This homemade laundry soap recipe smells so good, works great, and is natural.
Running low on laundry detergent? You might want to try making some homemade laundry soap!
I first started making homemade laundry soap years ago…before I really got into couponing.
Then I took a little hiatus when I was nabbing awesome deals on store-bought detergent. But now that my hard-core couponing has, well, flown the coup (see what I did there?! 😀 ), I’ve come across some new and improved recipes and I’m hooked again.
It just smells so good, works great, and, as a super important bonus, it’s made of wonderful natural ingredients.
What’s in Homemade Laundry Soap?
Wondering why certain products are used in this laundry soap? Here’s a quick summary of why each ingredient was chosen.
Castile soap – Pure Castile soap is a vegetable-based soap that’s free of animal fats and synthetic ingredients. It’s a natural, non-toxic, biodegradable soap available in both liquid and bar form. It’s amazingly versatile and gentle enough to use on your face, body, and hair, yet strong enough to tackle many household chores such as laundry.
Baking soda – Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) naturally whitens and deodorizes laundry. When combined with Castile soap it also acts as a buffer, protecting the soap from acidic substances.
Washing soda – Washing soda (sodium carbonate) acts as a powerful scouring agent – increasing your soap’s cleaning power to get out ground-in dirt and stains and cuts through grease. It helps eliminate odors instead of covering them up. Washing soda also softens the water.
Epsom salt – Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) prevents fading, stabilizes colors, and softens fabrics.
Citric acid (*not in photo) – Citric acid is found in lemons and sour fruit. When used in this laundry soap it whitens whites, brightens colors, and softens water.
How to Make Laundry Soap
There’s really nothing complicated about making your own laundry detergent. You basically purchase the ingredients, grate or chop your soap, and mix them together.
Ingredients Needed to Make Homemade Laundry Soap
Here’s what you’ll need to make my favorite homemade laundry soap recipe…
- 2 bars Castile soap in the scent of your choice (citrus, lavender, and peppermint are some of my favorites)
- 1 cup baking soda
- 2 cups washing soda
- 1 cup Epsom salt
- 1/2 cup citric acid
This recipe will make approximately 2 quarts of laundry soap.
Helpful Supplies for Making Homemade Laundry Soap
First combine all your dry ingredients – baking soda, washing soda, Epsom salt, and citric acid in a large bowl.
Then you’ll need to grate or chop your soap. That’s the only “hard work,” if you want to call it that 🙂
You can use the middle grate on a box grater. If you’d rather, you can also throw your soap in the food processor and mix until finely ground like I do.
If you using a food processor it works best to first chop the soap into small pieces with a knife.
Then add 1/2 bar at a time with about 2 tablespoons of your dry ingredients to the processor to prevent the soap from clumping.
Then just mix all the ingredients and seal in an air tight container.
If you would like to keep your laundry soap on display, you can use a pretty glass jar like this one 😉
How to Use Your Homemade Laundry Detergent
To use your homemade laundry soap just add about 2 tablespoons to your washing machine before adding your clothes. For small or lightly soiled laundry 1 tablespoon should work fine.
I’ve always added my laundry soap to warm or hot water and then switch to the temperature I need before adding my clothes. I just feel it helps the the laundry soap to dissolve.
Extra Tips:
To pre-treat tough stains I use my all purpose cleaner. It’s simply 2 tablespoons of liquid Castile soap mixed with 16 oz. of water. I have to admit that I was pleasantly when my son’s muddy, grass-stained baseball pants came out clean using this method!
I add a downy ball filled with distilled white vinegar to freshen and soften clothes, and add wool dryer balls when drying to save energy and prevent wrinkles. I add essential oils to both the vinegar and dryer balls for a fabulous scent 😉
For heavily soiled clothes add an extra tablespoon.
Using the recipe above, you should be able to do about 64 loads of laundry. If you do ten loads of laundry per week that’s enough for more than 6 weeks.
Is Homemade Laundry Detergent Safe for HE Washers?
While I actually don’t have a HE washer myself, each individual ingredient is HE-safe and many of the other readers have commented on this post that they have used it in their HE washer with success.
References:
Bronner, Lisa. “What Can You Mix with Castile Soap?” Going Green with a Bronner Mom, 13 Dec. 2018, www.healthline.com/health/castile-soap.
Cronkleton, Emily. “What Is Castile Soap Used For? Uses, Benefits, What to Avoid, and More.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 2018, www.healthline.com/health/castile-soap.
“Homemade LAUNDRY Detergent: Discover the Amazing Cleaning Power of This Non-Toxic, Borax-Free Recipe!” Farm Girl Inspirations, 2014, www.joyelick.com/2014/04/homemade-laundry-detergent-discover.html.
Post updated 5/31/2019 with new laundry soap recipe that I am currently using.
So many of my friends swear by making their own detergent. I never knew the exact recipe and now I do! Thanks!
You’re very welcome! As I said when I first tried it years ago I was amazed! It really works great and smells so fresh!
How does it do for keeping colors bright? The only thing I worry about with homemade detergent is that it will fade the clothes or be too hard on the delicates. I have seen variations on this recipe before, but yours it the first I’ve seen with the purex crystals.
Hi Kim! I haven’t had any problems with fading. I do wash most loads on cold (with the exceptions of towels, socks, etc) so I’m not sure if that helps prevent the fading. I used to make my detergent years ago before the Crystals came out with only the Fels Naptha, Borax, and Washing Soda and that worked and smelled awesome too…but now with the Crystals and other ingredients it works and smells even better!
I’ve never seen the Purex crystals but I really think I’m going to try it. My family has pretty sensitive skin so I’d like to try something more natural.
Hi Kendra! While I’m not that sensitive, my hubby and kids are and they haven’t had any problems with this detergent. I love the Purex Crystals and there’s even a few different scents you can choose from. 🙂
Hi some people will use the Downy unstopables it’s similar to the Purex Crystals or you can add a few drops of essential oils to it also or you don’t have to add any it’s just an added freshener. Fabulous recipe I love it !
They do make a Purex baby version in the crystals. It’s hypoallergenic and I’m assuming scent free. I have allergies and was going to use this, but our Walmart didn’t have it so I purchased the tropical scent which didn’t seem too strong for me. I’m trying out my first load now! If I need to change to the baby version I will.
I have a recipe that only uses 2 bars of Fels Naptha. Should I add another bar to mine?
Hi Lynn! If your recipe is working well you should be good. Adding another bar might add to the amount of detergent you end up with making it last longer though 🙂
Does this work for HE washers? If so, I’ll try this but we’re renting and I don’t wasn’t to ruin it.
Hi Traze! While I don’t have an HE washer, a few other readers do and said they love this detergent. You can see their responses on this related post – https://savingbydesign.com/take-back-your-life-get-your-laundry-off-the-floor-and-back-in-the-drawer/ 🙂
Can you make this recipe in liquid for or just powder??
Hi Kia! I haven’t tried to make it in liquid form…only the dry which works great for me.
Is this for regular or high efficiency washers? If it’s not for HE, is there a modification that would make it low sudsing? Thanks!
Hi Jamie! While I don’t have an HE washer, a few other readers do and said they love this detergent. You can see their responses on this related post – https://savingbydesign.com/take-back-your-life-get-your-laundry-off-the-floor-and-back-in-the-drawer/ 🙂
I have use this recipe in my HE washer and it works great. The clothes come out clean and smell fresh. It also doesn’t fade your colors
you put it in the tub or in the dispencer?
How much of the detergent do you use per load?
Never mind. I just re-read it.
I made my first batch of the detergent in February. I grate my soap on the finest grate because I have an HE washer and use cold water most of the time. Three bars takes more time to grate this way but worth it for me (I may try my food processor next time). I love this detergent. Unfortunately, it did not last long for me. Why? Because I’ve done an exceptional amount of laundry and add extra to heavily soiled clothing. BUT I also use it for my Rug Dr rug shampooer! Yes, because of the fine grate of the soap and using the hottest water from my tap, I dissolve the soap ( I think i use 2-4 tsp) in the amount of water the shampooer will hold, mix it until it is dissolved then pour it into the shampooer. LOVE IT!!!
What a great idea to use it for your rugs too Jackie! I’ll have to try that! 🙂
My husband is allergic to oxyclean, would this still work without it?
Yes! It absolutely would! The original recipe I used was just borax, washing soda, and Fels Naptha so the Oxi-Clean isn’t really necessary 😉
What do you consider a “large” load? How much do you use for an extra-large load?
Hi Sherilyn! I actually use the Oxi-Clean container and scooper that came with it. I try to do only large (full) loads to save energy and water and for each of those loads I use half a scoop which I believe is about 2 tbsp 🙂
I just made this laundry detergent and am loving it …except it doesn’t seem to get stains out very well. Any suggestions?
Does this detergent work well with all clothing?! Can I use it for things I wash in hot water?
I tried this same recipe bout a month ago. Seems to be getting my clothes cleaner than my usual name brand laundry detergent. I’ve noticed though when I add this laundry detergent to the wash it doesn’t get sudsy or bubbly at all. It makes the water look cloudy. Is it suppose to do that? And it’s not very fragrant so my clothes and towels don’t smell as fresh. I think I’ll need to add another purex bottle. I use 4 Tbsp for Lg really soiled loads and 2 Tbsp for Lg not so soiled loads. Other than the 2 things I mentioned earlier, so far so good.
Yep! It won’t get real bubbly because it doesn’t have any of that extra chemicals in laundry detergents that make them bubble. That’s what makes it perfect for HE machines. And you are right…there isn’t a strong scent to the detergent so you might want to make up for that in a fabric softener. I love using vinegar with essential oils added to it (that post is coming!)…smells so fresh and clean!
I see the purex crystals is fabric softener? Is that what I need or do I need the detergent?
Yep that’s the one! 🙂
How important is the Fels Naptha? I received this recipe from a friend who omits the bars and says it still works wonderfully. That makes me wonder what the purpose of the Fels Naptha bars is?
Hi Marissa! The Fels Naptha is just a detergent…but since there are so many others also in there it probably would work just as well. Before this recipe I used to just use Fels Naptha, washing soda, and borax, so I’m sure there are lots of different variations that people have found that work. I’ve never tried one without the Fels Naptha though. If you try it let us know what you think 🙂
Is this safe for the newer he washers?
I have been using this recipe for a few months now and I have to say it is AWESOME! The only thing I did differently was used Ivory bar soap instead of the Fels Naptha. I love how clean my clothes get and my hubby’s greasy clothes come out smelling clean, which is something store bought couldn’t do! Will be making again!
I have a top loader HE washer and i have noticed that since it senses the load size and only uses the amount of water “needed” sometimes the store bought powder gets gets left on the clothes at times, (other people has this issue too) do i went to using liquid along with the fact we are on a septic tank. Will this powder be ok for septic tank and should it desolate better than the store brand so it will not leave a “powder” on my clothes?
I wash my whites with bleach. How does the oxyclean react with bleach?
They work fine together, however, when using the oxyclean you don’t need the bleach! It would be overkill to use both. Hope this helps!
Is Oxy-Clean all natural?
Hi! I have a front loading HE washer. I want to try this, but would I put it in the drawer where I normally put my current liquid soap or would I put it in the drum with the clothes? Thanks!
Hi Emily! It’s best to put directly in the drum with your clothes.
I live in country and have aseptic tank. Is this laundry soap ok to use with a septic tank and finger system?
Hello Lori! We also live in the country and have a septic tank, the last time we had it pumped shows not only is this safe, but much better for your septic tank than store bought!
So this may be a dumb question, but are you putting the whole box of everything together and mixing them up. Or did i miss the amounts you mix together?
Hi Bridgette! Yep, just dump the whole box in and mix them up 🙂
I love the smell of Gain – can I use the Gain fireworks beads instead of the Purex crystals?
Yes! You can also use essential oil if you’d rather keep with the “natural” theme. =) Hope this helps!
Can you use this for HE washers?
I have made this soap, however I make a sauce like kind. I use 4 cups water disolve phels naptha soap, stir in one cup borax, one cup washing soda put into a quart mason jar, fill it half way full, then finish filling with water to neck. Wait overnight put on blender and blend. Makes two jars and last pretty long. I like your idea, less mess with the melting of the bar and you get the crystals mixed in right away instead of separate.
Hi! 😀
I really want to try this! My sister-in-law swears by it! The qestion I have is it safe for HE washers? I’m afraid to use anything tthat might ruin the machine! Thanks for the recipe though, sounds great! 😀
Hi Ann! I actually don’t have a HE washer, but each individual ingredient is HE-safe and many of the other readers have commented that they have used it in their HE washer with success 🙂
Why the regular baking soda?
Hi Lois! Good question! I never really looked into why each ingredient was used…I just tried out recipes until I found one I loved. So thanks for asking! Here’s what I found…
“…adding baking soda to your usual amount of liquid laundry detergent really will give you “whiter whites” and brighter colors. The baking soda also softens the water, so you can actually use less detergent.”
Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
I used ivory bars instead of castille. Works! I have been using clean rolled up balls of socks (top is sewn) in the dryer in place of dryer sheets, for at least 3 years. That works too.
This is the first recipe I have seen that has Epsom salt & citric acid in it. I make my own powder dish soap that has citric acid. Powerful stuff!