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Homemade Laundry Detergent

Published: May 24, 2011 · Modified: Jul 26, 2019 by Ashley Phipps · 459 words. · About 3 minutes to read this article. · 38 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads and sponsored posts · This blog uses cookies · See our privacy policy for more info Filed Under: Cleaning, Recipes

I realized I had almost all the ingredients I needed to make my own Homemade Laundry Detergent after making my Homemade Dishwasher Detergent.  I just love finding ways to create products like this at home because they save money and I can control exactly what ingredients are in them.  This Laundry Detergent recipe takes only 3 ingredients to make and comes together quickly and I am so excited to share it with you today.

Homemade Laundry Detergent - a simple DIY wash soap that is perfect if you want to control what is in your laundry soap or use a more natural laundry detergent

I found this recipe here and decided to give it a try, but honestly, I have seen this same recipe in so many locations so I am not sure who the original creator of the recipe is.  So today I am showing you how I created my own homemade laundry detergent.  I hope you love this as much as I do because it has been so empowering to be able to create my own laundry detergent at home so I know exactly what is in it.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

I found the perfect jar (I wanted a lid that would screw on since I store this up high.  In case it fell, I didn't want the lid popping off!).  And they I used some brown vinyl from Expressions Vinyl to add a label to the front of the jar.
 
Homemade Laundry Detergent Ingredients

How to make Homemade Laundry Detergent.

(affiliate links included for your convenience)
 
Ingredients and Instructions to make Homemade Laundry Detergent:
  • 1 c borax
  • 1 c washing soda
  • 1 bar of soap (Ivory or Fels-Naptha)
  1. First, grate your soap.
  2. Then, combine all ingredients in your jar and shake until well mixed.
  3. Use 1 tbs per load  
Homemade Laundry Detergent - grate soap
 
I couldn't resist adding the recipe to the back of the jar again using the same brown Vinyl!
 
Laundry Soap - Wash Soap recipe
 
And so there is no confusion, say, if someone else in my house wanted to do some laundry :), I used brown vinyl to label the top of the jar so that they would know exactly how much of my homemade laundry detergent to use without needing to ask me!
 
DIY Homemade Laundry Detergent
 
It seems to work well for us.  And from all the research I have done, it seems to be ok for HE Machines.  Hurray but PLEASE do your own research and follow manufacture instructions.  Myself, Simply Designing and its affiliates, employees etc are not responsible for any unwanted results as a result of using this recipe. 
 
This was kind of fun making my own homemade detergents!
 
Can you tell I had a lot of fun with the Vinyl?!  Clearly brown is my most used vinyl color!  What color of vinyl do you like best?
 
(Check out Expressions Vinyl for great selection and price on vinyl!)
 
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DIY Dishwasher Detergent
 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Meg I am.....

    May 24, 2011 at 5:16 pm

    I&#39;ve been making my own laundry soap for awhile and I LOVE IT!! I make liquid tho - the ingredient list is very similar and it takes no time at all!! So if your interested in a liquid I posted my recipe here:<br /><br />http://megschmitt-neveradullday.blogspot.com/2011/04/two-hands-are-better-than-one.html

    Reply
  2. Ashley

    May 24, 2011 at 11:23 pm

    i seriously love this too! so cute and would be great gifts! <br />see ya friday:)

    Reply
  3. Kiana

    May 25, 2011 at 8:24 am

    I am going to try this! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  4. VeridicalAngel

    May 28, 2011 at 10:25 am

    When I lost my job 2 years ago, this is the only way I made it through that time. I made it in my food processor. I prefer this over store bought now. There are no harsh chemicals on your skin. I put vinegar in my Downey ball for fabric softener. It works great. Also, for the dishwasher soap, I did not use the Lemi Shine. It still works awesome.

    Reply
  5. Kelly @ Make It Sparkly Mama

    June 16, 2011 at 11:40 pm

    I make my own soap too, and I love your idea of adding the labels, plus directions. I have often wondered what my soon to be daughter in law would do if she ever tried to do laundry and I wasn&#39;t home. LOL! My ingredients are the same as yours plus I add powdered color safe bleach. I will go check out your dishwasher soap now. :0) I haven&#39;t tried that yet!

    Reply
  6. simplyfunlady

    June 21, 2011 at 7:29 pm

    Have you found that this works well with the hard water? Do you notice a difference?<br />Thanks for the post! I just made my dishwasher detergent -- this should be fun too!

    Reply
  7. Schmidt Family

    October 16, 2011 at 2:14 pm

    I use this recipe but also add about a 1/4 c. Oxiclean. It seems to keep my colored clothes from fading as much and keeps the whites from looking dingy. I find that this recipe cleans well... but without the Oxiclean... doesn&#39;t really do much to protect from fading.

    Reply
  8. Nora

    October 16, 2011 at 5:08 pm

    Been using this recipe (with baking soda instead of washing soda) for well over a year now. At a cost of only $22/year to wash clothes for five people, you really can&#39;t beat it. Washing soda is just soda ash, so if you can&#39;t find it at the store you have two options: (1) cook your baking soda in the microwave till it turns kinda brown (soda ash) OR (2) find a local pool supply and buy

    Reply
    • Michelle Bauer

      October 01, 2012 at 1:59 am

      I wondered if u could add ur own essential oils like patchouli, eucalyptus, sandalwood, lavender, or critter oil-which is an oil I sell that works on all animals, plants, kills bugs..even lice so safe for babies, I never have bugs in my house &amp; my dog &amp; ferret have never had a flea or tick! can be used for cleaning too...works like magic eraser on doors &amp; walls. just message me If

      Reply
  9. ~*~TJ~*~

    March 12, 2012 at 6:16 pm

    I&#39;m going to try this this week!! thanks again!

    Reply
  10. Shannon

    March 15, 2012 at 12:32 am

    I was just wondering what font you used for the &quot;wash soap?&quot; I LOVE it! Also I made some of this and it seems to work fine in the HE washer.

    Reply
  11. simplydesigning.blogspot.com

    March 15, 2012 at 9:15 pm

    I made this before I had a Silhouette, with my friend&#39;s Cricut. I used the font: Lyrical Letters.

    Reply
  12. Jodi

    March 22, 2012 at 9:45 am

    For those that have a HE machine - do you still use 1 Tablespoon per load?

    Reply
  13. simplydesigning.blogspot.com

    March 22, 2012 at 4:50 pm

    Jodi - I have an HE front loading washing machine and I use 1Tbs per load. Nothing in the detergent creates a lot of suds so I&#39;ve never had a problem with it!<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by!<br />Ashley

    Reply
  14. kerwin

    September 13, 2012 at 4:57 pm

    I was wondering where to put the detergent in a front load HE washer? My washer has a drawer that pulls out in the front for the detergent and I only have used liquid.

    Reply
  15. Michelle Bauer

    October 01, 2012 at 2:33 am

    Do u have a recipe for fabric softener too? hoping u do! 🙂

    Reply
  16. Christina

    November 09, 2012 at 4:55 pm

    Ok so I used fels naptha in this recipe and I now have powder coated fels naptha. haha. I haven&#39;t tried it yet but here is my question... since it did not all combine perfectly, how do I make sure I am using the right amount of fels per scoop and don&#39;t end up with a ton of fels or a ton of white powder left for the last loads?

    Reply
  17. Sarah Keeling

    December 18, 2012 at 4:53 pm

    Do you think it would work with Dove soap? I just found out that I have a glycerin allergy, which is in ivory soap. 🙁

    Reply
  18. Ashley Phipps

    December 19, 2012 at 6:25 pm

    Kerwin - you just put the detergent in where the normal detergent goes. My HE washer requires that I move a separator for powdered detergent vs liquid, but it is all in the same area.<br /><br />Ashley

    Reply
  19. Ashley Phipps

    December 19, 2012 at 6:26 pm

    Michelle Bauer - no...I&#39;m so sorry, I don&#39;t!

    Reply
  20. Ashley Phipps

    December 19, 2012 at 6:28 pm

    Christina - I would just be sure to stir it well prior to using and I&#39;m sure you will be fine 🙂 Good luck!<br /><br />Ashley

    Reply
  21. Ashley Phipps

    December 19, 2012 at 6:30 pm

    Sarah - thanks for stopping by! I am not sure. I know the two soaps I recommended are low sudsing soaps. (part of what makes this an HE ok recipe) And I am not sure how Dove soap would work. But it might be worth a shot. Good luck! And let me know if you try it out and what your results are!

    Reply
  22. RealDealz1

    December 23, 2012 at 6:07 pm

    i make this as well. what i do is let the bar soap dry out a bit and then grind it in the blender. then i put the borax and washing soda together. stir them up a tad and put all three of them again thru the blender. i like the soap to be tiny specs and the same consistency as the others.

    Reply
  23. Heather Romero

    January 09, 2013 at 10:50 am

    Just tried the laundry soap and the dishwasher soap! Both were so easy to make. Thanks for the recipes!

    Reply
  24. Ashley Phipps

    January 09, 2013 at 10:55 am

    Heather! Thanks so much for stopping by to tell me you made both of these detergents!!! <br /><br />Have a lovely day!<br />Ashley

    Reply
  25. SandiB

    January 29, 2013 at 7:17 pm

    I&#39;m super excited to find a laundry detergent that does not include cooking! Yay! Can&#39;t wait to try this! I have everything I need already from the dishwashing detergent, so I&#39;m making this tomorrow. Super excited to save money!!!

    Reply
  26. Pam Gamble

    April 03, 2013 at 9:44 pm

    Does the ivory pieces melt if you use cold water?<br />

    Reply
  27. Ashley Phipps

    April 03, 2013 at 10:25 pm

    Pam that is a great question! I never wash my dishes in cold water so I am actually not sure. Anyone else know the answer?

    Reply
  28. Homemade diva

    April 10, 2013 at 9:43 pm

    I use Dial soap. All of my family have skin issues, since we use dial soap to bathe with, I decided to give it a try. It works great! I believe you could use just about any soap and it would work. I love my homemade detergent.

    Reply
  29. Loni Frazier

    April 26, 2013 at 2:54 pm

    It seems that the fels naptha soap is not grated fine enough. it&#39;s like the 2 powders fall to the bottom. Is that normal.

    Reply
  30. Loni Frazier

    April 26, 2013 at 2:55 pm

    It seems that the fels naptha soap is not grated fine enough. it&#39;s like the 2 powders fall to the bottom. Is that normal.

    Reply
  31. Ashley Phipps

    April 26, 2013 at 4:11 pm

    Loni,<br /><br />I am sure that is fine. Just give your powder a shake before you scoop it out and it should be fine :)<br /><br />Ashley

    Reply
  32. Tiffany Albert

    October 30, 2013 at 9:41 pm

    Did anyone use dove soap? I would like to try it with Dove soap!

    Reply
  33. Tiffany Albert

    October 30, 2013 at 9:42 pm

    Has anyone used the Dove soap? I love Dove soap and would like to try it with the Dove.

    Reply
  34. Lisa

    October 10, 2017 at 3:41 pm

    Do you have to store this at room temp? Our laundry room isn't climate controlled...so wondering if I can store it out there?

    Reply
  35. Grainne Butler

    July 18, 2018 at 12:43 pm

    Borax is banned in Europe.

    Reply
  36. Terri

    October 11, 2019 at 7:16 am

    This may sound crazy, I think this could be used to kill rats I found out that mice like ivory soap( found chewed on bar). So if you leave some of this washing mix out it just might work on unwanted pests.

    Reply

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