Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe- REQUESTED!
Yesterday I posted on Instagram and Facebook that I was almost out of the homemade laundry detergent I made back in January (below photo). I had quite a few people that wanted the recipe so I thought I’d post it here for now. I’ll eventually have another section on this blog dedicated to all things DIY, like this! I’ve tweaked this recipe a little by adding in a scent booster.
I’ve been playing around with different homemade laundry detergents for a while now. Mainly because I wanted to find something that wouldn’t irritate my newly sensitive skin (what’s that about?) and I’m just simply intrigued by DIY recipes. Homemade products have always proven to be superior in my book. Although I’m still searching for a good recipe for homemade dish pods.
If you’re interested in homemade laundry detergent because you are looking for something greener then you may need to adjust this recipe a bit. While it’s definitely greener than your average commercial detergent, I do opt to put in some things that folks wouldn’t consider “green”, like Downy Scent Boosters!
I didn’t add any scent booster to my last batch I used this year and I soooo missed pulling hot clothes from the dryer that smell fresh and clean! You can totally leave it out though if you could care less about scent. Scents just motivate me to fold clothes lol.
I made my own dryer scent booster once with baking soda and essential oils and it smelled HEAVENLY! However, essential oils are so pricey and I just couldn’t bring myself to keep using so much of it just to scent clothes.
I LOVE the downy scent boosters because they smell great and for some reason don’t irritate my skin. There are also other brands of scent boosters which are much greener like Myers scent boosters and Purex.
Zote Laundry Bar Soap: Cleans, brightens, fresh scent.
Fels Naphtha Laundry Bar Soap: Cleans, powerful stain remover.
Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda: laundry detergent booster.
Don’t make the FULL batch just yet! (yes this recipe is a full batch. I’d highly suggests you make half or even 1/4 of this) You may need to spend some time playing around with the formula and scents to find which works best for you. This recipe right here is one of the most popular homemade laundry detergent recipes online, however it just doesn’t seem to want to work for me. After playing around, this is the formula that works best for my family and I.
Test out where to put it. For some reason putting this detergent right into the drum works best for me, instead of in the detergent compartment.
Use only 1-2 Tablespoons. I’m the kinda girl who thinks if a little bit is good, then a lot must be great. Don’t do it. This homemade laundry detergent doesn’t contain all the fillers that store-bought detergent has. You really only need 1-2 tablespoons. Using too much could create a film.
Can I use this homemade laundry detergent in my HE washer? I have an HE washer and I’ve had no problems at all! I do run vinegar through my machine every 3 months though no matter what kind of detergent I use.
I feel like I need more stain fighting power, what can I use? Mix in a container of Oxiclean. I’ve never used it before since I usually spray heavily stained clothes with a homemade stain remover (hydrogen peroxide, tea tree oil and Castile soap) but I’ve heard great things about adding it to homemade laundry detergents.
I want to keep my homemade laundry detergent as pure as possible, how can I replace the soaps & scents? As far as the soap you can use Castile bar soap and fragrance-free ZOTE laundry soap. For scents, you can use essentials oils but it does take quite a bit to get the scent to stick. If you want a great scent out of the dryer you’re probably better off using baking soda mixed with your favorite essential oil.
I have sensitive skin, will this irritate me? My boys and I have seasonal eczema as well as sensitive skin. This detergent has never affected us, but everyone is different so it’s best to make up a small batch and do a test run.
Where can I buy the ingredients? I can usually find everything at Walmart and Amazon. Target usually only have the Washing Soda, Borax, & Unstopables. Occasionally I will get lucky and find the washing soda, laundry soap and borax at Family Dollar for $1!! I always rack up when I do!
What blender do you use to get it your soap so powdery? I use the blendtec but any quality blender should work.
Do I need a fabric soften with this homemade laundry detergent? That’s up to you! You can replace the Unstopables with a scented fabric softener like Purex crystals or add in a bottle of purex crystals as well. I don’t use this though. I use plain distilled vinegar as a fabric softner. I just pour it in the fabric softner compartment. It keeps my clothes super fluffy and there is no vinegar smell at all. It is however an extra step though.
How much do I use? 1-2 tablespoons is all you need. It’s highly concentrated.
How much does this make/how long will it last? This makes about 20 cups which is about 320 loads (if you use 1 tablespoon per load). I still have some left of the batch I made in January.
Why would I want to make my own detergent? It’s cheaper, lasts all year, you can control the ingredients, it’s easy, oddly satisfying, customize the scent and scent strength, makes a great addition to a natural home gift basket!
Cut the bars of soap into pieces and place on a large plate.
Remove from microwave and let the soap cool off completely.
Pour blended soap into a large container.
Add in borax, washing soda, baking soda and Unstopables.
To use, add 1-2 tablespoons per load into your washer drum or detergent tray.
* You can also grate the soap as opposed to microwaving it. When microwaving it, the fragrance is pretty strong. It smells great but it can be a bit much for some.
Want more homemade Health, Beauty and Home recipes? Check the out!
I’ve made this several times, purchased my ingredients at walmart, (purchase prices, as of Feb /18) Borax $4.47, Wash Soda $ $3.97, Baking soda $2.24, 3# oxy clean $9.47, Fels Naptha .97 Zote .97 for a total of $22 and change.
What I’ve found is to grate the soap, cut it into chunks, put it in the blender, small handfull at a time, add a cup or so of the dry ingredients and blend….. it certainly helps the soap disolve better in the washer.
Also have added epsom salts as that too is a softener / conditioner for the water especially if you have hard water. Never wanted to add scents, due to trying to get away from the perfumes.
Great tips! Thank you Monika!
Made a half batch this morning and cannot wait to try it. At first, the soap was getting all gummy, but I took your suggestion and added some of the dry ingredients and it was much better. The heat from the blender was giving me a little trouble, so I ended up putting all the dry ingredients into a bowl, mixing them up well and putting generous amounts in the blender with the soap shavings (I grated them too). It was as powdery as flour! I had some OxyClean from Sams, so I added about 6 scoops in also for good measure! Looking forward to how it works!
I love this recipe. I’m About to make it for the second time. I made my first batch back in January/February and just finally ran out! 9mths of constant washing and giving some away for others to try! I’m game. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.