How to Make Laundry Detergent (Liquid or Powder Recipe)

Katie Wells Avatar

Reading Time: 5 minutes

This post contains affiliate links.

Read my affiliate policy.

homemade laundry detergent
Wellness Mama » Blog » Natural Home » How to Make Laundry Detergent (Liquid or Powder Recipe)

Homemade laundry detergent is one of the easiest parts of a transition to natural living. This natural laundry soap recipe is a great way to save money and is incredibly easy to make. It almost makes tackling that pile of dirty laundry feel like less of a chore!

Have an HE machine? Check out this HE article that addresses high efficiency washers and borax safety. The recipe is the same as the one below, but be sure to check with your washer manual before using a new laundry soap if you have any concerns.

Why Switch to Natural Laundry Soap?

Commercial detergent is loaded with chemicals like sulfates, fragrances, dyes and more. Many brands contain things like petroleum distillates, which are linked to cancer and lung disease. Fragrances in these detergents are made with 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. These ingredients are available at most stores, including Walmart, Target, Amazon, etc.

DIY Laundry Soap Ingredients

You can usually find a box of borax and some washing soda at your local grocery store in the laundry aisle. Sometimes I like to add a few tablespoons of baking soda to help freshen clothes. Natural bar soaps are in the health, beauty, or organic sections of the store, or online.

homemade laundry detergent
Print
4.10 from 66 votes

Natural Laundry Soap Recipe

Easily make your own homemade laundry soap with the cleaning power of natural ingredients! This powdered laundry detergent is safe for sensitive skin and free of harsh chemicals.
Prep Time15 minutes
Total Time15 minutes
Yield: 2.5 cups
Author: Katie Wells

Equipment

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 pulse 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 like a glass jar
  • 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.

Wonder What’s in These Ingredients?

Borax is a naturally occurring mineral made of sodium, boron, oxygen, and water. It’s in most of the natural soaps available now but it’s much less expensive to make your own homemade laundry detergent. Some people have concerns about borax but here’s why I feel comfortable using it, especially in my laundry room.

Washing Soda or super washing soda (sodium carbonate) is made from common salt and limestone or found as natural deposits. It’s not the same as baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), but you can make washing soda from baking soda. 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 essential oils. Some DIY laundry recipes call for a bar of Fels Naptha soap or Zote but I’m not a fan of the ingredients. After years of using Dr. Bronners, I switched to this homemade laundry soap in my DIY recipe.

These tallow based soap flakes designed for DIY laundry detergent also work well.

How to Make Liquid Laundry Soap

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

Not only is it easy, but you can save money too!

A Note About Soap vs. Detergent

As mentioned above, there’s a chemical difference between soap and detergent. Conventional laundry detergents are formulated to work specifically with washing machines. They can work even in cold water or with hard water.

Many soaps are designed for the skin and aren’t 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. Newer HE washer top load machines and especially the front load washers are notorious for not getting clothes as clean as old-school versions. They can also be more temperamental when it comes to which laundry soap they like.

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 odors and is still a natural product (though technically a detergent/surfactant and not a soap). It even works as a natural stain remover.

Don’t Want to Make it?

I used to always make my own detergent but now I’ll usually buy a natural brand since there are some really healthy options. Here are some of my favorites:

  • Truly Free– Just a warning… after you try this laundry soap, you may never want to go back to DIY. 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 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!) You can also use Sal Suds to make homemade dish soap.
  • Emma Eco Me Detergent – Also rated well by the EWG and comes in yummy scents.
  • Planet Natural Detergent –  Relatively eco-friendly and cost-effective.

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

Other Natural DIY Laundry Products and Tips

Instead of toxic fabric softeners, try using vinegar! Simply pour a cup of white vinegar in during the rinse cycle or in the washer dispenser.

Some people report good results with adding Epsom salt to their washing machine during the wash cycle. It can help soften hard water and reduce soap buildup for cleaner clothes. Here are some more DIY laundry recipes to add to your laundry cabinet.

Have you tried making your own laundry detergent? How did it work for you?

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

Become a VIP member!

Get access to my VIP newsletter with health tips, special deals, my free ebook on Seven Small Easy Habits and so much more!

Easy Habits ebook on ipad

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 Detergent (Liquid or Powder Recipe)”

  1. Amber L Avatar
    Amber L

    I’m going to make this and happen to have liquid Castile soap on hand. Do you know the ratio I would use for that instead of the shredded kind?

  2. Marti Avatar

    5 stars
    The water here is very hard. Can I still use the powder detergent ? Do I need to add anything to counter the hard water?

  3. Vickie Harding Avatar
    Vickie Harding

    I feel like the finished liquid laundry soap is a bit runny, did I do something wrong or is that what it is supposed to be like?

  4. Gilbert Avatar

    You should revisit the use of borax in your laundry detergent. Its toxic! I can tell you care about your followers, that’s why i reached out to you.
    Health issue

    Level of Concern

    Source
    May damage fertility.

    high

    EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes
    May damage the unborn child.

    high

    EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes
    Clear evidence of endocrine disruption in at least one animal study

    high

    EU Endocrine: EU Endocrine Disrupters
    Causes dermatitis, skin allergy

    some

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
    Causes respiratory irritation

    some

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
    Causes skin irritation

    some

    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards

      1. Debbie Avatar
        Debbie

        1 star
        Borex is banned in the UK and Europe. There must be a reason for that.

        1. Jamie Larrison Avatar

          Different countries ban different substances (including natural ones), but it may not always be the best action. For example, the herb ashwaganda is banned in Denmark.

  5. Lisa Avatar

    If using the Sal Suds, can it be added to the mix from the beginning or does it affect the mix?

  6. S Rose Avatar

    That’s a beautifully informative comment, as useful today as it was seven years ago. Thank you.

  7. paula mcwhirter-buck Avatar
    paula mcwhirter-buck

    I’ve used the liquid detergent recipe for years (Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soap, washing soda, borax), puting that in the detergent despenser, and vinegar in the fabric softener despenser. It’s worked well.
    But I see now that I can use Sals Suds straight (YAY!! NO MORE MIXING STUFF UP).
    BUT…..when using JUST Sals Suds in the HE washing machine, would one put the Sals Suds in the detergent despenser (I assume) and then the washing soda in the booster despenser? Or would one put them together in the detergent despenser (sounds like a bit of a mess….but, hey….I’m trusting you).

    I love most all your recipes!!

  8. Steph Avatar

    5 stars
    Hi, I’m looking all over the comments for Borax alternatives and haven’t seen it. I moved to South America and it’s not easy to get Borax in the town I’m in. Help please!

    I made the liquid detergent recipe yearss ago and loved it and want to have a toxic free option where I am now.

    Thanks!

  9. Akshay Gavai Avatar
    Akshay Gavai

    The Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds that you recommended contains Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. I’ve read before that this is not a good ingredient when used in skin care products. What do you think of its safety as a laundry detergent?

    1. Jamie Larrison Avatar

      Sodium lauryl sulfate is really good at stripping away oil. That can be harmful to the natural protective oils on skin and hair, but a good thing when it comes to cleaning things like dishes and laundry.

  10. julie Avatar

    I just found this recipe. I’m going to make some. Can I use only half the amount of water to make it more concentrated, then use half the amount per load of clothes? Would that have any effect on the ability to clean? Thanks

  11. Bethany Ellis Avatar
    Bethany Ellis

    Hi, I realize this is an older post but I’m just finding it so I hope I can get an answer. The instructions for the liquid version say to stir in 2 cups borax and 2 cups washing soda to the 5 gallon bucket. This is how my children and I made it. Then I watched the video, and it said to only use 1 cup of each (as listed on the original powder recipe). Will it still be ok to use this? I hope so since we have a huge amount now.
    thank you!

  12. Mariah Rutherford Avatar
    Mariah Rutherford

    I was wondering if your recipe for liquid laundry detergent could be modified and made using Dr. Bonner’s liquid soap, or if the bar soap is necessary?

    1. Jamie Larrison Avatar

      The bar is more concentrated and since it wasn’t tested with the liquid I’m not sure how much would be needed to substitute. I think the simplest option here is to just use the bar.

  13. Mindy Avatar

    Can I use liquid Castile soap for the liquid laundry detergent instead of a bar? I’m out of bars…

  14. Hayley Avatar

    Last time I made this I couldn’t mix it in the AM because it was so thick. I didnt use enough water because I have a 3.5 gallon bucket. Can you skip the leave overnight step and just jar up the liquid detergent and shake it the next day??

  15. Glory Avatar

    I have a question… Maybe I’m confused. For the powder detergent it says to use 2 parts washing soda, 2 parts borax and 1 part grated soap. And that you use 1 cup each of the WS and borax with 1 bar of soap. When I grate 1 bar of soap it comes out to about 1 cup. If I then used 1 cup each of the other 2 ingredients it would be 1 part each. Not 2 2 and 1. I’m just using a standard size bar soap. Thank you so much for all you do. I use so many of your recipes and love them!

    1. Abigail Avatar

      I have the same problem. One bar of dr bronners Castile soap equals almost 2 cups once I grate it. I’m just going to follow the 2-2-1 ratio and assume the soap she uses must be an exceptionally small bar of soap. For me, I’m using a whole bar of dr bronners (=about 2 cups), 4 cups washing soda and 4 cups borax. Hopefully that works – good luck with your ratios!

  16. Emily M Avatar
    Emily M

    Please highlight that this is not safe for high efficiency washing machines and add a disclaimer. I have used this recipe for about 2 years and I started getting dirt spots on my clothes. I ended up calling an appliance repairman who discovered scrud and told me scrud is due to not using a high efficiency detergent. He cleaned the washer the best he could but it destroyed my washer. Now I’m paying hundreds to replace my washer because I just didn’t realize this detergent was not suitable for high efficiency washers.

    1. Nancy Avatar

      I’ve been using this recipe (though at least half of the time I’ve left out the soap and added Soap Nut Liquid instead) with my high efficiency washing machine for years. Sometimes the interaction of water (hard/soft) and the cleaning solution may make a difference. We have a water softener, because our water is really hard. I’m sorry your machine was destroyed, according to the repair person. But in my experience, this recipe may not deserve the blame.

      1. Emily M Avatar
        Emily M

        Thanks for everyone’s feedback! I live in the city so could be that a water softener would help things, not sure how to detect exactly how hard my water is but that certainly could be a factor. I do see the disclaimer about high efficiency machines, I may have overlooked it when I initially got the recipe a few years ago, may not hurt to bold that or make the statement stand out for others. Thanks again for the replies!

  17. Regina Avatar

    Hi! I just made the recipe for liquid laundry soap.

    On the written recipe it says ” 2 cups of borax and 2 cups of Washing Soda”, however on the video says 1 cup of each, instead of 2.

    Which one is correct?

  18. Chantal Avatar
    Chantal

    Hi Katie,

    Would it work to mix the Sals Suds with washing soda and borax ahead of time so it’s ready to go? Do you know the ratios? Thanks!

  19. Christina Avatar
    Christina

    DO I have to use borax? I use oxygen bleach plus (sodium carbonate) and pure virgin coconut oil I scented soap.

    1. Jackie Avatar

      Great recipe! Thanks!
      I went one step further & processed the combined ingredients through the food processor one last time. I thought it might increase the chance of equal distribution of ingredients. I also like the fine powder it created.
      Thanks for the helpful, safe & healthy tips, tricks, recipes & information!

4.10 from 66 votes (62 ratings without comment)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating