How to make laundry soap (liquid or powder DIY recipe)

Homemade laundry detergent is one of the easiest parts of a transition to natural life. This natural laundry soap recipe is a great way to save money and is incredibly easy to make. It almost makes tackling that pile of dirty laundry feel like less of a chore!

Have a HE car? Look at this That article that handles high efficiency washers and borax safety. The recipe is the same as below, but be sure to check your laundry manual before using a new laundry soap if you have any concerns.

Why Switch to Natural Laundry Soap?

Commercial detergent is loaded with chemicals like sulfates, fragrances, dyes and more. Many brands contain things like petroleum distillates, which are linked to cancer and lung disease. The fragrances in these detergents are made with a mixture of harmful chemicals. (This is also why I make mine linen spray.)

Fortunately, making your own laundry soap is an easy and quick process! You only need three basic ingredients to make a powder or liquid laundry soap. These ingredients are available at most stores, including Walmart, Target, Amazon, etc.

DIY Laundry Soap Ingredients

You can usually find a box of borax and some washing soda at your local grocery store in the laundry aisle. Sometimes I like to add a few tablespoons of baking soda to help freshen up the laundry. Natural soaps are in the health, beauty or organic sections of the store, or online.

I wonder what is in these ingredients?

Borax is a naturally occurring mineral made of sodium, boron, oxygen and water. It's in most natural soaps available now, but it's much less expensive to make your own laundry detergent. Some people have concerns about borax, but here's why I feel comfortable using that, especially in my laundry room.

Washing soda or super washing soda (sodium carbonate) is made from common salt and limestone or found as natural deposits. It's not the same as baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), but you can make washing soda of baking soda. Here are some other great families use for washing soda.

Soaps of Dr. Bronner's are fair trade and made with pure organic castile herbal soap and essential oils. Some DIY laundry recipes call for a Fels Naptha or Zote soap, but I'm not a fan of the ingredients. After years of using Dr. Bronners, I passed on this one homemade laundry soap in my DIY recipe.

THESE tallow-based soap flakes designed for DIY laundry detergent works well too.

How to make liquid laundry soap

1. Grate a bar of soap with a cheese grater or food processor.
2. Pour the grated soap into a pan with 2 liters of hot water and heat gradually. Stir constantly until the soap is completely dissolved.
3. Place 4.5 gallons of really hot water in a 5 gallon bucket. These are often available for free at bakeries in grocery stores, just ask them. Mix 2 cups borax and 2 cups washing soda until completely dissolved.
4. Pour the soap mixture into the 5-gallon bucket and mix well.
5. Cover and leave overnight.
6. Shake or stir until smooth and pour into gallon jars or other containers.
7. Use 1/2 to 1 cup per load of laundry.

Not only is it easy, but you can save money too!

A note about soap versus detergent

As mentioned above, there is a chemical difference between soap and detergent. Conventional laundry detergents are formulated to work specifically with washing machines. They can work even in cold or hard water.

Many soaps are designed for the skin and are not as strong. Some sources suggest that over time, natural soaps can leave a buildup on washers.

I have found that while this recipe works well for me, it is not suitable for all water types and washing machines. If you have been using natural laundry soap and experienced that your clothes become uncomfortable, this could be the reason. Newer top load HE washing machines and especially front load washers are notorious for not getting clothes as clean as the older versions. They can also be more temperamental when it comes to the laundry soap they like.

I found a natural detergent that works great and can be used alone or in combination with homemade soaps like this one. I often add 2-3 tablespoons Dr. Bronners Sal Suds per load as a natural detergent. Sal Suds removes odors and is still a natural product (although technically a detergent/surfactant and not a soap). It even works as a natural stain remover.

Don't want to do it?

I used to always make my own detergent but now I usually buy a natural brand as there are some really healthy options. Here are some of my favorites:

• Really Free– Just a warning… once you try this laundry soap, you may never want to go back to DIY. This is the best smelling non-toxic laundry detergent I've tried and works well on tough stains and dirt. Similar to my favorite all purpose cleanera big bonus is their environmentally friendly approach. The detergent comes concentrated in a small refill packet which you add to warm water in the bottle provided. Super smart!
• 2 tablespoons Sal Suds + 1/4 cup baking soda or washing soda (very effective and super simple!) You can also use Sal Suds to make homemade dish soap.
• Emma Eco Me detergent – Also rated well by EWG and comes in delicious scents.
• Natural Planet Detergent – Relatively eco-friendly and cost-effective.

The most economical option is to do it yourself, but these natural alternatives are a good choice if you can't (or don't want to) do it.

Other Natural DIY products and tips

Instead of toxic fabric softeners, try using vinegar! Simply pour a cup of white vinegar during the rinse cycle or in the washing machine.

Some people report good results with adding Epsom salt to their washing machine during the wash cycle. It can help soften hard water and reduce soap build-up for cleaner clothes. Here are some more DIY laundry recipes to add to your laundry cabinet.

Have you tried making your own laundry detergent? How did it work for you?