**UPDATE** This detergent works in HE front-load washers… read more below.
I finally did it! I have been wanting to make my own homemade laundry detergent for over a year, I just never got around to it. Why? I’m not exactly sure. I think part of it was because I thought it was going to be difficult, and I also figured it may be hard to find all the necessary ingredients easily. Wow…was I wrong! I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH HOW INCREDIBLY FAST & EASY IT WAS.
Homemade powder soap required only 3 simple ingredients & took around 5 minutes to create, in respect of opportunity cost I abandoned my original idea of brewing a liquid detergent and set my sights on creating the powder variety. What follows is my own personal pictorial tutorial to making homemade powder laundry detergent. Enjoy!
COST BREAKDOWN & SAVINGS
Prior to making our own, we were using Arm & Hammer liquid detergent. Here is the breakdown in cost analysis:
(**note** you only need to use 1 tablespoon of this homemade detergent per load, although you can use 1 – 2 scoops for heavily soiled loads)
- Arm & Hammer® liquid 100 ounce detergent – $6.79 – 32 loads = $0.21 per load
- Tide® with Bleach powder 267 ounce detergent – $20.32 – 95 loads = $0.21 per load
- Jabs Homemade powder 32 ounce detergent – $2.98 – 64 loads = $0.05 per load
As you can see, whether I compare against traditional store bought liquid or powder, I am saving $0.16 per load!
There are also many other benefits of homemade products aside from cost savings.
SIMPLE INGREDIENTS
I purchased all these ingredients at my local grocery store:
- 1 – 55 ounce box of Arm & Hammer® Super Washing Soda = $3.99
- 1 – 76 ounce box of 20 Mule Team® Borax = $4.99
- 1 – 10 pack of 4.5 ounce bars of Ivory® Bar Soap (**note** you can use cheaper soap, I actually had this on hand already. Use whatever tickles your fancy – Other brands of commonly used bar soaps include Pure & Natural®, Fels-Naptha® and/or ZOTE®. Both ZOTE® and Fels-Naptha® are made for and sold as “laundry bar soap.”)
All items were found in the laundry isle.
A SIMPLE RECIPE
Each batch yields 16 ounces. I made two batches of this recipe and stored the 32 ounces of resulting product in a yogurt container left over from our healthy breakfast idea.
- 1 bar of shaved bar soap (Ivory, ZOTE, Fels-Naptha)
- 1/2 cup of borax
- 1/2 cup of washing soda
Thoroughly stir together for 5 minutes and enjoy the results! That’s it folks…seems too good to be true, but it is true indeed!
Regarding High Efficiency (HE) Front-Load Washers
You may have been told you need to use “special soap” for your HE front-load washing machine. Let me enlighten you as to why. HE front-load washers require “special soap” for one reason and one reason alone…low suds; because they use less water, they require soap that is less sudsy. The good news is, the homemade detergent in this recipe is VERY low suds. Just make sure you use the recommended amount of detergent.
The HE designation is just another advertising mechanism the industry is using to try & swindle consumers into buying “special soap” that they charge unnecessarily exorbitant prices for.
THE MAKING OF A BATCH
1. Start with these ingredients & utensils:
2. Shave 1 bar of soap. I used a simple hand grater:
3. My shaved bar looked like this:
4. Add 1/2 cup of borax:
5. Add 1/2 cup of washing soda:
6. Stir thoroughly:
7. Continue stirring thoroughly:
8. Stirring is complete when you have a powder like this:
9. 2 batches of this recipe fit perfectly into a 32 ounce yogurt container:
10. I wanted to use my trusty black Sharpie, but my wife LOVES her some label maker!
When you do a load use 1 tablespoon of detergent per load (you can also use 1 – 2 scoops for heavily soiled loads).
There you have it folks!
Simple, easy, fast, & efficient homemade laundry detergent.
What are you waiting for? Go get the ingredients & make yours today!
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Good stuff. Anybody up to make a homemade dryer sheet?
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Personally I use one capful of softener in a 32 oz spray bottle and spray 5-10 times into dryer with clothing. Will spray more for towles and jeans due to weight of fabric or when you have heavier static problems like in the winter when the heat is on. I have yet to finish my bottle of softener and it’s been at least a year if not more and I have soft/static free clothing (minus the overbearing scents too!) and save mega money. Softeners used to be a real luxury for me and we often went without. Now, I don’t have to!!
(edited to add)
This is the same recipe I use for my liquid detergent only I don’t have to add all the water and melt down the bar shavings. I think I’m going to try this b/c although I like the liquid, it’s gels and separates so I have to shake before each use and my spouted super size container is way too heavy for me.
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I have a similar “homemade” dryer sheet. I have a spray bottle fabric softener diluted w/water. When I throw the clothes in the dryer, I spray an old dishtowel with the mixture and toss that in the dryer with the clothes.
I make my own dryer sheets by taking an old t-shirt of wash cloth and soaking my favorite fabric softener then letting them dry. And whala they work great for me. Good luck y’ll.
Whala??
Viola…
You’re both wrong. It’s “voila”… lol
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If you are just looking to scent the clothes, simply add a drop or two of essential oil (no more) to a clean rag and toss it in the dryer. Lavender is wonderful.
For the wash cycle: To soften clothes use 1/4 cup of white vinegar in a downy ball or the washer’s liquid softener cup. Vinegar dissolves soap residue which is what makes clothes stiff. Enjoy!
Great info… thanks Jo
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Awesome! I’m going to bookmark it and come back when my super sized Costco detergent runs out, which may be a few months! LOL
My sister sent me a link for dishwasher detergent, maybe you can try that one next.
Kelly’s last blog post..Don’t fear the reaper, plan now
I’ve been wanting to try this for a while. I’ve seen other recipes that use liquid detergent, but the compact size of this looks promising. Thanks for sharing!
Corporate Barbarian’s last blog post..Scotts EZ Seed Progress Update, Week 5
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I, like Kelly, am going to try this when my super size enviro-friendly version runs out (although this is probably less environmentally friendly…). But – its cheap! And I like cheap =)
Heather’s last blog post..Bristol Tickets Open to Public: Good for the Economy
scratch that earlier comment – apparently borax is not bad for teh environment at all – so this seems very green as well as saving you some green!
Actually, you’re right Heather…
This detergent is a cheap, lean, green, cleaning machine!
I so have wanted to try this but due to some previous issues with our septic tank that I don’t care to revisit we have had to switch to liquid detergent. You don’t have a recipe for that do you?
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That’s too bad! I’m sure the whole thing stinks & don’t blame you for not wanting to get into it!
Check up in the post for a link to Trent Hamm’s (of The Simple Dollar fame) recipe for a similar liquid variety of this detergent…let me know if you make it & how it goes.
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You should make bigger batches in a five gallon pail. Fill it halfway or so, cap it, and then roll it up and down the driveway to mix.
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Ha ha…always the jokester! Although it’s not a bad idea. I could turn it into a yard game at parties. Some people play horse shoes, some play ladderball, and some play “roll the big 5 gallon bucket up & down the driveway”.
I wasn’t actually kidding. I’d much rather make one giant batch rather than making up those little 16 ounce batches. Time is money, baby… You could ramp things up and save a lot more for the time invested.
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I’m sure I will end up doing a big ole batch once we try out & exhaust this small initial batch.
I’m going to be doing dish washer detergent next. Then window cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, & anything else I can save money on & make quickly.
Do you or your wife make any of your own household products?
I would dread shaving that many bars of soap to make a 5 gallon bucket full of this stuff.
Does it actually get your clothes clean though is the real question.
Kyle’s last blog post..15 Online Resources for Improving Your Financial Health
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@Kyle: That is the true test & a good question!
My wife & I did several loads today and she was very happy with it (she’s not easily satisfied…trust me!
)
Plus, seeing as though it’s made out of soap & 2 other ingredients that were actually made for laundry…it’s not surprising really.
Where can you find Arm & Hammer® Super Washing Soda? I can only find it in a few places on the web and shipping is ridiculous.
I used to buy it from a locale store but nobody carries it anymore that I know of.
In Michigan we have grocery stores named Meijer. Both the borax & the A&H washing soda are sold there.
I would guess any large grocery store has both products, they are very common.
Where do you live Robby?
I live in Memphis and I used to could find it a few years ago but no store I know of carries it around here
My advice would be to try your local health food store, or to buy it next time you go out of town.
We live in a small town and have both. Plus the phelnaptha. If they don’t have it then just ask them to order it for you. Most Grocery stores will.
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Robby, I live in a large metropolitan area in northern California. I was also searching for A & H Washing Soda and couldn’t find it. I ended up at a local Ace Hardware and asked them to order some. The soda was there within 3 days, and I didn’t have to pay three times the price of the soda just to ship a box directly from the manufacturer. Good luck!
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Try an ACE Hardware store. That is where I get mine.
Church and Dwight Co., 1-800-524-1328 to order
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I’ve got my first load of laundry with this detergent going- I’m actually excited about it, can’t wait to see the results! If it works I think I’ll spend a sitcom grating soap and make a big batch. Thanks for posting!
.-= Cat´s last blog ..Doctor =-.
Do you think this works well using cold water? I wash everything in cold water (better for the environment and my budget) and would love your thoughts.
My wife & I have drawn the conclusion that this detergent works just as well or better – in all conditions – than the store bought variety we were using in the past.
Our results have been incredibly positive!
I wash all but my whites in this and yes it does work.
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What about for HE washing machines? Does it lather up a lot or is it light on the bubbles?
Excellent question, I’m glad you asked. Reread the article because I just updated it with a section on using this detergent in HE front-load washing machines.
Do you add the same amount of detergent for HE washers?
Yes Heather, just add 1 – 2 tablespoons, based on how large or soiled your load is.
I usually stick with about 1 1/2 tbsps
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The liquid hardly even sudds. Which made me very leary at first. But, my clothes came clean. Which was amazing. I have been making mine for over 3 months because a friend of mine told me about it. So , good luck!!
Has anyone tried this with other types of soap? We use Dove for bathing due to I have really dry skin, but I wonder if the moisturizing cream component of Dove would dull the laundry. Currently I use Tide Free but would love to try making this detergent.
I have not, and everyone that I know has used either Ivory, Pure & Natural, or Fels-Naptha.
In my last batch I used Zest because that was all I had. It worked. I just like using the FelsNaptha. Because it is also a great cleaning agent. If you have a spot or a stain you need to get out wet a bar of it and rub it in then wash it. So works great for both!
Fels Naptha should not be used as an overall body soap or regular laundry additive since it contains Stoddard solvent, a skin and eye irritant, and formerly used in dry cleaning.
According to the “Chronic Health Effects” section of the National Institutes of Health’s MSDS for Fels Naptha:
“Chronic toxicity testing has not been conducted on this product. However, the following effects have been reported on one of the product’s components. Stoddard solvent: Repeated or prolonged exposure to high concentrations has resulted in upper respiratory tract irritation, central and peripheral nervous system effects, and possibly hematopoetic, liver and kidney effects.
Stoddard solvent is another name for mineral spirits, which are, like petroleum distillates, a mixture of multiple chemicals made from petroleum. Exposure to Stoddard solvent in the air can affect your nervous system and cause dizziness, headaches, or a prolonged reaction time. It can also cause eye, skin, or throat irritation.”
Fels Naptha soap was reformulated in 1998 and the Stoddard Solvent was removed.
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I’m loving this idea and will be trying this tonight. Thanks for another way to get out of consumer debt. $17,589 and shrinking…
To the commenter who couldn’t find washing soda and borax, you could also ask your local grocery story if they would do a special order for you — many stores will do that.
I’m so glad to see a recipe for a powder. The Simple Dollar version turns into a gel, and the goopiness doesn’t work for me.
.-= Cheap Like Me´s last blog ..DIY Natural Deodorant =-.
Matt,
I know you already saw my blog post about this, but I wanted to comment for everyone else. I made this detergent and it works great. Makes my clothes feel nice and soft.
I got the borax at Wal-Mart but had trouble finding the Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda. I went to Wal-Mart, Target, and Walgreens before finally finding it at a grocery store (Fry’s–the Arizona version of Kroger). So you might want to just start your search at a grocery store.
Thanks for the update Cara, I really appreciate the feedback! Happy laundering!
Going to make some of this today. Bought a 3-pack of hypoallergenic Dial Basics bar soap for just $.99 and was pleasantly surprised to find the washing soda for only $1.69 and the borax for just $2.99. Doing my laundry is going to be so cheap! Thanks!
Congrats Anne! We’re very happy with the soap, and the savings.
Stay tuned… I’ll soon be posting frugal & homemade automatic dishwasher detergent, and deodorant!
We live in Florida , and the Borax & Arm & Hammer Washing Soda is located at our Publix grocery stores. So, for those who can’t find the items, they should just ask their grocers to order it. As for the homemade deodorant, coconut oil makes a wonderful deodorant. Just dab on a little & it doesn’t stain your clothes or leave them oily.
This is very similar to my laundry detergent recipe. I also make the powder kind, however, I make it all in the food processor, which grinds it to a very fine powder. I also found that the homemade laundry soap wasn’t deodorizing as well as I liked, so I added baking soda to the mixture. Now it’s perfect.
How much backing soda do you add to the mix?
Hey Stephanie, I would say try using just baking soda in place of washing soda, or try adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to the recipe above.
I make the liquid version. And i make it in a large amount so that I don’t have to make it that often because i have 6 people in my house.
You use 1/2 cup Washing Soda, 1/2 Cup Borax, and a 1/3 Cup bar soap (GRATED).
In a large pot, heat 6 cups of water. Add the grated bar soap and stir until melted.Then add the washing soda and boras. Stir until powder is dissolved, then remove from heat.
In a 2 gallon clean pail, pour 4 cups of hot water and add the heated soap mixture. Top pail with cold water and stir well.
Use 1/2 cup per load. Stirring soap before each use. It will gel. Thats normal.
Oh yeah, I also like to use the phelnaptha. Because it is also a great cleaning agent.
I have been making the liquid laundry detergent about about a year now. I like it but one issue that I have found, is that it does not remove all stains.
I do always catch the stain before washing to pretreat.
What do you do since you have a large family.
Thnks
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i made up the same batch except i added 1 more thing to the mix—
1/2 cup of oxyclean or sun oxygen cleaner(same stuff as oxiclean but cheaper;from dollar store,family dollar,big lots ect ect.
REMEMBER-A HE FRONT LOAD WASHER WASHER USES ONLY ABOUT 15 GALLONS OF WATER PER WASH-NO NEED TO ADD EXTRA SOAP
A REGULAR WASHER USES 45 TO 50 GALLONS OF WATER PER WASH
for he washer add 1 to 2 tablespoons for load
then fill softner compartment with vinegar to max line,BOUT 1/3 CUP.
WORKS GREAT!!!!
FOR A REGULAR UPRIGHT WASHER-USE 1/4 TO 1/2 CUP OF SOAP MIX
AND 1 CUP VINEGAR FOR THE RINSE MODE
THE ADDITION OF THE SUN OXYGEN CLEANER GIVES THAT EXTRA BOOST
AND THE VINEGAR NOT ONLY GETS ANY LEFTOVER SOAP OUT OF YOUR CLOTHES
IT ALSO HELPS PREVENT ANY RESIDUE FROM BUILDING UP IN THE WASHER.
AND NO,YOUR CLOTHES WILL NOT SMELL LIKE VINEGAR.
THIS IS A VERY LOW SUDSING MIX SO DONT WORRY IF YOU CANT SEE SUDS.SUDS DO NOT CLEAN
FOR DRYER SHEETS I USE THE CHEAPEST I CAN FIND AT BIG LOTS THEN ONLY USE HALF DRYER SHEET.WORKS JUST AS GOOD.cant stand that static cling.
USING TOO MUCH FABRIC SOFTNER ON CLOTHES WILL MAKE THEM LESS FLAME RETARDANT AND ALSO MAKE TOWELS LESS ABSORBENT.IF A DROP OF WATER BEADS UP ON YOUR TOWELS THEN YOU ARE USING TOO MUCH FABRIC SOFTNER.I DONT USE ANY FABRIC SOFTNER ON MY CLOTHES OR TOWELS JUST THE VINEGAR IN THE RINSE AND 1/2 DRYER SHEET IN THE DRYER.EVERYTHING IS SOOOOO SOFT.USE THOSE DRYER BALLS IF YOU GOT THEM ALSO.
THIS MIX HAS NO PERFUMES OR DYES.JUST CLEAN CLOTHES AND GREAT FOR THOSE
WITH ALLERGIES
LEAVE DOOR FOR HE WASHERS OPENED WHEN FINISHED WASHING TO LET ANY REMAINING MOISTURE EVAPORATE AND TO PREVENT MOLD AND MILDEW BUILD UP.
READ OWNERS MANUAL AND FOLLOW THE ONCE A MONTH MAINTENENCE CLEANING SCHEDULE FOR YOUR MACHINE.HOPE THIS HELPS.
AND NO,IM NOT A PROFESSIONAL HE WASHING MACHINE TECH BUT I
DID STAY AT A HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS,HA!HA!
My 76 year old mother has been using all these ingredients in her laundry since I was a kid. I also use vinegar in the rinse load instead of fabric softener – great for babies or sensitive skin. I am surprised that I am the first person to mention hang drying in this post about cost-effective and green laundry. I have a line in the basement and a line outside (though I do use the drier to fluff clothes and remove lint)
I was just talking with Steve from GetOutOfDebt.org about that. He just installed a clothes line and my wife & I are going to make our own out of scrap material around the house as soon as our back yard grows in (we just seeded it a few weeks ago).
I think that many people don’t realize the damage the hot air drier does to their clothes. Therefore, besides being ‘green’ and cheap, hanging clothes to dry actually helps to keep clothes newer longer. (It also helps to add some moisture to my radiant heated home in the winter)
Were you able to figure out how many loads each batch will do? I’ve been making the liquid detergent for quite a few years. I was told it costs .01 a load. I always put off making it until I’m almost out because I dread the process. I might have to give this a try even though it costs a few cents more per load. I was just curious how many loads one batch will do.
Appreciate your site!
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We use 1 tbsp per load which affords us 64 loads per batch. Some people like to use more. I wouldn’t recommend ever using any more than 2 tbsp which would give you 32 loads per batch
How much grated soap are you using in the recipe? Or how many ounces of bar soap?
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So, I made this recipe as directed, and I was impressed with how well it got stains out (chocolate soymilk!!). However, I live in Texas, and it gets HOT in the summer. On my first load the detergent could not quite remove the stink from shirt armpits. They are definitely wearable (you gotta stick your nose right in the shirt’s armpit to detect a smell), but my old detergent had no problem beating armpit stink. Next weekend I’ll use a bit more detergent to see if that helps.
Thanks for the feedback Meagan, let us know how adding a little more works out.
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I can’t for the life of me figure out how you reduce your grated soap (I used Fels-Naptha) to the consistency of a powder (photo #8). I’ve stirred and stirred, and mine looks like cheese shreds mixed with the borax and soda. No way will they combine to form a uniform mix.
It may be because I am using Ivory soap in the recipe/photos. I plan on using Fels-Naptha when I run out of Ivory… I’ll try and remember to post an update.
Easiest way I’ve found to get the Fels to a powder is to let it dry out after grating. I spread it out on a cookie sheet to dry for a few days. I’m then able to just rub it between my hands & break it down to powder. Throwing it in the food processor after drying will get it to a powder more quickly (and you can add in the borax & washing soda, mixing it all).
Zote soap will become a finer powder than Fels does, for some reason.
Added bonus: set the cookie sheet with grated soap in a closet while drying and it will “freshen” the air!
I grated my Fels Naptha and got the consistency of cheese shreds as well so I then put it in my food processor and it went down to almost a fine powder. I am washing my first load now. This is a first for me and I hope it works great. I also made a batch of the liquid since I had another bar of soap but I decided to make the dry as well so that I could start using it immediatly while the other batch is “setting up” for 24 hours. Also want to compare the two. Anything to save a few dollars here and there.
Awesome Vanessa. Congrats on making your first batch! You will love the powder variety because it not only works awesome, but it’s 10x easier than the liquid batch.
Cheers!
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I live north of New Orleans and can no longer find Washing Soda in any grocery store. However, I found this information on the ThriftyFun website:
Washing soda (sodium carbonate) is nowhere to be found in my small town, at least not in the soap and detergent sections. However, my local Wal-Mart has a pool supply section and they carry pH Plus which is sodium carbonate so this is what I use in my laundry in place of “washing soda”.
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Made my first batch over the weekend, and made a discovery. I had a bunch of pieces of Ivory soap left over from making Ivory soap boats for kids a while back, and they’d gotten thoroughly dried out because we use Dove soap for showering. When I grated up the dried Ivory, it grated as a powder, and made mixing it with the other powders MUCH easier. So I recommend that you take the bar of soap out of the wrapper and put it somewhere where it can get good and dry before you grate it for the laundry detergent.
.-= Lisa´s last blog ..O wad some Power the giftie gie us — To see oursels as ithers see us! =-.
Holy wow! This DOES have a lot of hits! I think Laura and I will try this out in our fun green-domestic-women-household! Super easy. I wonder if there’s a natural, non-staining (i.e. not an essential oil) scent that could be added…
Veronica
http://www.drrussbuss.com
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Just made my first batch. I like a scented laundry detergent so I used some Irish Spring. lol (I love my Tide). The first load is in the washing machine now. Can’t wait to see how it turns out! I, like others, had problems finding washing soda, but took the advice of a previous poster and bought some ph plus in the pool section. $8, but the container will last forever, so still very worth it in the long run. Mixed it up in a food processor, and the longest part was gathering the ingredients and measuring them. lol Just cube the bar of soap and stick it in the processor with the washing soda and borax, and the blade will take care of the rest, no need to grate the soap too.
I made my first batch of detergent with Fels Naptha about 3weeks ago and we have been using it in a front load washer. I put 1 tbs in per load. I’m noticing our clothes are suddenly having color fade and we have never had that problem before. Nothing else has changed in the laundry process except for the homemade detergent. Is the Fels Naptha too strong and maybe I should switch to Ivory in the recipe? Any thoughts.
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Have been using this recipe for a long time. Since our water is quite hard, I use one cup of Borax instead of one-half cup. I also purchased a used Presto Salad Shooter at a local thrift shop to use just for this purpose, along with any other homemade concoction that requires grating. This saves a lot of time and effort. I can’t find Fels Naptha soap locally and internet orders of this proved way too expensive so I found a 14 oz. soap bar called “Zote” in the laundry detergent aisle of my local grocery store for $.73 and have continued using this for years. By itself, Zote can be used for all types of washing purposes, including tub and shower bathing. But then I make homemade soap for that purpose so the Zote always goes into my laundry detergent. I’ve used homemade lye soap in my laundry soap before but don’t always have enough on hand so the Zote is a wonderful and cheap alternative.
Excellent advice MM, I’m going to keep an eye out for this little gem next time we stock up on ingredients!
I use the liquid version (same ingred., melted and stored in 5 gallon bucket, then mixed equally in jug…so 10 gal. from one bar of fels naptha!) I love it. I have a front loading washer. It gets the clothes clean and the vinegar takes away any soap or dirty-graying residue. Recently I did the laundry for a family who had a fire. Washed underwear to white table clothes…synthetics to sweatshirts…blankets and sheets…and lots of really black towels. Most had suffered smoke and water damage! 99% came out clean and smell GONE! If there is a bad stain, I rub the “glop” right in, wth my fingers. Great pretreater. I thought this might take some of the scariness away, if it worked on smokey laundry.
Thank you for this incredible success story! I always find it funny when people are amazed that my homemade laundry soap actually works… I’m always thinking – “why wouldn’t it work”?
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Just an update! This detergent is AWESOME! I’ve been washing my clothes in it all weekend, and have absolutely no complaints. My husband loves the smell (he should since I used Irish Spring, and that’s his favorite soap). I had an empty sun oxygen booster (Knock off Oxyclean) container, and this fits in there PERFECTLY and even has a scoop. I may experiment a little next time and add a bit more borax like another has suggested since our water is a little hard. I’m still using fabric softener, but I might try the vinegar with it and see how that does. I’ve also made the dishwasher detergent. Works pretty well for me, but I may have to tweak it a bit due to our water.
Awesome Lara, thank you kindly for the update – I really appreciate when people come back to give their results.
My sister softens her bar of Fels naptha laundry soap in the microwave for a few seconds, then grates it using an electric grater or the food processor when she makes her own laundry soap. Quicker and easier on the hands, especially if you have carpal-tunnel or other hand and wrist problems. And it’s just soap so it’s ok to grate it with the same tools you use to grate food.
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Regarding dryer sheets, if the other options above aren’t working for you, I started using the dryer balls from Wal Mart a couple years ago. $5 a pair (I use four in my dryer) and they lasted two years with a family of six before needing replacing. Considering the 10 loads a week we average, that is less than $.01 per load. I’ve just started making all my scent free products on my own after shelling out the dough for the past several years (do to allergies), thanks for the recipe. I’m currently using a homemade liquid laundry detergent but will try this next.
Thanks for the advice Laura. Glad to help w/this recipe.
After reading your article about 2 weeks ago regarding your laundry detergent, I went right out and bought the ingredients. If people live in the Pacific Northwest and have a Fred Meyer in the area, that is where I finally found the washing soda.
After I grated my soap, I went to add the washing soda and borax and decided ‘maybe I should read the box first’. According to the box, a 1/2 cup should be added per load as a booster. So, my question to you and your readers is has the 1-2 tbsps honestly been enough to get laundry clean when using the dry formula where there has been only a 1/2 cup of each product added for an entire batch?
Sorry for the silly question, but I HATE doing laundry! I want to do my part for the environment, but if I have to wash these clothes a second time I will definitely cry! (just kidding
)
By the way, thanks for taking the time to share your experiences!
Hey Nicole:
My wife just told me that she uses 2 tbsps for large loads, 1 1/2 for medium loads, and 1 for small loads. She has been doing it for months & months that way & is very happy.
Remember that the soap is low suds so while it may not “look” like it’s working while the wash is going… have no fear – it works very well.
I searched today for the first time about homemade laundry detergent after overhearing a co-worker at the hospital talking about making her own. Sound like this will be a money saver and healthy change for us. We have a little one and another on the way and I can only assume that this mixture would be fine for babie also? Just wondered if you let me know before I try? And I look forward to looking further into your plans to help us save money!!! Thanks in advance for your recipe!!
Yeah Pam, actually by making this detergent you are taking a step in the right direction. The ingredients in this detergent are all non-toxic… the same cannot be said for most of the commercial detergents sold in the market today.
well, I went to walmart and checked out the ph balancer because I went to like 14 stores in my area EVEN after calling arm and hammer and being told they (smith’s) had the washing soda and they didn’t…but it (the ph balancer) was toxic. not sure if I was just looking at the wrong thing but it had all these warnings on it and I wasn’t comfortable getting that so…I just ordered a different washing soda (free shipping) from amazon…I am also going to get some biz as several people have said they like this better than oxyclean. I was using vinegar for my softener and while it does soften it does not relieve static cling so I’m putting half vinegar half softener in the downy ball now. thanks for this recipe though I had read the one on the other site and wasn’t interested in creating glop.
Hey Nina…
Not sure if this work because I have never tried it, but someone told me that putting a tennis ball in the dryer while running your clothes through will act as a fabric softener.
If anyone has tried this, please let us know.
Thanks.
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I used this soap for years, then quit for a while, and now I’m back to making my own laundry detergent. This stuff definitely works–I even used it for my babies’ cloth diapers and they came out beautifully clean! I’m using again for both cloth diapers and regular laundry and I love knowing exactly what’s in my detergent and saving money. I also hang my laundry outside in the summer and on a (homemade) indoor triple line dryer hung near the ceiling above our woodstove–the house smells great when laundry’s hanging, it adds moisture to the air, and saves money–perfect! Can’t wait to try the dishwasher detergent! Thanks!
So for the most part everyone is happy. There was a slight issue of odor remaining. I thought I noticed some “dissolving” of my clothes. Anyone else notice the same problem? My elastic clothing (sports clothes mostly) seemed less springy, almost eaten away in some cases. Any comments?
If odor remains, use more detergent (2 Tbsp for heavy & soiled loads.) There were no tests performed to determine whether or not this detergent will deteriorate elastics… if anyone would like to perform such a test, it would be appreciated. Thanks.
Although not a “scientific” test, I did wash all our cloth diapers and cloth diaper covers in this detergent every other day (literally) for a couple of years and had no problems with the elastic in the covers breaking down. Diaper covers frequently end up with “shot” elastic, but I never had it happen once and even after all that washing in this detergent, the elastic in those covers is still fine (and being used on yet another little bum!).
I did have an odor issue for a while and found that switching to a different bar soap solved the problem for us. I’m wondering if it had something to do with our water, maybe it reacted differently with the Ivory soap I started with than it did with the next type of bar soap I used. Either way, it was fine after that!
I have been using the liquid detergent for almost a year, and I have noticed a lot of our socks losing elasticity. I’ve had to replace some our sons’ socks. I am happy with the detergent otherwise and hate the thought of buying regular detergent again because of the cost, but it’s not really saving me anything if I’m replacing socks and other items all the time.
Heather, what bar of soap do you now use?
I’m loving this, but I didn’t like the stirring. So I tossed everything in my mini food chopper. About five pulses on high speed and it’s all mixed up and finely processed.
The chopper had to go through 2 cycles in the dishwasher to get the soap film off though. But it doesn’t take up much space.
Hey Melanie,
I know this is a response to an older post. But If you havnt found a solution to the soap film problem, you can just put a half cup distilled white vinegar in your dishwasher in the rinse cycle and you wont have to run them through twice.
I just made up a double batch. My yield was 3-1/2 cups – making 56 loads at about 2.5 cents per load! I was able to find a couple of the ingredients for even less, driving the cost way down. This is a keeper
.-= Nicki at Domestic Cents´s last blog ..Fleece Fringe Scarf =-.
Thanks for this recipe. I live in S. Florida with my hubby and 3 children. I found the Borax and Ivory soap in Walmart, and found the washing soda in Publix. It was so easy to make. I just did my first load and am interested to find out how it works. I am very optimistic.
I found my ingredients for quite a lot less than what you listed yours for. Yippee!! Thanks again for sharing!
The link you gave for the A&H Washing Soda said that that product was no longer available. What else will work? I reeeally want to reduce our debt load, and making laundry soap would help. Please advise.
Thanks!
Thanks for letting me know Cathy… I updated the link and it works now.
Cheers!
we got our washingsoda at IGA and also if you have a dollar general near by they carry it, you can go to the arm and hammer website and they should tell you all of the places that carry it. we had to do that when we were in oregon for a vacation! LOL that was FUN!!! LOL i used to use your recipe, now i use a liquid only because i found that the dirt attracted to the bars of soap, that was purely by accident, i thought that my daughter had added the soap in and she didn’t, LOL i was adding in the other stuff and stirring, not really paying that much attention to her **grin** we make liquid soap. so after that we kinda altered it and left out the bars and it did really help, and we use vinegar in it also. and of course as the rinse agent. its mixed with a cup of the softner to a gal of vinegar. it still smells good and has the freshnes i like! **big smile** ~medo
Personally we’ve been using XTRA laundry detergent for last several years. It works better than Tide (which we used to swear by) and is way cheaper. I get it for $3.99 at Rite Aid (or CVS / Longs) and it does 50 loads for that price. Works out to 0.08 per load … I’ll pony up the extra 3 cents each wash to not have to mix my own ingredients. Time is money besides we do about 6 loads of laundry a week so that works out to about $9.36 a year.
It’s a few pennies cheaper at Ace Hardware but I rarely shop there so it’s not worth the trip to save 20-30 cents on the bottle.
SMBI i can definately understand your point! **grin** i used to be that way, then my two kids started getting the itchies, so i had to come up with an idea of how to get them to stop, so i tried to cut down on the amount of how much i was putting in, then that didn’t work so i used to put in the baking soda, that didn’t work, so come to find out, they were allergic to the detergents in the soap, {tide, gain} i was using tide, then i had to switch to gain, then i switched to sun, then i believe xxtra or something like that, then i came across some homemade soap by accident, but in the meantime i had learned from an online friend about how much “stuff” companies put in soaps as fillers so they can sell their products, same with suntans lotions and such. so now i am very careful of what i buy, most things i make. some of them fillers can be harmful. bleach leaches into your skin and is harmful to you even though you don’t feel the effects. my doctor is always warning me of that. i’m HUGE on vinegar use for everything, apple cider vinegar for the inside of your body and white vinegar for the outside of your body!
This is GREAT! I’m looking for ways to save in 2010 and I’m adding this to the list. Thanks Matt!
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For the cloth diaper users, you might want to omit the soap since it can cause build up on the dipes. Instead, you can replace it with OxyClean Free (dried hydrogen peroxide).
Fels Naptha can cause fading and dingy whites. You can use other soaps that aren’t as stringent, like Dr. Bronners or Kiss My Face Olive Oil Soap (both good for hypo-allergenic).
As for scents, you can add essential oils (just a few drops) and stir it in. It doesn’t cause clumping or stains.
I’ve been using this detergent for a few months now and and wanted to share a success story. A co-worker’s husband is a commercial fisherman, and I gave her enough of the liquid version to do 2 loads of laundry (I use the Fels-Naptha soap in the recipe). This is the first detergent ever to get ALL the fish smell out of his clothes (including his rain gear). She’s hooked now too! She’d been paying $25 for a 5 gallon bucket of commercially made detergent, and this recipe for me costs $1.71 for 5 gallons (160 loads)!!
I found this receipe on another site and made both the liquid and powder laundry soap. I grated my bar soap in a food processor and then added the borax and washing soda to the grated soap and processed it some more.. It turned out not only very pretty in color–I used felsnaptha and Irish Spring bar soap but it actually got our even stinkiest clothes clean and smelling “GREAT”.. I have had to get used to the idea that it does not make suds but once you see the nice clean clothes you forget about the “suds”. I also rinse with the white vinegar and my towels even when line dried are nice and soft…
I buy the washing soda at Publix
Grocery store in lower alabama and the felnaptha at the health food store.
Try it You will like it..
This is great! I am so tired of the exuberant prices of laundry soap that you have to deal with now. I have limited mobility and can not just run to the store all the time to buy laundry soap let alone afford it if it gets any more expensive. My friend just bought a front loading washer and in the directions it said she had to use the special laundry soap you discussed or she would ruin the machine. I knew this was a hoax. I was outraged and would not have purchased the washer but, not my problem. Anyway, I will be using this recipe and I will try passing on your post to her. Hopefully she will catch on. Thank you for the great post.
.-= cafay1´s last blog ..Hunting Camp-One Week To Go =-.
Hi Matt, I just discovered your website and I had to say a great big THANKS. I’ve been on the debt-free trail for a while now, and it continues to be a challenge. Like so many of your readers, I am soooo tired of the money-grubbing, “sell your own grandma for a dime” type of mentality that is pervading our country.
I am a retired school teacher, so making ends meet continues to be a challenge, but I am determined to live a simple, blissful, debt-free life. I have moved to the country and live on almost 7 acres; I do organic gardening, have read “America’s Cheapest Family” and “The Frugal Gazette” (both borrowed from the library, and I highly recommend both).
I track all my spending, have budgeted for almost everything I need to buy, and am STOKED about making my own homemade laundry detergent. I love watching my savings grow and feeling good about life. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!
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I learned that one dryer sheet cut in half is all a load really needs. So if you still want to buy them, but make them last longer, cut them in half.
Hey, great idea with the powdered detergent. I never tried the liquid method; it seems too messy and more trouble than it’s worth.
I have made one batch so far and have done 2 loads. So far it seems okay although I haven’t washed anything that was heavily soiled yet. I use cold water and have noticed a few specks of something here and there on the finished laundry that I believe are bits of Ivory soap that did not dissolve.
Has this happened to anyone else? The next batch of soap that I make, instead of running the Ivory through a kitchen grater, I will try putting it in the blender as has been suggested above.
I had the specks of undissolved soap leftover after using cold water as well. Simply decrease the ratio of soap to powders until you find what works best for you. Every machine and area’s water are different so I recommend playing around with the recipe until you get it right. I use about one bar of soap to every 1 cup of each powder (instead of 1/2 cup as this recipe recommends).
I have been using this recipe for a couple years now, except when I moved recently and couldn’t find washing soda I decided to go ahead and use A&H baking soda instead (yes I know its of a different chemical make-up than washing soda) and you know what? It worked just as well, if not better, at getting out smells and stains. And it is cheaper than the washing soda if you buy the big box! I recommend NOT using any moisturizing soaps for grating as some of your readers have (such as dove). Not only are they more expensive, but they can leave a residue and dull your clothing. For dryer sheets, I buy a big box of store brand and cut them into thirds. I cannot stand the way my towels feel if I don’t use any softener so I allow myself this indulgence! One box has lasted me a couple of years.
I am going to try this out when we use up what we currently have. I was buying Wind Fresh from Sam’s Club, but found that it did not get our clothes clean, we switched to the liquid Member’s Mark detergent they sell and it works great. I am not sure what the cost per load is, though. I would recommend adding a couple of tablespoons of baking soda to each load, if you have extra stinky clothes.
I’ve tried it and it works great, my clothes came out clean, soft and white. I asked a friend to try it but she was skeptical because of the low suds factor. Most people think that if it’s low suds, it doesn’t clean well. I have a question though…for top loading washer, i use 4 scoops for low level water…is that too much?
Silly question…I have always used liquid detergent in my HE washer. For powdered detergent, do I still put it in the detergent compartment, or do I just dump it into the drum with my clothes?
Hello I just found your site. I am gonna try the laundry detergent. I am all for saving money. Also what I used to do for dryer sheet is use liquid softener on a wash rag. And then put it in the dryer. No paper waste, and I get a soft wash cloth. Just a suggestion. I also use the dryer balls, they work.
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I have a ditto to Sue’s question earlier, do folks put it in the drum with the clothes or in the dispenser? I know for oxyclean you have to put it into the drum before you add your clothes so I will try this method for now.
Question: Can I use any bar soap, or does it need to be a natural soap like Ivory or Dr. Bronners? I’d love to try Irish Spring….that would smell amazing!!!
Thanks,
brad
Ok, nevermind, just read an earlier comment where a person used Irish Spring soap! Can’t wait to try it!!
Jabs,
I make all our household cleaners (except laundry detergent…until now) and have for over a year. I would be glad to share my recipes:
Window cleaner: Mix 1 part white vinegar and 1 part water, add to spray bottle with a 5-10 drops of essential oil, shake well. Note – Yes, it does smell like vinegar, but after a few minutes all you smell is the fresh scent of the oil, also try using a sheet of old news paper to wipe the window with instead of a towel.
All-purpose cleaner: Add 1 Tbsp baking soda and 1 Tbsp Borax to your spray bottle and fill with hot water from tap. Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil, shake well. Note – Only a few drops of Tea Tree oil and your cleaner will be anti-bacterial.
Dusting Oil (“Pledge”): Fill a small bottle with olive oil and about 10 drops of essential lemon oil. Use a small amount on a towel for dusting or shining wood furniture.
Linen spray: 5-10 drops of your favorite essential oil to a spray bottle of water. If you would like to remove odor in fabrics add about 1/4c. vinegar to the spray bottle before filling with water, use just like Febreze.
I’ve got lots more where that came from!
Lots of recipes for natural diaper rash ointments, etc.
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Hi Kimberly,
Can you provide some more insight into the “lots more where that came from” if possible please?
I am interested in hearing what else I can change to for natural alternatives.
Cheers
Ian
Finally tried this. SO sorry I waited so long. Have done three loads today and love it. Used Simply Ivory aloe – just a very light, clean scent. Used vinegar for softener and 1/2 cheapest dryer sheet (for static). Even had an unidentified stain on a red, thermal shirt that had gone through dryer (old detergent
Just wet it and rubbed a small amount of my new favorite detergent right onto fabric. Stain came out beautifuly. Laundry room smells so clean and not “detergenty” Thank you SOOOOO much for sharing this! FYI: Kroger here in mid-TN carries Borax (4.29/75 oz. and A&H washing soda for 2.79)
You don’t have to grate the Ivory soap. Put it in the microwave (on a plate) for 2 minutes. The soap expands and you can easily crush it into a powder with your hands. It’s fun for the kids to watch too!!
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Alice.com sells these ingredients with free shipping (except the Fels-Naptha).
I cannot find washing soda in my town. I know I can order online but being the impatient one I am I don’t want to wait for shipping. I already have White King ultra Water Softener & Detergent Booster which has the sodium carbonate but also has sodium tripholyphosate. Has anyone used this instead of washing soda or is this a bad combo with the borax?
I have a recipe for an all purpose cleaner if anyone needs it.
Ingredients:
1 tsp Borax
2 tsp white distilled vinegar
2 cups water
1tsp liquid castile soap, or dishwashing liquid
any essential or fragrance oil you like for fragrance
add about 10 drops orange essential oil for extra cleaning ability
Directions:
Mix water and borax until dissolved.
Mix the essential oils with the soap.
Add the vinegar to the borax and water and mix well.
Then add the soap-essential oil and mix well.
Put in a spray bottle and use as needed.
Cleans everything form counter tops to toilets and even mirrors.
You may need to lightly shake before each use.
I have not figured out the total cost of making it and for each use, but I know it is very inexpensive to make.
Hope you like it
-Keith