Learn how to make homemade laundry soap with all natural ingredients for under 5 dollars. This DIY Laundry Detergent is an effective way to clean clothes and fight stains.
Hey friends!
I want to reintroduce you to my sister Laura from Our Oily House.
She shared with us a few weeks ago a tutorial for how to make All Natural Organic Cocoa Lip Balm.
Today she is back with another DIY recipe that you can use to keep your clothes clean, without all the junk.
I will let Laura take over, as she shares how to make homemade laundry soap.
Homemade Laundry Soap is Inexpensive
A few years ago, I started making most of my household products.
The main reason was to cut down on toxins entering the body. The other bonus is it saves us lots of money!
Making laundry soap is super easy, and very inexpensive! All you need is a handful of natural ingredients, many of which you may have on hand if you are already creating natural cleaning products for your home.
It makes 5 gallon bucket worth and that lasts my family five months (I do a load everyday) and it cost under $5!
It is worth the 15 minutes it takes me to whip it up.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Get my full disclosure HERE.
Tips For Making Homemade Laundry Soap
- You can scent your detergent with a variety of essential oils. Orange happens to be my favorite of the moment. Make sure when using essential oils they are 100% pure. Don’t fall for cheap grocery store kinds.
- This natural laundry detergent will become thick and chunky my morning. Stir it up using an immersion blender or even a drill with a paint mixer attachment.
- The type of water you have at your house may impact how effective this recipe is. Those who have hard water with a lot of minerals may find that it is less effective. I’ve been using this recipe for 5+ years and still love it.
Homemade Orange Scented Laundry Soap Ingredients and Supplies
water
30 drops essential oil of choice (I like lavender or anything citrus)
Homemade Laundry Soap Instructions
1. Shred a 5 ounce bar of Fels Naptha Soap with a cheese grater. You could also use a food processor.
2. Put the soap in a saucepan with 2 cups of water, over medium heat, and stir constantly, until the soap is all melted.
3. Fill the five gallon bucket 1/2 way with water. Add 1/2 cup Washing Soda, 1 cup Borax, and your melted soap water mixture.
4. Give it a stir, and fill the rest of the bucket with water.
5. Add essential oils for scent.
- My favorite is Wild Orange!
- I do 25-30 drops for a 5 gallon bucket.
6. Let it sit overnight with the lid on.
7. In the morning give it a good shake, or stir to mix well. Stirring it with a drill paint mixer attachment, or an immersion blender, really helps to get the clumps out!
That’s it!
How To Use Homemade Laundry Detergent
Add about 1/2 cup per load in my HE washer per load, so it lasts a VERY long time.
You can add directly to the washer or place it in the load and go compartment (if you have one).
Making laundry soap is quick and easy!
You can feel good about using this soap, as it is made out of all natural ingredients, and works very well.
Find More Homemade Products:
- Homemade Non-Toxic Bathroom Scrub
- Minimalist Cleaning Essentials
- Natural Homemade Diaper Rash Cream
- How To Make Beeswax Candles
Homemade Laundry Soap
Equipment
- 5 gallon bucket with a lid
- drill paint mixer attachment
- cheese grater
- Measuring cup
Ingredients
- 1 cup Borax
- 1/2 cup Washing Soda
- 1 Fels Naptha soap bar
- Water
- 30 drops essential oil of choice, I like lavender or anything citrus
Instructions
- Shred a 5 ounce bar of Fels Naptha Soap with a cheese grater.
- Put the soap in a saucepan with 2 cups of water, over medium heat, and stir constantly, until the soap is all melted.
- Fill the five gallon bucket 1/2 way with water.
- Add 1/2 cup Washing Soda, 1 cup Borax, and your melted soap water mixture.
- Give it a stir, and fill the rest of the bucket with water.
- Add essential oils for scent. I do 25-30 drops for a 5 gallon bucket.
- Let it sit overnight with the lid on.
- In the morning give it a good shake, or stir to mix well. Stirring it with a drill paint mixer attachment, or an immersion blender, really helps to get the clumps out!
- To Use:I use 1/2 cup per load in my HE washer, so it lasts a VERY long time.
Notes
- You can add any variety of essential oils that you like. My favorite is wild orange.
- The type of water you have may impact the effectiveness of homemade laundry detergent. It may not work as well if you have hard water.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Pin it for later:
I made this for the first time a few days ago and wanted to comment so others would know more what to expect— after letting it sit overnight the detergent was the consistency of jello, all the way to the bottom of the 5 gallon container. I used a long serving spoon to break it up a little and an immersion blender (just to the 8 inches or so deep that it could go) to mix it, then used a ladle to transfer it into smaller containers. It continues to want to get somewhat thick and clumpy, so you need a container that you can shake. I used 30 drops of orange EO but there is no scent left after just 2 days other than a faintly soapy smell (not unpleasant). I just started using it on laundry today so no news yet on how well it cleans.
I make a dry version of this. I slice 1 bar of soap (it easily shreds), measure 1 cup of washing soda and 2/3 cup or so of borax. A little at a time I blend some of each in a little dedicated food processor transferring it in small batches to a large bowl then mix it well. Store it in wide mouth canning jars using two TBLS per normal size load.
I used to use Fels Naptha soap but the price jumped during COVID and it was hard to find so in a weak moment I ordered a BOX of Amish Farm Soap and have been using that. It works fine. I do wash with warm water.
Hello,
My batch is very liquidy kinda like the texture of water is that normal?
Also it does not bubble either.
It is meant to be a thinner laundry soup. Did you shake it before you used it?
I used a paint mixer to mix it up.
Can you please clarify for me what washing soda is. Would that be the same as baking soda?
It’s not the same as baking soda. Washing soda is sodium carbonate. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate! Similar, but different. It’s also referred to as soda ash.
Can I use my homemade soap?
Yes you can!
Ty!
Can I use unscented castile bar soap instead of the fels bar?
Yes!
Should this be used with hot water only or can I use this in my washer with cold water?
I would use warm water.
Do you find that the ingredient’s separate at all?
No, they really don’t. Not that I have ever had an issue with.
Mine Seperated or clumps up even when I blended the crap out of it. I’m wondering if elevation has anything to do with it?
It could, or possibly humidity..
I made this for the first time and overnight it separated out the water from the soapy mixture and was extremely thick. I mixed it with a paint attachment to a drill to reincorporate back together. I poured it into my detergent dispenser and it was too thick to come through the nozzle. By the next morning, the soapy mixture and water were separated back apart. Do you have trouble with this, what did I do wrong?
Thank you for your help!!
I just usually shake it before pouring it out.