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.
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I love all your content!! And I’m excited to try this laundry detergent recipe!
Have you ever replaced borax with baking soda?
If so, does the baking soda clean just as well as borax does?
So glad you enjoy it. I actually haven’t so I’m not sure if it would clean better. The borax does thicken the detergent though, so I’m the mixture may be too liquid.
That makes sense! Thank you for your help!
You’re welcome!
Thank you! That makes sense
Hi I’m making this as I type. What can I use as a natural softner
Can I sub for a liquid soap base instead of the bar? Is so how much?
I am sure you can, but I haven’t tried it to say exactly how much. Let us know if you do!
Does this stay liquid or will it turn to a solid
It stays a liquid
This great and I’ve used it but, I would love a liquid dish washing soap. I’m the dishwasher and sure would love it! Thanks
Is this recipe septic system safe?
While I can’t guarantee, we have septic and haven’t had any issues.
Do you use this with cloth diapers?
Please help, I made this but the soap still separated after mixing, did I not mix long enough? What do I need to do? 🙏🏻
Hey Lisa,
I looked up the ingredients of the Fels Naptha Soap, and am not too keen to use that one, there are some carcinogenic ingredients.
Do you know of a natural one that can be used as a substitute that is as effective (in regards to best cleanliness and stain removal)?
Or, is it of your opinion that that soap option really is non toxic and okay for all family members, even babies?
Thanks,
You can also use a bar of castile soap.
I have hard water and find this doesn’t quite get stains(gardening/dirt) or get whites very bright. What do you do for a laundry brightener or a stain? Also small error in “snapshot” laundry recipe-the word clean has an r added 😉
I find pretreating the stain helps or adding a little vinegar makes the whites more bright!