Making your own laundry detergent is a fantastic way to save money and keep your clothes clean naturally, without adding questionable chemicals to the water system. This recipe works in high-efficiency (HE) washers and dissolves even in hard or cold water.
You’ll only need three simple ingredients, which you can easily find at your local grocery store in the laundry aisle. For natural bar soaps, check the health, beauty, or organic sections. If you prefer, you can also purchase these items online.
How To Make Your Own Laundry Detergent
Watch our quick one-minute video to see how to make this homemade laundry soap in minutes. If you prefer written instructions, keep reading for our step-by-step guide.
Ingredients
– 1 bar of Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap (we used Citrus, but Peppermint or Lavender work too)
– 2 cups of washing soda
– 2 cups of borax
– Cheese grater
– Container
About The Ingredients
Some people worry about using Borax, but there’s no need. Borax is a naturally occurring mineral made of sodium, boron, oxygen, and water. It’s an effective natural cleaner and a safer alternative to many conventional cleaners. Besides this laundry detergent recipe, Borax has many other uses.
Washing soda, made from common salt and limestone or found naturally, is a natural laundry booster that helps lift stubborn stains from clothes.
For the soap, I recommend Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap. It’s fair trade, made with vegetable castile soap, and pure organic oils. The hemp citrus bar adds a pleasant scent, but peppermint, lavender, or unscented versions are also great.
Homemade Detergent vs Conventional Laundry Soap
One thing you’ll notice with homemade detergent is the lack of suds. Don’t worry—your clothes are still getting clean. The amount of suds produced by a detergent doesn’t indicate its cleaning power. Detergents clean effectively without producing a lot of suds.
Instructions
1. Use a cheese grater to shred one bar of castile soap.
2. Put the soap shavings into a large container.
3. Add two cups of washing soda and two cups of borax.
4. Place a lid on the container and shake until everything is combined.
5. Use up to 1/4 cup of detergent per small load of laundry.
