Homemade Laundry Detergent

>15 February 2009 4,804 views

Here are some recipes for homemade laundry detergent:

Powdered Laundry Detergent

(thanks to modcottage.com)

1 Cup Grated Fels Naptha Soap

1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax

1/4 Cup Oxyclean (Optional)

*Mix all together and store in a sealed container.

For light load, use 1 tablespoon.
For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 tablespoons.

Liquid Laundry Detergent

3 Pints Water
1/3 Bar Fels Naptha Soap, Grated
1/2 Cup Washing Soda
1/2 Cup Borax
2 Gallon Bucket
1 Quart Hot Water
Hot Water

Mix Fels Naptha soap in a saucepan with 3 pints of water, and heat on low until dissolved. Stir in Washing Soda and Borax. Stir until thickened, and remove from heat. Add 1 Quart Hot Water to 2 Gallon Bucket. Add soap mixture, and mix well. Fill bucket with hot water, and mix well. Set aside for 24 hours, or until mixture thickens. Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load.

*If you are having trouble finding Washing Soda, you can substitute Oxyclean. Here is an alternate recipe for liquid detergent that my friend Abbigail shared with me a while back. It’s also on the Duggar Family website:

Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap

4 Cups hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
1 Cup Washing Soda/OxyClean
½ Cup Borax

- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.
-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)
-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.
-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.
-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)
-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads

**You can read my review on the powdered laundry detergent HERE!**

Got a good one to share, or any advice? I’d love to hear from you!

11 Comments »

Laura said:

I’ve found that about a tablespoon or two of washing soda works fine on its own, if buying the other ingredients isn’t economical for you. Of course, I don’t have kids yet!

# 4 March 2009 at 11:14 am

Rachel said:

I’ve found just tossing soap slivers from the bathroom into water makes a great base for the next batch, especially since I cannot find the Fels Naptha here.

# 9 March 2009 at 2:04 pm

Kate Herman said:

What about high efficiency washers? I’ve seen this recipe, and the one from the Duggars’ website, but I’m afraid it might be too much soap/detergent for my washer. Thanks, and keep up the blogging– love it!

# 2 April 2009 at 10:25 pm

Kendra at New Life On A Homestead (author) said:

Kate Herman-

I think it would work fine for a high efficiency washer. If you’re worried about it, call the manufacturer and ask them what they think, or try just a little of the detergent to start with. I’d love to hear what you learn

# 3 April 2009 at 4:59 am

Marilyn said:

I use one tablespoon of a very similar dry concoction (it may even be identical) in my front loading, high efficiency washer. It has given me no problems at all. The big thing with HE washers is that too many suds can damage them. This recipe does not produce many suds (actually, less than store-bought HE detergents), so it doesn’t hurt the washer. I grate the soap with a star (parmesan) grater, so I have no problem with getting it to dissolve, even in cold water.

Soaps like Ivory can be substituted for the Fels Naptha. The simpler the soap, the better. The results may not be quite as good, but, then again, they may be.

I use vinegar in the fabric softener cup. It helps remove any detergent that is remaining in the clothes. While I will occasionally detect the odor of vinegar when I remove clothes from the dryer, it quickly airs completely out. Otherwise, I would not use it, since I do not like the smell of vinegar. (I would love to line dry, but I live in an apartment. I’ve tried doing it inside, but it is very difficult.)

# 3 April 2009 at 11:56 pm

Rebekah said:

I have and do use both of these recipes. They work wonders! I have found the liquid works especially good on stinky dish towels, that get that “old water” smell to them that tends to not come out with regular laundry soap. With the liquid one it does. Also we’ve all left the clothes in the washer just a little too long and they start to smell, well with the liquid recipe mine don’t do this!

# 18 June 2009 at 7:45 pm

Lerin C. said:

I’ve been making the liquid for some time now. I’ve simplified the process with the same results. Just dissolve all your ingredients (still shred the fels-naptha) in the warm water then pour into gallon jugs. Theres no need to let it sit for 24 hrs, I begin using it immediately. Just out of curiosity, has anyone tried the Oxyclean in the liquid recipe?

# 26 June 2009 at 2:13 pm

JLeigh said:

Untill recently I had been unable to find Washing Soda at any of my local stores. I had a huge tub of Oxiclean left over from an old room mate so used that insted. Reading the lable I found that Oxiclean was mostly washing soda anyway, as far as I know it subbed in just fine. This is my first (out of 5) batch to use actual washing soda insted of Oxiclean. Three loads of laundry in I like this with Washington Soda better. I make the liquid in a 5 gal bucket (old kitty litter bucket) with 1 bar Fels Naptha, 1cp Washing Soda (or Oxiclean), 1/2c borax, and appr. 5 gal water. I use 1cp gell/liquid for a full load.

Its incouraging to see people use this in their HE machines, I’m looking into getting one and was affriad i’d have to start buying the nasty expensive stuff.

# 30 June 2009 at 6:23 pm

Deanna said:

I use washing powder (found at kroger’s) and zote (found at Save-a-lot stores- hispanic stores may carry)

Great money saver!

# 24 August 2009 at 2:24 pm

Stacy said:

What about for washing baby clothes and cloth diapers? Are these recipes gentle enough? Especially if your little one has sensitive skin?

Thanks!

# 5 February 2010 at 10:42 am

Kendra at New Life On A Homestead (author) said:

Stacy-

I’ve washed my kids clothes with it no problem. It doesn’t work so good for stain removal, so you’d need to pre-treat. My kids all have eczema when they are little, but I didn’t notice it worsening my baby girl’s skin. I guess it depends on the child, but it didn’t bother mine

# 5 February 2010 at 10:52 am

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