Homemade laundry detergent is one of the easiest parts of transitioning to natural living. This natural laundry soap recipe is a great way to save money and is surprisingly easy to make. Tackling piles of dirty laundry will almost feel less like a chore.
Do you have an HE machine? Check out our HE article about high-efficiency washers and borax safety. The recipe is the same as below, but if you’re concerned, be sure to check your washing machine instructions before using your new laundry soap.
Why switch to natural laundry soap?
Commercial detergents contain chemicals such as sulfates, fragrances, and dyes. Many brands contain things like petroleum distillates that have been 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 my own linen spray.)
Luckily, making your own laundry soap is easy and quick. You only need three basic ingredients to make powdered or liquid laundry soap. These materials are available at most stores, including Walmart, Target, and Amazon.
DIY laundry soap materials
You can usually find a box of borax and washing soda in the laundry aisle of your local grocery store. Sometimes I add a few tablespoons of baking soda to clean my clothes. Natural bar soaps can be found in the health, beauty, or organic sections of stores or online.
natural laundry soap recipes
You can easily make your own laundry soap with the cleaning power of natural ingredients! This powdered laundry detergent is safe for sensitive skin and contains no harsh chemicals.
Preparation time 15 minutes
Total time 15 minutes
Yield: 2.5 cups
Author: Katie Wells
1 bar of soap (such as Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Bar Soap or Homemade Coconut Oil Soap) 1 cup of detergent 1 cup of borax
Grate a bar of soap or pulse in a food processor until finely ground.
In a large bowl, combine the grated soap, detergent, and borax.
Store in an airtight container such as a glass bottle
Directions: Add 2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup of soap for each load of laundry.
See below for instructions on how to make the liquid version of this laundry soap.
What are in these ingredients?
Borax is a natural mineral composed of sodium, boron, oxygen, and water. Although it is present in most natural soaps available today, it is much cheaper to make your own laundry detergent. Some people are concerned about borax, but here’s why I feel safe using it, especially in the laundry room.
Cleaning soda or super cleaning soda (sodium carbonate) is made from table salt and limestone or found as natural deposits. Although it is different from baking soda (sodium bicarbonate), you can make laundry soda from baking soda. Here are some other great uses for household cleaners.
Dr. Bronner’s soaps are fair trade and made with botanical Castile soap and pure organic essential oils. Some DIY laundry recipes call for bars of Fels Nafta soap or Zoto, but I’m not a fan of that ingredient. After years of using Dr. Bronner’s, I switched to this homemade laundry soap for DIY recipes.
These tallow-based soap flakes designed for DIY laundry detergent also work well.
How to make liquid laundry soap
Grate 1 bar of soap using a cheese grater or food processor. Place the grated soap in a saucepan with 2 quarts of hot water and heat gradually. Stir constantly until the soap is completely dissolved. Fill a 5-gallon bucket with 4.5 gallons of boiling water. These are often available for free at grocery store bakeries, so just ask. Stir 2 cups of borax and 2 cups of detergent until completely dissolved. Pour the soap mixture into a 5-gallon bucket and stir well. Cover and leave overnight. Shake or stir until smooth and pour into a gallon jar or other container. Use 1/2 to 1 cup per load of laundry.
Not only is it easy, but it also saves you money!
A note about soap and detergents
As mentioned above, there are chemical differences between soap and detergent. Traditional laundry detergents are formulated specifically for washing machines. Can be used in cold or hard water.
Many soaps are designed for the skin and are not very strong. Some sources suggest that natural soaps can build up in your washing machine over time.
This recipe works well for me, but I’ve found that it’s not suitable for all water types or washing machine types. If you’ve ever used natural laundry soap and found your clothes stained, this could be the culprit. Newer HE washers Top-load washers, especially front-load washers, are notorious for not cleaning clothes as well as older models. You can also be more emotional about which laundry soap you like.
I found one natural detergent that works wonders and can be used alone or in combination with homemade laundry soap like this one. I add 2-3 tablespoons of Dr. Bronners Sal Suds per wash as a natural detergent. Sal Suds eliminates odors and is still a natural product (although it is technically a detergent/surfactant and not a soap). It also acts as a natural stain remover.
Don’t want to make it?
I used to always make my own detergent, but now I usually try to buy natural brands because there are some really healthy options. Here are some of my favorites.
Truly Free – Just a warning…after you try this laundry soap, you may never go back to DIY. This is the best scented non-toxic laundry detergent I’ve tried, and it works great on tough stains and dirt. Like my favorite all-purpose cleaner, its eco-friendly approach is a big plus. The detergent is concentrated in a small refill pack and added to warm water in the included bottle. Super smart! 2 tablespoons of Monkey’s Foam + 1/4 cup of baking soda or washing soda (Very effective and super easy!) You can also make your own homemade dish soap using Monkey’s Foam. Emma Eco Me Detergent – Highly rated by EWG and comes with a delicious scent. Planet Natural Detergent – Relatively environmentally friendly and cost effective.
The most economical option is to make your own, but if you can’t (or don’t want to) do that, these natural alternatives are good choices.
More natural DIY laundry products and tips
Try using vinegar instead of toxic fabric softener. Simply pour a cup of white vinegar during the rinse cycle or into the washing machine’s dispenser.
Some people have reported good results when adding Epsom salts to their washing machine during the wash cycle. Helps soften hard water, reduce soap buildup, and clean clothes. Here are some other DIY laundry recipes you can add to your laundry cabinet.
Have you ever tried making your own laundry detergent? Was it effective?
