t believe how much it makes, how long it lasts and how inexpensive it is. Great post!
Do you have any idea how this does on sensitive skin? I’ve always had to use the “Free and Clear” soaps. i wonder if this would work for my family. Thanks for the great recipe.
I don’t know specifically about sensitive skin but we’ve been using it with our baby since day 1 and never had any issues with him breaking out or anything.
Yes, but use Ivory soap. Not a laundry bar. I get the ten pack from Walmart for $3.97£
I have been making my own laundry soap for a year now and I love it! I did switch to using Ivory soap from using Fels. The Fels was sooo strong it made my husband sneeze. I haven’t tried the Downy, I have been using the Purex Crystals. I will have to try the Downy!
I’ve been making laundry soap but I only used Borax/Washing Soda/Fels Naptha. I’m going to try the extra ingredients next batch. I love my homemade laundry soap. I have a HE front load washer and it works great and keeps my machine clean and smelling good. I hope more people try this.
I love it . I love the smell of my clothes when washed in this soap . Thanks for your post.
I really wanted to try making my own soap but I am worried that it might be a problem for my septic system. Is this septic safe? Or Ivan I just exclude the baking soda?
I have been using this recipe for over a year now and have not had any septic issues.
That’s great to know Suzie. Thanks for letting us know.
I have got to try this!!! Imagine not having to buy laundry detergent for almost 2 years!
Do you still use fabric softener or is that what the Downey unstoppable a are for??
The Downey Unstoppables are for scent. I don’t use fabric softener though. Or dryer sheets. I only use this homemade soap.
Purex Crystals are a scent booster and the scent lasts a long time also. They’re also a fabric softener.
@Debra…. I made a “baby formula”. Using either Johnson & Johnson baby bar soap or Ivory . Either works fine. J&J smells a lil more baby like. 🙂
What is the purpose of the baking soda? Doesn’t the A&H washing soda have the same odour fighting power as the baking soda?
From what I have read on the subject they have different Ph balances. Baking soda is more base and washing soda is more alkaline. So they do clean differently and are not the same thing.
For scent add Lavender, Tea Tree, Lemon or Orange Essential Oil, anti-bacterial also!
Could you just use a nice lavender soap instead of fels naptha?
How does this soap do ejem you wash dark colors? Will it fade them?
I haven’t noticed any issues with fading.
I have used this laundry soap for quite some time, I absolutely love it my Husband travels and he always makes sure I pack some for laundry while he is away, and it also makes everything smell so good in his suitcase. I have an HE Washer and Dryer and it works perfect I’m loving it, I use the lavender Pyrex crystals and I mix right into the laundry soap…
How would this work with well water which also has quite abit of chlorine in it.
I’m not sure, but I don’t think that it would make that big of a difference.
just made it will keep u all posted!!
Ok just about done with first batch but, we have 2 washer in my home and 6 people and 5 of us are girls!!! Have to say we love it!!!!
Isn’t it great?
Do you put the detergent in the reservoir or directly in the machine? I’ve read both ways but I’m not sure if it makes any difference.
I don’t know if it makes a difference either. I always just put it in the reservoir.
Is this recipe ok for HE washers?
This recipe works great in HE washers. I’ve been using it in my HE washer for 2.5 years with no issues.
Hello,
I just find your recipe and I would love to try but I m a bit confuse with the measurement as I am use to grams or even cups but when I measure all in oz from your recipe I came across 978 g and if use all in lbs I came across 5670 g which doesn’t match if I google 160 oz ( the whole batch) its 4535 g. Does it makes sense? Or maybe I just lost myself in the counting lol Would you be able to explain further more? Thank you so much for your help,
Nina
Nina,
I don’t know where I got 160 oz. I’m going to blame that on pregnancy brain at the time I wrote the post. Let me try this again.
1 box of Borax (4 lbs 12 oz) = 76 oz
1 box of Washing Soda (3 lbs 7 oz) = 55 oz
1 box of Baking Soda (4 lbs) = 64 oz
Oxyclean or Sun Oxygen Cleaner (1.5 lbs) = 24 oz
3 bars of Fels Naptha (5.5 oz each) = 16.5 oz
TOTAL = 234.5 oz or about 6648 grams
Does that sound better? Thanks for catching my math error. I will update the post with the new numbers.
I made this detergent without the scented Downy part, used Fels Naptha soap and I get grease like stains on my clothing…had to go back to Wisk or Tide. Any ideas why? I made it in food processor.
That is odd. I have never heard of this happening to anyone. All of the soap should dissolve in the water fairly quickly. Are you using just a small amount? Like 1-2 tablespoons? If you used more then it might be difficult to get it all to dissolve depending on your washer and the amount of water it uses.
I use a small amount and warm water but my water is softened,
Hi, I look for the materials you post but where I live i can’t find Fels Naptha, Zote neither Borax. Are any substitutes for these materials?
You can substitute ivory bar soap for the Fels Napthan or Zote. But as far as I know there is no substitute for the Borax. However, Amazon sells all of the ingredients so you could always order them online. I have also seen all of the ingredients at WalMart. Have you checked there?
Does it suds up in the washer or just dissolve in the water?
This is a low suds recipe which makes it great for HE washers. It mostly dissolves in the water. I have been using this recipe for 3 years now and no issues whatsoever.
Hi! Does this leave a white residue on your dark colors.
Hi Gretchen. I have never noticed and residue on any of our clothing. If you are using a top loading machine it might be helpful to let it fill up a bit before you add the detergent and then add the clothing last to ensure the soap dissolves better in the water.
I don’t have a HE washer, any idea how much of this I should use per load? Thanks!
The same amount, 1-2 tablespoons. The difference in HE and regular detergent is the HE doesn’t suds as much.