How to Make Laundry Soap (Liquid or Powder Recipe)

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Liquid or Powder Natural Laundry Detergent
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Making your own natural, homemade laundry detergent is one of the easiest parts of a transition to natural living. This natural laundry soap recipe a great way to save money on laundry detergent and is incredibly easy to make. This homemade laundry detergent post is an updated version of this recipe that addresses high efficiency washers and borax safety.

Why Switch to Natural Laundry Soap?

Conventional laundry detergent is loaded with chemicals like sulfates, fragrances, phenols and more. Many brands contain things like petroleum distillates, which are linked to cancer and lung disease. Fragrances in these detergents are made of a mix of harmful chemicals. (This is also why I make my own linen spray.)

Luckily, making your own laundry soap is an easy and fast process! You only need three basic ingredients to make either a powdered or liquid laundry soap:

DIY Laundry Soap Ingredients

  • Washing Soda (Arm and Hammer Brand available at most stores)Borax Powder
  • Borax (20 Mule Team Borax available at most grocery stores)
  • Bar Soap (Dr. Bronner’s,  Ivory, or other natural, unscented bar soap)

Washing Soda and Borax should be available at your local grocery store on the laundry aisle. Natural bar soaps are in the health, beauty, or organic sections of the store, or online. You can also add a couple tablespoons of baking soda to help freshen clothes.

Wonder What’s in These Ingredients?

Borax is a naturally occurring mineral made up of sodium, boron, oxygen, and water. It is an ingredient in most of the natural soaps available now (Seventh Generation, etc.) but it is much more inexpensive to make yourself. There are some concerns about the safety of Borax, but here’s why I feel comfortable using it, especially for laundry.

Washing Soda

Washing Soda, sometimes called sodium carbonate or soda ash, is made from common salt and limestone or found as natural deposits. If you can’t find this locally, you can make your own from plain baking soda with this tutorial. Here are some other great household uses for washing soda.

Dr. Bronner’s soaps are fair trade and made with vegetable castile soap and pure organic oils.

Liquid or Powder Natural Laundry Detergent
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4.10 from 66 votes

Natural Laundry Soap Recipe

This homemade laundry detergent recipe is easy and very inexpensive to make, plus you avoid the chemicals of conventional detergents.
Prep Time15 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Yield: 2.5 cups
Author: Katie Wells

Materials

  • 1 bar soap (such as Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Bar Soap or homemade coconut oil soap)
  • 1 cup washing soda
  • 1 cup borax

Instructions

  • Grate the bar of soap or chop it in a food processor until finely ground.
  • In a large bowl, mix together the grated soap, washing soda, and borax.
  • Store in a sealed container.
  • To use: add 2 tablespoons to ¼ cup of soap per load of laundry.

Notes

See below for instructions on making a liquid version of this laundry soap.
Homemade liquid laundry soap recipe

How to Make Liquid Laundry Soap

  1. Grate one bar of soap with cheese grater or food processor.
  2. Put grated soap in pan with 2 quarts water and gradually heat, stirring constantly until soap is completely dissolved.
  3. Put 4.5 gallons of really hot tap water in a 5-gallon bucket (available for free in bakeries at grocery stores, just ask them) and stir in 2 cups of borax and 2 cups of Washing Soda until completely dissolved.
  4. Pour soap mixture from pan into 5-gallon bucket. Stir well.
  5. Cover and leave overnight.
  6. Shake or stir until smooth and pour into gallon jugs or other containers.
  7. Use 1/2 to 1 cup per load.

These recipes are also a great way to save money on laundry. By my calculations, I am saving over half on my laundry bill by switching

A Note About Soap vs. Detergent

All Natural Laundry Soap Recipes - two ways

As mentioned above, there is chemically a difference between soap and detergent. The advantage of conventional laundry detergents is that they are formulated to work specifically in washing machine environments. Many soaps are designed for skin and are not as strong. Some sources suggest that over time, natural soaps can leave buildup in washers.

I’ve found that while this recipe works well for me, it isn’t suitable for all water types and washer types. If you’ve used natural laundry soap and experienced clothes getting dingy, this may be the reason.

I’ve found one natural detergent that works brilliantly and can be used alone or in combination with homemade laundry soaps like this one. I often add 2-3 Tablespoons of Dr. Bronners Sal Suds per load as a natural detergent. Sal Suds gets out tough stains and odors and is still a natural product (though technically a detergent/surfactant and not a soap).

Don’t Want to Make it?

Homemade Natural Effective Laundry Soap Recipe

We usually make our own detergent, but for times when we are traveling or I haven’t had time to make it, I’ve found a few good brands of eco friendly laundry detergent that actually work (all received an “A” by the Environmental Working Group):

  • My Green Fills Laundry Detergent – Just a warning… after you try this laundry soap, you may be ruined for DIY forever. This is the best smelling non-toxic laundry detergent I’ve tried and it works well on tough stains and dirt. Similar to my favorite all-purpose cleaner, a huge bonus is their eco-friendly approach. The detergent comes concentrated in a small refill packet (hence the name) which you add to warm water in the provided bottle. Super smart!
  • 2 tablespoons Sal Suds + 1/4 cup Baking Soda or Washing Soda (highly effective and super simple!)
  • Ecover Zero Laundry Detergent– Works well, relatively cost effective and low/no risk of developmental or reproductive toxicity and cancer according to the EWG.
  • Emma Eco Me Detergent – Also rated well by the EWG and cleans up to 64  loads for $12. Good scents.
  • Planet Natural Detergent –  Relatively eco-friendly and cost effective at $9 for 32 loads.

Obviously, the most frugal option is to make your own, but these natural alternatives are a good choice if you aren’t able to make your own or don’t want to.

Have you tried making your own laundry detergent? What ingredients did you use?

This homemade laundry detergent recipe is easy and very inexpensive to make, plus you avoid the chemicals of conventional detergents.
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Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

906 responses to “How to Make Laundry Soap (Liquid or Powder Recipe)”

  1. Melanie Avatar

    I used to love this soap! My youngest son had persistent rashes/eczema and we tried all sorts of interventions, to no avail. I knew it couldn’t be chemicals in my laundry soap ’cause I made my own. Then I thought to stop using that soap just for a bit, to see. Sure enough, his eczema cleared up with in a week (once we’d washed everything with the new detergent). I don’t know if it was the Borax or the washing soda that was too harsh for him, but something was. Maybe someday I’ll try to go back to it, but he’s still got sensitive skin, so I don’t want to make my usual 5-galloon batch 😉

  2. Staci Avatar

    I’m curious if this recipe can be made with the liquid (Dr Bronners) soap instead of a bar. If so, how much or how many drops? And how much soap to use for a front loading washer? Any recommendations on what to use for fabric softener?

  3. Laura Avatar

    I am looking forward to trying this out! I was wondering, does it affect the mix at all if I add an essential oil to the recipe? I like having something scented, but I don’t want to wreck it. Thanks!

  4. Jenny Avatar

    This detergent works great for me so far. Do any of you know if it would be okay to use on machine-washable wool? Please let me know. Thanks!

  5. angela Avatar

    For a complete laundry room clean – Try pet clothing, baby blankie/cloth diaper, basic laundry detergent, auto dish and bedding detergent by Rockin Green Soap, you can
    get out all sorts of smells and stains so pet beds and clothes can last longer. It works
    wonderfully on synthetics and microfiber. The soap is free from phosphates,
    bleach, optical brighteners, or fabric softeners which is the most awesome for sensitive skin. Most regular detergents can cause a breakout or two. I recommend
    the Rockin Green Soap for all things pet, baby, mommy, sports for kids and laundry that must be cleaned!

    1. Kit Avatar

      Thanks for the good info on Rockin Green. Sounds like a great product, but costly! $17.95 for a 3.2 pound bagful (or $20 for 2.8 lbs via Amazon). And I searched but could not find an ingredients list. Could you let us know from the product you have? (Arm & Hammer doesn’t say so either on their site, but my boxes do.)

      Mama Wellness’ recipe also has no phosphates (Arm & Hammer made the first no-phosphates soaps in 1970, my box of washing soda says). The comments here show quite a number of satisfied mothers with babies or with kids with eczema that find relief, and the batch I just made up that weighs 4.67 pounds cost me $6.71 to make for about 80 regular (1/8 cup soap) loads. True story!

      I made it with a 97 cent bar of Zote soap because I had it and other comments here claim big success with it; also it has a lovely fragrance, so I didn’t even use (added expense) essential oils.

      I used the recipe’s ratio:
      1 grated bar = 2 cups of Zote (14.5 oz regular sized bar)
      4 cups Borax
      4 cups washing soda
      2 Tablespoons baking soda (in a blender to finer grind the Zote)

      Next batch I’ll try the original recipe using Castille soap, although zero complaints with the Zote batch.

      HELPFUL TIP? I had a plastic container from the Tide Pods laundry soap, the 57 capsules size (3.17 lbs) and $15+ ! The above recipe ($6.71, 80 loads) fit in it with room for another cup.

  6. terri Avatar

    I have made the soap twicw, melted the soap completly. kixed with dry and all looks good, howver it starts to get soap pieces floating on the top, I have melted longer than the first time thinking maybe to would help, did the sae thing with in a few days. What am I doing wrong? Is there anyway to make the soap thicker?

  7. Julie Avatar

    I’m also wondering how much liquid castile soap to use in place of the bar?

  8. Viv Avatar

    If you use bar soap to wash your hands or shower with, save the little slivers of soap that are too small to use anymore. Instead of throwing them away, put them in a plastic quart jar with some water and then use this to make homemade laundry soap! Keeping the slivers of soap submerged in water until ready to use makes them soft and easy to work with. When I make my homemade laundry soap, I also add a bar of Zote as well since soap slivers can take a while to get enough to use for the whole amount needed.

  9. LAURA AUGHINBAUGH Avatar
    LAURA AUGHINBAUGH

    HELLO, I MADE MY LAUNDRY SOAP A DIFFERENT WAY- I BOILED 4 CUPS OF WATER IN THE MICROWAVE UNTIL IT WAS BUBBLING, I THEN USED AN OLD ICE CREAM CONTAINER TO POUR THE HOT WATER AND THEN ADDED IN THE CASTILE SHREEDED SOAP CHIPS, SINCE THE WATER WAS SO HOT IT MELTED RIGHT AWAY, I USED A SPOON TO STIR IT , THEN PUT IT INTO A BIG PAIL AND USED 1 CUP OF BOROX AND 1 CUP OF WASHING POWDER I THEN ADDED MY WATER AND STIR IT GOOD, LET IT SIT OVERNIGHT, IT IS WATERY BUT I THINK THE NATURAL SOAP LIKE CASTILE HAS NO ANIMAL FATS SO IT COMES OUT MORE WATERY, BUT IT WORKS, THIS WAY I HAVE NO SOAPY KETTLE TO WASH OUT AND NO SOAP IN MICROWAVE, JUST BOIL 4 CUPS OF WATER IN MICROWAVE , THEN ADD IT TO THE SHREDDED SOAP AND IT MELTS RIGHTS AWAY, LET ME KNOW IF OTHERS WOULD WANT TO TRY THIS, THANK YOU, LAURA

    1. disna Avatar

      This sounds great!!! I will definitely try this next time!!! I boiled my water on the stove then add the shredded soap to the water. I stirred it until it completely dissolves then I add the borax. I stirred until that i dissolves then the super washing soda which dissolves easy too since the water is boiling hot! But I like your ideas a lot better!!! Thanks for sharing!!!

  10. Jennette Avatar
    Jennette

    I plan to try this recipe tomorrow! Thanks for all the great tips and recipes… it will make my switch to all natural very easy, and I’m so excited! (I’ve delayed it because I assumed it would be difficult and expensive.)

    Question – I want to add baking soda so it will freshen clothes. (Making powder recipe.) Do I add the baking soda to the overall mixture – if so, how much? – or do I just add it as-needed to the load? Thanks!

  11. Susan Avatar

    I read on another site that if you use Ivory bar soap for the dry detergent you can put it in the microwave for a few minutes, it blows up like a marshmallow and then turns to powder, thus doing away with the need for a blender or food processor (I don’t have either). Anybody know if this is true?

  12. Keith Avatar

    Is the laundry soap ( in liquid form ) okay for HE front loaders ? If so, can I put it in the dispense tray?

      1. disna Avatar

        Yes, it does work great! I used the Surf detergent bucket. I follow Wellness Mama’s recipe but instead of using the whole bar of soap, I used only half of Zote bar soap! For my hot water in my bucket, I filled my bucket up to the top level with only about a 1/4 to the rim just enough rooms for the boiling hot soap solution and it turned out great! The next day, it all foam and gel up and I just used my hands to break it up so no more clumps. I used about 1 to 2 cups per loads depending on how soiled the clothes and temperature that I set my washer. It smells nice but its the clean clothes that I am more concern with instead of the output smell. It is definitely a money saver ideas and it works great!

  13. Misty Avatar

    EWG’s database gave Borax an F grade. You should definitely look to reformulate this and any other recipes without it.

  14. David Avatar

    What if I castile soap is unavailable to me? Can I replace it with something else?

  15. Sharon Avatar

    Could liquid Castile soap be used instead of a bar? If so, how much should I use? 2 cups, 2 cups and 1 cup of the liquid soap, or would that be too much?

  16. Lily Avatar

    I have used this liquid laundry soap recipe for several months now. I love it! I put some in a spray bottle and use it as a pre-soak/stain remover—works really well on hubby’s work clothes.
    I have emptied one container and had to refill it. When I opened my 5 gallon bucket, I could see where the soap had separated so I stirred it and refilled my container. It smelled really good when I opened the bucket up! I give the container a little shake each time before pouring it into a measuring cup and then add it to the washer. Even my husband says how great it is at getting the stains and smell out of his work clothes. If he notices something, it HAS to be good!

  17. Joseph Ashford Avatar
    Joseph Ashford

    My recipe is a little different. I mentioned on a post that I use Ivory soap because when it gets microwaved it suds up and hardens in the suds form. And its really easy to break down and add to the borax and laundry soap. And while I make this, I also make huge messes and added an oxygen cleaner as well (like OxyClean) to the tougher stains. I don’t know if its safe for baby yet, so that stays seperate as well. I use an old 1 gallon pickle jar to store my detergent. I really like this blog BTW. Much love to you and your family, and good luck!

  18. Riette Avatar

    I made up my 2nd batch of liquid detergent this past weekend. We’ve been using this now for over a month and I’m pretty happy with it! My son tends to have sensitive skin and there’s been no reaction whatsoever. I would like to know if there is a liquid one can make up to soak stained clothing in. The kids play in dirt, mud and with greasy fingers their clothing needs some special care. My machine can only wash cold so I might soak them in this “special stain-liquid” in a hot bath.
    Any ideas / suggestions?
    Thanks for a wonderful website – my dishwasher is testing out your natural dishwasher powder right now!
    xxx
    Riette
    (Johannesburg, South Africa)

  19. Brett Markel Avatar
    Brett Markel

    Hi,

    a tip to really powderize the ivory soap, first with use the food processor shredder for two bars, then freeze it, then put around two tablespoons or so of the washing soda powder and the frozen soap shreddings in the food processor, then pulse. Comes out real nice.

    Brett

4.10 from 66 votes (62 ratings without comment)

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