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 (20 Mule Team Borax available at most grocery stores)
- Bar Soap (Dr. Bronner’s, Ivory, or other natural, unscented bar soap) – If you have ever made your own soap, the laundry version of this coconut oil soap recipe is hands-down the best bar soap I’ve ever found for making laundry 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, 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.
Natural Laundry Soap Recipe
Ingredients
- 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
How to Make Liquid Laundry Soap
- Grate one bar of soap with cheese grater or food processor.
- Put grated soap in pan with 2 quarts water and gradually heat, stirring constantly until soap is completely dissolved.
- 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.
- Pour soap mixture from pan into 5-gallon bucket. Stir well.
- Cover and leave overnight.
- Shake or stir until smooth and pour into gallon jugs or other containers.
- 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
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?
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?
Can anyone tell me if this will be ok to use in a HE front load washer.I called the manufacturers and they said no, only use the he detergent, I really would like to use the homemade but afraid to, Thanks.
I’ve had readers say they used it in HE and there were no problems. It doesn’t foam, which is the main problem with most detergents.
I’ve used this recipe for a couple of years now. For me, since I try to make large batches at a time, the soap separates in the containers, which isn’t much of a problem when you use it just shake it vigorously. I’ve recently started using it in a dry form because the washing soda caked up in my HE front load machine & clogged the water supply when I added it to the soap cup. Even using it dry, it still caked & clogged the water supply when adding it to the soap cup. I’m still using it dry, but adding it into the basket with the clothes to avoid this clogging issue. I will not go back to commercial soaps under ANY circumstances, so we will continue to experiment with texture and consistency until we get it perfected – any suggestions on why it’s caking? We have followed your recipe with the hot water, etc. but there has to be a factor here that is not breaking down the washing powder….
Of course the manufacturers r going to say that. They have a vested interest working with the detergent companies. I have been using this detergent for several months and it works great. Mostly, my husbands rash is clearing up. So this is worth a lot.
I use it in my HE washers with no problems.
I’ve been using Tiny Bubbles (made by Gro-Via which was started in Bozeman, MT where we live) for my cloth diapers but our water was so hard they weren’t getting clean. We added Borax and have much better results. I think this sounds like a great alternative to my current laundry routine though. I’ve made my own soap in the past so I’m a little wary of the washing soda, but really trying to make the switch to all natural products. Thanks for the recipe!
Sorry for asking so many questions…I’m making it right now. I had a bar of unscented Dr. Bonners, and I’d like to add an essential oil. How much oil do you think I would need to add to the large liquid batch? Also, could I add a couple tablespoons of baking soda to the liquid sitting mixture as well? Thank you so much! I’m so excited about this!
To the large liquid batch, basically to your scent preference, but about 40+ drops would be my guess. You could definitely add the baking soda…
So no worries about the water going rancid? I’m going to use eucalyptus oil so I’m assuming that will keep ickies away.
I’ve never had any trouble with it at all…
I’ve had a hard time finding Washing Soda. Any particular store suggestions?
My Kroger has it but it’s also available on amazon if you can’t find it locally
My Kroger has it but it’s also available on amazon if you can’t find it locally
I just found some at walmart today. Target didn’t have it
Hi,
You can make washing soda out of baking soda. Just sprinkle baking soda onto a cookie sheet. Bake on 400 degrees in oven for 30 min. Watch the baking soda change to washing soda, it’s an obvious change. Walah, washing soda.
Such great input, making one’s own washing soda. Who knew? Sent me on a search. Turns out it’s actually more expensive to MAKE washing soda from baking soda — and possible hazards involved — than to buy washing soda. Nonetheless, a cool thing to know if one can’t find the w. soda and is supercharged to make laundry detergent TODAY, as so many obviously are, self included!
The site below pasted really does a terrific job of (mostly) scientifically explaining the making of washing soda, analyzing cost, and includes some surprise discoveries. WELL WORTH READING for the laundry soap maker and a pleasant read by a fun and determined author:
http://www.thefatdollar.com/Make-Washing-Soda-From-Baking-Soda-PHtest.html
Walmart, A&P and Shoprite sell it.
I grated my soap with the grater attachment for my Kitchen Aid mixer. I all washes away. I also use cold water. I have not had a problem.
I found this on the Nature’s Nurture blog site, How to make your own washing soda: The process is really simple. Just heat your oven to 400 F (or 200 C), sprinkle some baking soda on a shallow pan, and bake it for about half hour, until it changes composition. You should also stir it up occasionally, just so that it bakes more evenly. So how do you know when it changes into washing soda? That part takes a little more work; just a closer, watchful eye. Once you know the differences between the 2 sodas, you’ll be able to tell in no time. Baking soda is powdery, crystallized like salt, and clumps together. Washing soda is grainy, dull and opaque, and is separate grains.
I have had a couple of issues with it not getting stains out that normally would come out with my old detergents (Tide or Gain.) I am using the liquid detergent recipe. Any suggestions?
Add a vinegar rinse at the end or pre-treat with dishwashing liquid
I’m wondering about it causing the color to fade more (or less) using this method.
I noticed more color fading when I used the fels naptha soap, but not when I used the zote; I have yet to try castile soap, though 🙁
I didn’t notice any fading but I did notice a differnce in smell. I preferred to use the castile soap or ivory. Personal preference!
I would love to try this! I have heard though, that borax can be linked to infertility. Is that only when digested? I am just worried that washing clothes with the borax would be harmful…thanks!
All the information I’ve seen has been only if it is consumed internally or used in large amounts on the skin. I wouldn’t use it in soap or anything in the kitchen, but from what I can tell, it’s fine for laundry, especially since it is rinsed out…
Alright! That’s what I was thinking, but wanted a second opinion! Thank you, I love your blog! You have definitely inspired me!
But Borax is in your Homemade dishwasher detergent and that is in the kitchen. Thoughts?
Would you use this in a washing machine that requires he detergents?
Yep
My HE washing machine specifically says not to use “natural soaps”. I am on the lookout for a new detergent recipe compatible with this.
I’m curious if this recipe is safe for cloth diapers. We use a mix of prefolds, fitteds, and pockets. Has anybody else tried it with their diapers?
I cant see anything that wouldn’t be good, I used both borax and washing soda as boosters for my cloth diapers without an issue (even with my homemade tie dyes) and the soap is a pretty mild one so…
I use a recipe similar to this without the grated soap with washing soda, baking soda, borax, and an oxygen cleaner. I read (when I was heavily researching the topic) that the soap could leave a residue, which makes your diapers not absorb as well.
Do NOT use castile/bar soap on cloth diapers ! I use exactly the same ingredients as Amanda who posted also (1 part baking soda/1part oxyclean or sun oxy/ 1 part soda wash/ 1part borax). Also, do NOT use vinegar on PUL covers. The best way to remove stains and odors is to dry in the sun. 🙂 I love hearing about people using cloth diapers! <3
I am looking for nice inexpensive cloth pads and diapers… where can I find them?
Try Ebay. I bought some for my granddaughter a few years ago. They are called nappies.
what does PUL mean?
PUL is the outer cover fabric of many pocket diapers and diaper covers. Stands for PolyUrethane Laminate.