I have lots and lots of reasons for wanting to make my own laundry detergent for our family. It’s more gentle on their skin. The recipe uses earth “friendlier” ingredients. It’s a blast to make. It makes the house smell good when I am melting the soap.
But….
Probably the biggest reason to make your own laundry detergent is that it is extremely cost effective. And when you are doing laundry for a family of nine, seven of whom are rowdy, muddy boys, sometimes covered in carrots, you need cost effective!!
And as a growing family, we need things to be cost effective anyway.
There are a ton of recipes out there to choose from, but I chose to start with the one from the Duggar website. (Have you seen their new site?? It’s great!)
I made the concentrated solution and threw a few loads in to test it out according to their recommendations. Uncertain, I did a little more looking, and explored another similar version at The Simple Dollar.
Between those two basic recipes, I realized that you can dilute the mixture as much or as little as you wish. The Duggar family makes ten gallons. The other guy at The Simple Dollar makes three. They both cost roughly the same.
What to do???
I have a front loader, and assumed from the start, that I had better dilute it according to directions. (Have you ever put too much detergent in one of those machines?!? The results can be a bit overwhelming.) But I watched at different phases of the cycle, and noticed that I never really saw a lot of suds. At one point, I “paused” my washer, opened the door, and ran my hand through the water, just to be sure that there was, in fact, detergent in the washload. There was, and the clothes came out smelling clean, but I am still leaning toward using a more concentrated amount.
I filled my empty storebought laundry detergent dispenser with 1/3 water and the rest with my homemade detergent.
So here’s the “recipe”:
- 1 bar Fels-Naptha soap, grated
- 1 cup Arm & Hammer All Natural Super Washing Soda
- 1/2 cup Borax
- water
What to do:
1. Boil 4 cups water on stove and add the grated soap, slowly, stirring until melted.
2. Fill a five gallon bucket half full of hot tap water.
3. Add melted soap, laundry soda, and borax. Stir.
4. Fill to the top with more hot tap water and stir again.
5. Allow to sit overnight.
6. Fill a large laundry detergent dispenser 1/3 to 1/2 full of water, and fill the rest of way with detergent mix. Shake container before each use.
7. Use as much or little for each individual load as you prefer. I used 1/4 cup at first, then tried 1/2 cup and even 3/4 cup and had no problems. Depends on size of load.
What do you use for your laundry? Do you have a recipe that works great for your family?
I used to use that recipe with my homemade soap, but now I just grate the soap and mis with the boraz and baking soda for a dry mix. It works just as well. But you are right, it is fun to make. I had to laugh about watching the front loader for soap bubblig out. I did too. My youngest son (14) actually did tis with our dishwasher last year. We ran out of detergent so he thought he could use dish liquid. Needless to say I ws not amused. Gotta love boys!!!
Hey Carolyn!! Thanks for your comment. I think I would actually prefer the powder….will have to experiment with that, too!!
Hi – Brandy,
I made the liquid laundry detergent. I used Arm & Hammer Pure Baking Soda that was in our Walmart’s laundry soap depart. It’s a large box (4 lbs) & on the back is says “For fresher, cleaner clothes: Add 1 cup with liquid laundry detergent for cleaner, fresher clothes”. Is this the right Arm & Hammer product? Hope so since I’ve made the entire 5 gallon bucket!
Also, for top load washer (not he) how much detergent to I use?
Plan on making the powder clothes detergent & the dish soap too! Great way to save $ & use a better product all the way around.
Thanks, Sandy
Weatherford, OK
No. It’s called super washing soda. It’s not the same as baking soda. And for the amount….I adjust mine depending on what it is I am washing at the time….Sometimes 3/4 cup.
Having trouble finding the washing soda. Haven’t been able to find it at two wal-marts and don’t think i’ve seen it at target. Am I missing something?
Depending on where your from our Trader Horn sells it. I found it at Kmart too.
I found it at a local grocery store.
Hey Leslie! I found mine at my local Ace Hardware.
i knew there was a reason i bought liquid detergent last time at costco (which i have never done before)…it’s about to run out and now i have a container to try this “recipe”!!
ha! Tina, I have that same container!
Found the washing soda at Brookshires…go figure.
One last question…can you keep that big 5 gallon bucket for a long time and just keep refilling your original soap dispenser from the bucket? I’m thinking it will take us a long time to go thru the whole 5 gallon bucket only using half a “tide” container at a time. We are not quite to seven boys yet.
Hey Leslie! I’ve heard a few people say their bucket lasted them a whole year, so I would say you have at least that long. And you don’t HAVE to dilute it again, by the way….so that will make it not last as long, also….
speaking of not diluting it…i had a liquid ALL container from costco that was just under 6 quarts, so I put the concentrated mixture in there and just filled that with hot tap water. Is there a reason why i can’t just use it that way? Just put in a lesser amount than the diluted stuff? Would it not disolve as well in the wash without as much water added? I am just trying to figure out an alternative to the 5 gallon bucket as i don’t have a great place to store it. Let me know what you think. Oh, and have you tried the powdered recipe yet? Seems like it might be easier?! I read somewhere where they used a food processor to make the powdered recipe.
Hey Tina. I think that’s another one of the great things about homemade laundry detergent….You can customize to be as strong or as diluted as you need. As it turns out, what’s in my dispenser right now is about 2/3 concentrate, and 1/3 water. However, in the future, I plan to not dilute it at all. One recipe I read somewhere, a lady made hers and put it straight into a 1.5 gallon dispenser. Hers was the least diluted I’ve read about. So there’s a wide range here…. And about the powdered version…you’re one step ahead of me. I have the ingredients waiting for me to mix it up in the food processor…..
Coming soon. 
Hi Brandy,
I homeschool three boys, so you have me beat by a long shot. With all their sports and such I have been looking for a way to reduce the cost on laundry. Thanks for posting this info. I also have a front loader; this answered the questions I had regarding the use in a front loader. I can’t wait to try it!!!
What do you think of using a 5 gallon water cooler with a pour spout for easier dispensing? You know the one most construction workers strap to the back of their work trucks.
That’s a fantastic idea!!!!
I just made my first batch and really like how it’s working. My husband keeps telling everyone how cheap it is, even with the start up cost of a new bucket. I kept the 5 gallon bucket in the garage where the temp was in the 50′s. The soap really seemed to solidify. Is that normal or should I find somewhere in the house to keep it?
Totally normal… I have to give mine the occasional stir when scooping out of the bucket.
I might be wrong, but I’ve always thought that naptha was a harsh chemical to be avoided. I used to use it to remove stains but stopped when I heard it was toxic Does anyone know if it is?
There are other options for the bar soap component of the recipe. I have been wanting to try Zote, whose ingredients you can see here: http://www.zote.com.mx/english/tech_info.htm
Other people have tried myriad soaps including Ivory, Kiss My Fave Pure Olive Oil soap, and even Dial. I have wondered about using the Kiss My Face olive oil…..
Do you know if this is cloth diaper safe?
I have never used this detergent with cloth diapers. The two laundry solutions I have used for washing cloth diapers have been these:
https://www.allensnaturally.com/
and
http://www.charliesoap.com/
I use Charlie’s soap. I originally used it just for my 6th baby’s fuzzy bunz about 5 years ago and then I began using it for the entire family and would never use anything else (store-bought).However, I have tried several variations of this home-made soap and it works well and I’m sure I’ll use it again if I run out of Charlie’s Soap or can’t afford enough of it:) Thanks for sharing all the great ideas and recipes.
Oh, don’t you just love Fuzzi Bunz???
Yes. They were awesome! I guess I’m done having babies (:) ) but in the last few years I have noticed so many new diapering choices similar to or even better than Fuzzi Bunz. Some ladies can also sew their own really well!
I am planning on making this, seeings as it seems so much cheaper than buying the stuff they offer at the store. My only concern is that I have very sensitive skin, where I break out in hives if I encounter artificial or very strong scents/chemicals, to the point where I cannot be hugged. Has anyone found this laundry detergent to be harsh? Can you add essential oils to it to make it smells pretty? (like tea tree oil or some other oil to calm skin).
I use the Duggar’s recipe but I do not dilute it. I actually add 1 1/2 C of the undiluted detergent to my full loads (top load). I didn’t think that 1/2 or 1 C of it was enough to clean my clothes. I use white vinegar for the rinse. Am I using too much detergent??