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. Kathi Avatar

    Hi Katie,
    I made your homemade laundry detergent and love it – I think! I had a bar of Fels-Naptha soap, which is a laundry bar. . . .so I used it for the soap part of the recipe. Do you know anything about this soap and if it is ok to use? I am asking because I have started to have an itching problem :-/ I know it would be easy to just start over with another type of soap, but I made a pretty big batch and just thought I would ask what you thought first. I think if it is not a good ingredient, I could sift it and catch most of the soap and save the soda and borax. Let me know what you think – thank you!!

  2. Ava Avatar

    I forgot why I stopped using the diy recipe after just one batch a couple years ago: the darks were being spotted with residue.

    So I finally ran out of my eco store brand I hoarded from a clearance sale, and made another batch of the recipe. Well, it only took one wash for the memories to come rolling in. I figured maybe I was using too much and have kept reducing the amount the past few washes. Luckily I have enough backed-up laundry to test on, but there are two things that suffered from the first try, and I’ve been trying to wash out the residue. They get lighter each time, but I would like a method that I don’t have to re-rinse in the first place. These couple things I’ve resorted to rinse by hand, but I could use some advice moving forward if you’ve had success with darks. I have an old maytag top load washer, I wash with hot water, and because of this situation, I’m having it rinse twice with the second rinse containing a cup of vinegar. I’d like to go back to just one rise if I can to not waste water. Any advice?

  3. Bev Avatar

    Katie,
    I wondered if you wash cloth diapers in this soap? I used to make this but found that it made my diapers repel water (not good for cloth diapers) and also made my kitchen towels repel water. When I switched back to Country Save for my diapers they started absorbing again…. I just wondered if anyone else had experienced this.

  4. Fran Avatar

    Couple of questions.

    1) Where did you find Bronner’s soap for $2.99? I paid $4.50 for 5 Oz. at the Vitamin Shoppe

    2) Can you simply use Bronner’s liquid soap instead of the bar for the liquid detergent?

  5. Kathleen M Avatar
    Kathleen M

    Hello,

    Love your site. Have you (or anyone) tried putting castile soap in the food processor if you live in a tropical climate? It just turns into a clump, wondering if it’s because the soap is too warm. I put it in the freezer, but wondered if you had any ideas…thanks!

  6. Dana Avatar

    Do you have a good degreaser that you recommend? My husband does construction and his clothes get very greasy and I have not found anything that takes out the grease or cleans them well. Thanks for any help!

  7. Molly Avatar

    Thanks Wellness Mama……my conversion of our home continues as I have time to research each layer of the ‘onion’ that we peel away. I have been researching laundry options and wonder if you have ever looked into the eco laundry discs commonly used in Japan and have an opinion. Thanks!

  8. Peter Avatar

    From my calculations the savings really kick in when using 1/8th to 1/6th of a cup, and if I used 1/4th of a cup my costs are roughly equivalent to store bought 7th generation liquid laundry detergent.

    I am washing my 1st load with this “powdered” detergent recipe now, and I would note that the castile soap looks kind of like grated white cheese (awe!).

    If I continue to use this detergent regularly, I will blend the finished mixture (with a food processor) in order to break up the grated soap even more.

    FYI: In my wash water I definitely saw bits of undissolved soap before adding the laundry! Waiting to see if this affects the clothes in any way. My hunch is it will dissolve with agitation during washing.

  9. Edouard Avatar

    I can completely understand why you chose dr. bronners castile soap but since it doesn’t say specifically it’s for laundry, it means it contains a “super fat” meaning a percentage of the oils used do not turn into soap (usually 5%)…this unsaponified oil can deposit on your clothes and may never be completely rinsed out, also building up in your washing machine. That’s why it’s better to use a bar soap that specially says it’s made for laundry use. Those soaps are more aggressive, meaning they contain more sodium hydroxide (turns oil into soap) ad therefore gets your clothes cleaner. It’s not a major thing but just thought I might mention it 🙂

  10. Diana Haynes Avatar
    Diana Haynes

    Don’t do it !!!!!!

    Unless you plan on buying a new machine and clothes don’t waste your time and money.

    Homemade soap is the leading cause for washing machine repair. And for many companies use of such product now voids your warrenty.

    Secondly do your own research your not washing anything here. The bar soap doesn’t matter the brand it not Ment to be used in a machine. Wether liquefied or graded it doesn’t matter it is unable to be completely broken down which is why after a while you have a build up in your machine.

    Thirdly there’s a science to laundry soap and for good reason. Every laundry soap has a type in of
    Sufficant in it. This mixture does not, and it’s a main ingredient for a huge reason. It helps the soap break down the dirt and cling to it so it’s all able to rinse away. These homemade concoctions don’t have this which is why your clothes don’t get completely clean and after time have a different feel to them because of the build up. There’s nothing to help rinse the soap and dirt off the fibers.

    Go on Facebook and find the group Laundry Love and Science. They have it scientifically broken down why not to do this. With fact based information and sources cited for all their evidence and statements.

    It’s not because I said to its because there are safety and health risks to doing this. Any anyone that says that this is cheaper and healthier is lying. Yes it’s cheaper in price but is the price worth the health risk and damage to you clothes and machine.

    You be the judge but please do your own research.

    1. Kim Avatar

      Used recipe for three years with no problems. Hardly any lint in dryer either. Clothes don’t breakdown as fast – stay new looking much longer. At least, that is my personal experience. I use Fels Naptha bar soap.

      1. Jackie Avatar

        It all depends on your water. I used Fels Naptha or Zote and made this for just over a year. It did build up on my clothes over time and they were not soft at all, even using the vinegar as a rinse agent. I have water with a high calcium and iron content which react with the soap to form a film. I rarely ran the self clean cycle with detergent but it was a necessary monthly with the home made laundry soap. Also, I never had film on the door with detergent but I did with the homemade laundry soap.

        In the end, I stopped using it because it took longer cycles and more rinsing to get things clean and the film on my washer door wasn’t coming off as easily as it initially did. Also, odors were not coming out that well from the laundry although they did for the first few months.

        I still think it is worth trying for many reasons but for me, I stopped using it. The extra time, water, and electricity needed to make this work in my case was canceling out the benefits. I know it didn’t damage my septic system at all (checked with the septic guy at the bi-annual service call) but I don’t feel confident that it wasn’t building up in my HE washer. I was concerned about damaging it over time.

        I think that anyone who wants to try this out should go ahead and try it but if you have hard water, it may not work. I would definitely give it another try if I moved to somewhere with soft water (I have a water softener but our calcium and iron content is really, really high) or found a solid detergent bar to use in the recipe.

  11. Christine Avatar

    I ran a search on your site for fabric softener, but it didn’t come up with anything. Do you have a safe recipe that you use? Thank you!

  12. Jackie Avatar

    I used this for just over a year and reluctantly went back to detergent. I have very hard water with high amounts of calcium and iron. Soap reacts in hard water to create a sticky film. Even with a water softener system, there is still a lot of iron in our water. I used the liquid recipe as written and then upped the borax and washing soda to help out with the hard water. I also used vinegar in the rinse cycle. It did nothing as a softener for my laundry but it is supposed to help remover odors and soap residue so I always used it with the homemade laundry soap.

    After about a year, I noticed that my “brights” load (I have teenage girls and have enough pink purple orange and red to run them separately) didn’t smell like it had been washed. This is the load washed in the coolest water for the shortest amount of time. Also, I was having to use a pre-wash setting for dirtier loads. I think that the soap was building up on the laundry slowly over time. In short, I was having to run the washing machine longer (using more water and electricity) or even rewash the clothes. Because I do about 15 large loads a week, I felt that this was starting to cancel out the benefits of using the homemade laundry soap. I could see a residue on my washing machine’s door so it makes sense that some was on the clothes. I don’t think I would have noticed this when my kids were younger since they were outgrowing things constantly. Also, I noticed that my daughter’s white fitted sheet was becoming discolored where you lay on it. I wash sheets weekly without fail and she alternates between a couple of sets. She is a clean freak but I think the body oils and lotions were not washing out. The sides of the fitted sheet were noticeably whiter. I had to soak the sheets in hot water and run them with bleach (which I do not normally use in laundry) more than once to get them white again.

    I did look for an old brand of soap that I used in college called “Vel” that was made for use in hard water. It was great in hard water and really kept the skin from getting irritated. Unfortunately, it has been discontinued so I was unable to try it out with the recipe. I believe that Vel was a detergent bar, not soap but I am not sure. I have been unable to find a good substitute. I think that Zest may also be a detergent bar, but I am allergic to something in it however it may work for someone else.

    The homemade laundry soap did not not harm my HE washer but I did have to run the maintenance cycle more often. More importantly, it caused NO problems with our septic system. I still think it is worth a try and if I find a detergent bar, I will try it again. It is an inexpensive, environmentally friendly laundry solution if it works for you.

  13. Christa Avatar

    Just washed my 1st load and I am very excited about it! Clothes were clean and SO soft! No fabric softener needed. However, what do you recommend for stubborn stains? As this wash load did not remove heavy dirt stains from my sons pants. Thanks!

  14. Tanya Avatar

    Just curious, what bar soap could I safely use with the borax and washing soda to make the powdered soap for cloth pocket diapers (ALVA & Sunbaby) without it building up and having to be stripped frequently?

    1. Amber Avatar

      Hi Natalie,
      Yes, Dr. Bronner’s Liquid soap will work. That’s what I use now. I use the citrus scent and we love it. I use

      1.5 cups of Borax
      1.5 cup of Washing Soda
      2 cups of Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soap
      4-5 gallons of hot water
      I keep it in the 5 gallon pale and just open it as I need it. I use about 3/4 cup of detergent for a load of laundry. I turn on my washer then add my detergent and then add our clothes. I have not had any issues and out clothes are clean and smell great.
      Also, as the homemade detergent sets it will resemble more of a gel, that’s fine. Just stir it up and use it. It will break down in the wash and not stick to your clothes.

  15. Dana Avatar

    Hi wellness mama, is this recipe safe for baby clothes? And will it get out there Poo stains from clothes? Or do you use a different detergent for there clothes or cloth diapers? I am also cloth diapering.. Thanks for any help!

  16. Phil Avatar

    I have used the the liquid soap recipe (borax, washing soda, Zote or Fels Naptha) for 2 years now in a household of 3. It works and, more importantly, the results pass the mom test. =) The costs so far have been about $12 in the supplies and $10 in equipment – I went to the thrift store and bought a deep saucepan to melt the soap in and a grater.
    I ran the recipe past a few chemistry professors and asked if if there were any issues and if I could use bleach with it. All of them said (independently) that the only problem might be if you have hard water.

    GOOD STUFF!

  17. Eugénie Avatar

    Hi Katie,

    How are you ? I’m trying to go “all-natural” but I have some questions. How do you know your recipes are good from a scientific point of view ? Is it proven ?

    Thanks for your answer !

    P.S. : Sorry I have to ask 🙂

  18. Tracy Avatar

    I have a question about the quantity of bar soap to use. I hand grated the bar, then I put it in a coffee grinder. It’s very fine now, so the measurements will be off, as a tablespoon of fine contains more than a tablespoon of soap prior to grinding. So…how much Borax and how much Washing Soda should I use to go with an entire bar of soap? Thanks!

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