Making your own Homemade Laundry Detergent
I finally decided to try and make my own homemade laundry detergent using ingredients you can buy at your local supermarket. I was a little bit worried when I saw how many ingredients I needed to buy to make this, and wondered if this would really be cost effective or not. But after making this, doing the math and using it I can tell I will always be making and using my own homemade from now on. It’s a great way to save money!
Here are the cast of ingredients to make your own homemade laundry detergent:
1 Box of Super Washing Soda 3 lb. 7 oz. ($3.24)
1 Box of Borax 4 lbs 12 oz. size ($3.38)
1 Box of Pure Baking Soda 4 lb. ($2.12)
3 bars of Fels-Naptha 5.5 oz. or you could also use Ivory soap ($0.97 x3)
1 container of Oxy-Clean 1.3 lb ($3.86)
*optional: Purex Crystals 28 oz. for scent (or you could use Downy unstoppables ) ($5-$6)
All these ingredients cost a total of $20.27 out of my pocket (Walmart prices).
And that was without using coupons. If some coupons become available you will spend even less.
The first step is to grate your Fels-Naptha Bar. You can use a cheese grater to do this, but I used my food processor as it was a lot quicker. Using my food processor I first grated the bar like cheese, and then used the regular blade to grate down fine. You could use Ivory soap (just microwave it and it will foam where you can just crush it into a fine grade).
Next I grabbed one of my plastic tote bins and put a black garbage bag inside of it. Then I poured each one of the ingredients inside like so.
Mix all these ingredients up well. Possibly throw in some free child labor.
Then add it all to your container of choice.
There is quite a lot of this homemade laundry detergent. In fact it is 18 lbs. worth!
That is 18 lbs of Laundry Detergent!
You only need to use 1-2 tablespoons per load, and yes you can use it in your High Efficiency washing machines (that’s what I have been using). Some people worry that just 1-2 tablespoons is not enough, but this stuff is concentrated and works really well! I have been using it for months now. My daughter has really sensitive skin, and this has been wonderful for her since all the others out there have add-ins.
But is this cost effective?
So I did the math of course, to figure out how much per load this recipe makes. I am super excited about the results because it is as low as $0.04 per load which is a stock up price when it comes to laundry detergent and using coupons. But watch for coupons on these items to even make the cost lower.
By Comparison –
Ultra Tide powder 143 oz. box, 8.9 lbs. = $17.97 at Walmart ($0.12 per load)
This Homemade Laundry Detergent recipe makes 18 lbs (or 288 oz.) and costs $20.27. 1 lb of this is about 28 tablespoons. 18 lbs equals 504 loads @ 1 tbsp per load. Final price is just $0.04 per load!
So $0.04 per load homemade versus $0.12 per load (Tide).
So even the largest box of Tide detergent at Walmart which has 102 loads won’t last as long as this homemade stuff. And you can save so much money by making this yourself. Give it a try, you won’t be sorry…I promise!
Homemade Laundry Detergent
Ingredients
- 1 box Super Washing Soda 3.7 lb
- 1 box Borax 4 lb 12 oz. size
- 1 box Pure Baking Soda 4 lbs
- 3 5.5 oz bars of Fels-Naptha
- 1 container Oxy-Clean 1.3 lb
- 1 28 oz *optional: Purex Crystals for scent or you could use Downy un-stoppables
Instructions
- Finely grate the Fels-Naptha. Mix all the ingredients together and store in container of your choice. Use only 1-2 Tablespoons of detergent per load.
Homemade Laundry Detergent – costs $20.27 to make – can last a whole year or even longer (504 loads)
Updating this post: this recipe has lasted 10 months for my family of 6!! Plus I wanted to share this awesome comment posted from Nick (thanks for your service Nick!):
I think that is the best comment ever!
OTHER GREAT DIY CLEANING RECIPES
- Best EVER Homemade Carpet Cleaning Solution
- All Natural Carpet Cleaning Solution Using Vinegar
- DIY Carpet Cleaner Powder Dry Shampoo
- Homemade Armor All Car Cleaning Spray
- DIY Liquid Hand Soap recipe
- Make Your Own Swiffer Wet Pads
About Karrie
Food is my love language. But so is saving money. So I like to combine the two a lot and make thrifty make ahead and freeze meals to save time. Because life is busy, and freezer meals can come to the rescue for all of us. And yes, they actually CAN taste good. Read more...
Comments & Reviews
Kelly T says
I make this about 5 months ago and am ready for another batch. I loved that I made something so affordable and yet it works great! My only problem is that after grating the Fels-Naptha I started noticing a sore throat and as I began mixing the product I had a HORRIBLE sore throat for about 2 days afterward. I am a nurse and know that I received a chemical burn to my esophagus from inhaling the fumes from the mixture so I am hesitant to mix up another batch. This time I will wear a mask and do it outside. Have you had this happen before?
Happy.MoneySaver says
I haven’t had a problem with this before.
Carol says
I was wondering as I read many questions/answers – We are rural and have a septic system and someone did ask the question about using powdered laundry detergent with a septic system….it wasn’t answered for as far as I could tell……answer, please, if you know?
Happy.MoneySaver says
I am not sure about using powdered laundry detergent when you have a septic tank. From the small amount of research I have done one of the big problems is when you use excessive amounts of powdered detergent that fail to dissolve in the washing machine. This recipe doesn’t have any fillers in it and uses such a small amount of detergent. Maybe try contacting your septic tank inspector for a more accurate answer! 🙂
Teresa says
Just made my second batch of this today. I did the last batch almost a year ago this week. I didn’t use the Purex crystals last time, but I bought some this round so we’ll see how the laundry smells now. I have 4 active boys, and this works just great on their clothes. Thanks so much for this. I’ve got my years supply now.
Olive Oyl says
A couple of questions:
1. I often stick my hand in the laundry to gauge the amount of detergent I need (because some loads are dirtier than others). Is it safe for my hands when BORAX is in the mix?
2. Most of my laundry is sweat, I don’t have much stained clothing. Can I skim the Oxyclean?
Thanks in advance!!
Happy.MoneySaver says
I would probably make sure I washed my hands throughly after sticking my hand in the detergent. If you are worried do what I do and use an old measuring cup. You can measure out how much is in your handful and get the closest one to it!
I haven’t tried skimming the Oxyclean–I need it at my house! :)– but give it a try and see if you like it!
Karen Threlkeld says
I love this recipe! I share it with all my friends and when i run into nice people at the laundry mat (only if i need to).
Thank you for sharing this!
Jackie Favarola says
Q question….the recipe calls for three bars of soap, 5.5 oz., and says you can use Zote, 12oz…..Do you still use three bars?
Jackie Favarola says
Never mind I just read the answer from another q and a!
Gini says
I just made up a batch of your DIY laundry powder, and I love it! I even added a cup of Epsom salts to the mix to help soften the load. I placed it in a large, decorative jar purchased at Walmart, and with my little scoop, it looks very pretty in the laundry room!! I cannot believe all the $$ I am going to save on this huge batch –enough to give to my daughter, so SHE won’t ever have to buy laundry detergent again! Thank you!
Danielle says
This recipe calls for a 1.3lb box of oxy.. but in the photo it looks more like a 3lb or bigger tub.. what am I missing here?
Happy.MoneySaver says
I already had tub of Oxy so I just measured it out for the recipe. But I knew that most people would just want to buy the box to add in to the recipe! 🙂
Katie says
This comment is actually about the dishwasher tabs- maybe I missed something but couldn’t find a spot to comment over there 😉
I can’t seem to find a suggestion for portions. I made the dishwasher tabs and like them, but think I made them too big. How many tabs should one batch have made? Thanks for your help- your blog is a favorite and I use all your homemade cleaning recipes!!!
Lou says
Is there a recipe for a smaller batch of this detergent? I would like to try it before commiting to full batch.
Happy.MoneySaver says
I haven’t tried making a smaller batch. Maybe you could split the batch with someone else or use a scale to half each ingredient and only make a half batch! 🙂
Liz says
I just made my first batch of laundry soap. It seemed like some of the clothes have faded a little has anyone else noticed this? The recipe I used called for zotz soap, washing suds, borax, and baking soda . Anyway thoughts or suggestions I should mentioned I did not use all of the borax it called for.
Kelly T says
I have only noticed one of my scrub tops fading a bit but that could be just the fabric. I haven’t noticed any other fading and I’ve been using the product for at least 6 months. I didn’t use Zotz soap though, I used Fels-Naptha and I didn’t add the Oxi-Clean. I add that only to my whites separately.
Liz says
I just made my first batch of laundry soap. It seemed like some of the clothes have faded a little has anyone else noticed this?
Tarny S Vanase DuBois says
Hi everyone,
I just want to say, I love this stuff! My mother and sister found your recipe, and made a huge batch, and shared it with all of us! My mom has now become the head chef, and she has made like four or five batches in just the last month or so. She makes a batch for herself, my sister, me, one for each of my two brothers, and some of her friends! We are all hooked! It’s fabulous! It has gotten stains out of my family’s clothes, that I was literally about to throw away, because they were that gross! So thank you for saving my clothes! This detergent works wonders on my sheets and towels, and I don’t think I will EVER use anything else for as long as I live! It reminds me of the huge box of detergent that my meme used to buy from Sears when I was little! Hehe!
I do have one question though. I have noticed that it is really doing a number on my black yoga pants, and I live in black yoga pants! So I was curious about whether or not anyone knows if there is a way to make a batch of this oh so fabulous goodness, in a formula for darks? Let me know if you have one please! My email is tarny.vanase@gmail.com.
Thank you everyone!
AAR8800 says
Good for light colors or patterned clothing, not so much for darks. It always leaves white blotches on the darker or solid colors. Overall very worth it tho!
Hopenjoy says
I’ve been making the liquid version of homemade laundry detergent for years, and finally decided to try this dry version. WOW! Love it, love it. Easier to mix, easier to store, easier to use, no heavy liquids, no drips. My first load I actually only used a teaspoon, and jeans & shirts came out clean..PLUS…with a nice scent and static-free, which I didn’t have with the liquid version. I’m a cheapskate, so used everything generic/store brand/dollar store version, and used epsom salts instead of the expensive fabric softener crystals. Don’t think I had $20 cost total for a year’s worth of laundry detergent, wowza! I think I’ll make another batch and put it in long-term storage.
jerome says
The sun oxygen and Super Washing Soda are the same thing. The ingredients for both are Sodium carbonate. OxiClean also contain Sodium carbonate and Sodium carbonate peroxide. Sodium carbonate peroxide is Sodium Carbonate treated with Hyrodgren Peroxide. So if you put hydrogen peroxide with the super soda you will have Oxiclean or Sun Oxygen. You don’t need to buy those if you just add hydrogen peroxide to the Super Washing Soda.
jerome says
You can find more information on oxiclean here.
http://www.sustainablebabysteps.com/oxiclean.html
Sheree says
i just made this recipe last night except I used a larger thing of crystals because I used one load with the suggested amount and couldn’t smell anything but any ways im excited to keep trying this as with 2 little ones under 4 I have a ton of clothes all the time. I washed a shirt that had a speg sauce stain and it didn’t come out any suggestions on what else I could do maybe pre treat with the powder before hand or is there a better pre treater out there thanks for the recipe definetly going to be used in my household
Tonia says
I made this with the fels naptha and want to try the zote soap. I found a 14.1 ounce bar. How many do I need for this recipe?
Happy.MoneySaver says
If I were substituting the zote soap at 14.1 oz I would probably just use one bar. When I use the Ivory soap bars they are only 4 oz a piece so 12 oz total and it makes a great laundry detergent. If you want to get really specific on the recipe I usually use 3 bars of Fels-Naptha at 5.5 oz so 16.5 oz total. So you could use one zote bar and then weigh out 2.4 oz of a second bar. A food scale would probably be easiest to measure the weight. Either way I think you are going to be happy with it! 🙂
Molly says
Hello 🙂 I am wanting to make my own detergent but am wondering where you got the price of $20 for the entire batch? I put all the items into my amazon cart and it added up to almos $60. The Oxy Clean alone was $18. Thanks!
Happy.MoneySaver says
I was able to get all my ingredients at my local Walmart. The sizes that Amazon offers are bigger than what you would need for this batch of the laundry detergent so you would have extra to use. I would suggest going to your local stores to see if you could get the prices closer (or maybe even lower!) to what I was able to pay for it! Good luck! 🙂
jessica veldheer says
hi i just made this, have the first load of it in the wash, i notice that it doesnt bubble up like liquid detergent does, is that normal?
Happy.MoneySaver says
Yes, that is normal. It is a very non-sudsy detergent!