How to Make Your Own Laundry Detergent - The Spruce

Here is a recipe for homemade laundry detergent. This DIY laundry detergent cleans well, is easy to make, and costs very little. > ​TheSpruce/UlyanaVerbytska ProjectOverview TotalTime: 15mins SkillLevel: Beginner EstimatedCost: $15 Thebiggeryourfamilyis,themorelaundryyouprobablyhavetodo.Andthecostoflaundrydetergentforallthoseloadsofwhites,darks,delicates,sheets,andtowelscanreallyaddup.That'swhymanypeopleturntohomemadelaundrydetergent. Itrequiresjustafewingredientsthataremuchlessexpensivetopurchaseseparately,ratherthanbuyingapremixedsolution.Plus,DIYlaundrydetergentisquickandeasytoputtogether,anditcleansjustasefficientlyasthestorebrands.Followthesesimplestepstomakeyourownpowderedlaundrydetergent.Thisdetergentissafeforbothstandardandhigh-efficiencywashingmachines,asit'salow-sudsingformula. Equipment/Tools Boxgrater Measuringcup Rubbergloves Materials Borax Washingsoda(sodiumcarbonate) Purebarsoap/castilesoaporsoapflakes Containerwithasecurelid TheSpruce/UlyanaVerbytska GratetheBarSoap Ifyouareusingpurebarsoap,gratethebarintoflakeswithaboxgrater.Youmightneedmorethanonebar,dependingonhowmuchdetergentyouwishtomake. ​TheSpruce/UlyanaVerbytska  MixtheIngredients Inyourcontainerwithatightlyfittinglid,mixtogethertwopartsborax,twopartswashingsoda,andonepartsoapflakestocreatethelaundrydetergent.Youcanmakeasmuchasyou'dlikeatonce;justkeeptheingredientsinthisproportion. ​TheSpruce/UlyanaVerbytska Warning Washingsodaonitsowncanirritatetheskin,sowearrubbergloveswhenmixingyourlaundrydetergentingredients. UsetheRightAmount Useuptothreeleveltablespoonsofthishomemadelaundrydetergentperwashload.Useonetablespoonifyouhavea high-efficiencywashingmachine. ​TheSpruce/UlyanaVerbytska StoretheLaundrySoap Keepthelaundrydetergentinanairtightcontaineroutofthereachofchildrenandpets. ​TheSpruce/UlyanaVerbytska TipsforMakingHomemadeLaundryDetergent Besuretolabelyourlaundrydetergentcontainer,sootherswillknowwhat'sinside.Also,includealistoftheingredientsasanaddedsafetymeasure.Thepowderedlaundrydetergentgenerallywillnotexpireorloseitseffectiveness,aslongasithasn'tbeenexposedtomoisture. Ifyourdetergentturnshardorcakesup,it'sbesttodiscardit.Thehardpieceslikelywon'tdissolvewellinthewash,andtheycouldpotentiallyleavesoapresidueonyourclothes.ThissometimeshappenswithDIYlaundrydetergents,becausetheydon'tcontaintheanti-cakingagentsthatthestorebrandshave. Acontainerwithanairtightsealcanhelptopreventcaking.Butitisalsoidealtoexperimentwithmakingonlytheamountyou'llusebeforethedetergentstartstoharden. Boraxcanbefoundinthelaundryaisleofmanygrocerystores,alongwiththewashingsodaandthebarsoaporsoapflakes.Ifyouhavetroublelocatingthesoapinthelaundryaisle,checkinthepersonalcareaislewhereotherbarsoapissold. Toincreasethecleaningpowerofyourhomemadelaundrydetergent,youcanslightlyincreasetheamountofboraxinit.Butdon’tstraytoofarfromtheproportionsoutlinedintherecipe.  Aneasyandnaturalwaytocreateahomemadelaundrydetergentwithfragranceissimplytoselectasoapbarwithessentialoilsalreadymixedinit.  RelatedTopics LaundryHow-Tos LaundryAppliances ArticleSources TheSpruceusesonlyhigh-qualitysources,includingpeer-reviewedstudies,tosupportthefactswithinourarticles.Readoureditorialprocesstolearnmoreabouthowwefact-checkandkeepourcontentaccurate,reliable,andtrustworthy. Russell,JasonLetal.Significantchemicalburnsassociatedwithdermalexposuretolaundrypoddetergent.Journalofmedicaltoxicology:officialjournaloftheAmericanCollegeofMedicalToxicologyvol.10,3(2014):292-4.doi:10.1007/s13181-014-0387-2 HowtoMake10DIYLaundryProducts Help!NoCleanClothesandI'mOutofLaundryDetergent AmIUsingTooMuchLaundryDetergent? TheBestLaundryDetergent:Liquid,Pods,orPowder? SoHowDoesLaundryDetergentReallyWork? TheseArethe10BestLaundryDetergentsforSensitiveSkin ShouldYouStripYourLaundry?LearnWhyandHow DoINeedWashingSoda? The11BestBabyLaundryDetergentsWithSafeIngredients WheretoBuyFels-NapthaSoapforHomemadeLaundryDetergent CanYouUseHEDetergentinaRegularWasher? TheBestGreenLaundryDetergentstoCleanWithCare The7BestLaundryDetergentsforSepticSystemSafety TheBestLaundryDetergentstoGetouttheGrime DoesLaundryDetergentExpire? The11BestLaundryDetergentPodsAvailable