Making your own homemade laundry detergent recipe at home is a total game-changer. Not only does it save you serious cash (why drop 170 dollars a year on soap when you could whip it up for pocket change?), but you also avoid the sneaky chemicals hiding in store-bought brands.
Plus, your skin will thank you for no more mystery rashes or weird reactions. It’s better for the planet, too. These recipes are simple, cheap, and work just as well as the pricey stuff.
In this guide, you’ll find easy, cheap, and effective recipes that work as well as store-bought brands.
Benefits of Making Your Own Laundry Detergent
Cost savings: The most obvious benefit is financial. The best homemade laundry detergent recipe costs as little as 2 to 5 cents per load, compared to 20 to 30 cents for Tide or Gain. That difference may not seem huge until you realize most households do around 300 loads a year. That’s over 60 dollars saved annually and hundreds saved long-term.
Eco-friendly: By making your own detergent, you reduce single-use plastic waste. Instead of throwing out bulky plastic jugs, you can store your detergent in reusable glass jars or repurposed containers. Every small step reduces your environmental footprint.
Gentle on skin: Many people struggle with irritation from detergents loaded with brighteners and perfumes. A non-toxic laundry detergent recipe allows you to control every ingredient, which is especially helpful for families with babies or sensitive skin.
In my experience, the homemade version has been a game-changer. No more itchy reactions, no overpowering scents, just fresh and clean clothes.
Read More: Homemade Wood Floor Cleaner Recipes
Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need
Before diving into recipes, let’s break down the core ingredients and why they matter.
- Washing soda: A powerhouse cleaner that cuts grease and neutralizes odors.
- Borax: A natural mineral booster that softens water and removes stains, though optional if you want a gentler mix.
- Castile soap: Plant-based soap available in liquid or bar form, provides the cleaning base.
- Baking soda: Works as a natural deodorizer and mild whitener.
- Essential oils: For fragrance, lavender, lemon, and eucalyptus are popular.
Tip: Homemade detergent is naturally low-sudsing, which makes it safe as a high efficiency laundry detergent recipe. Just measure carefully so you don’t overdo it.
Tools Needed:
- A grater for bar soap
- A large mixing bowl
- Airtight storage jars, and
- A scoop for powder recipes
Quick Comparison: Store-Bought vs Homemade
| Feature | Store-Bought Detergent | Homemade Detergent |
| Cost per load | $0.20–$0.35 | $0.02–$0.05 |
| Ingredients | Fragrances, dyes, fillers | Simple natural ingredients |
| Packaging | Plastic jugs | Reusable jars |
| Skin safety | Can irritate | Gentle, customizable |
Most people don’t realize how inflated detergent prices are. The markup comes from branding, advertising, and packaging, not the cleaning ingredients themselves.
The Best Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipes
1. Powder Laundry Detergent Recipe
This homemade washing powder recipe is the classic choice that has been passed down for generations.
Ingredients:
- 1 bar Castile or Fels-Naptha soap, grated
- 1 cup washing soda
- 1 cup borax
Steps:
- Grate the soap finely so it dissolves easily.
- Mix with washing soda and borax.
- Store in a sealed container.
Use: 2 tablespoons per load.
Tip: If you notice a powdery film on clothes, reduce the amount slightly. Too much detergent, even homemade, can leave residue.
2. Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe
For those who prefer liquid, this liquid laundry detergent recipe is smooth, easy to pour, and avoids messy grating.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup liquid Castile soap
- 1 cup washing soda
- ½ cup baking soda
- 10–15 drops of essential oil
- 1 gallon of hot water
Steps:
- Add washing soda and baking soda to hot water, stir until dissolved.
- Add Castile soap and essential oils.
- Store in gallon jugs and shake before use.
Use: About ½ cup per load.
This one is my personal favorite for big families, since it’s quick to mix up in bulk.
3. Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent Recipe
Sensitive skin? This is the perfect recipe for babies, kids, and anyone with eczema.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups washing soda
- 2 cups baking soda
- 1 bar unscented Castile soap, grated
Steps: Mix and store like the powder recipe.
Most people don’t realize that borax, while natural, can still be irritating. This borax-free recipe keeps clothes clean and skin calm.
4. 3-Ingredient Laundry Soap Recipe
Sometimes, simple is best. This laundry soap recipe requires only three things.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup washing soda
- 1 cup borax
- 1 bar soap
Mix, store, and scoop. Done.
Tip: Add a tablespoon of white vinegar to the rinse cycle when using this recipe. It softens clothes naturally and neutralizes any soap residue.
Cost Comparison: Homemade vs Store-Bought
Is homemade laundry detergent worth it? Let’s look at the numbers.
- Tide: $13 for 100 ounces, about 64 loads → 20 cents per load.
- Homemade powder: $8 for ingredients, about 150 loads → 5 cents per load.
That’s a 75 percent savings. If you do 300 loads a year, that’s $90 with Tide versus just $15 with homemade detergent. Over five years, that’s nearly $375 saved.
And it’s not just about money. You’re also saving dozens of plastic bottles from ending up in landfills.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Using too much detergent: More soap doesn’t mean cleaner clothes. Stick to 1–2 tablespoons for powder and ½ cup for liquid.
Not dissolving soap: Always dissolve powders in hot water if you’re washing in cold. This prevents clumps.
Wrong ratios: Too much washing soda can stiffen fabrics, while too much baking soda may leave clothes dull. Follow recipes closely.
In my experience, beginners often think more is better. The truth is, less detergent works better, especially with today’s efficient washers.
FAQs
Q1: Can homemade detergent be used in HE machines?
Oh, totally homemade laundry detergent barely foams up, so it won’t freak out your fancy HE washer. You still get clean clothes, minus the bubble bath fiasco. Win-win, if you ask me.
Q2: Does homemade detergent expire?
If you toss powdered detergent in a sealed container, it’ll usually hang in there for, what, half a year? Liquid homemade laundry soap, though? Yeah, that stuff tends to go funky after, like, three months tops. So don’t forget it in the back of your laundry room—unless you want to see some new science experiments.
Q3: Will it work in cold water?
Yeah, homemade detergent does its thing in cold water, but honestly? If you’re using powder, you probably wanna mix it up in some warm water first. Otherwise, you might end up with weird clumps stuck to your shirt, and nobody’s got time for that mess..
Q4: Is borax safe for everyone?
Borax might be “natural,” but honestly, it can mess with sensitive skin kind of like a bad date you thought would be great. If that’s got you worried, just skip it. There are plenty of chill, non-toxic laundry detergent recipes out there that don’t use borax at all and won’t leave you itching like you rolled in poison ivy.
Q5: Can I add fragrance?
Tossing in a few drops of lavender, lemon, or even tea tree oil to your homemade laundry soap? Chef’s kiss. Not only does your laundry end up smelling way fresher, but you’re also skipping all those weird chemical fragrances. Honestly, it’s kind of a game-changer. Just don’t go overboard nobody wants their t-shirts smelling like a candle shop explosion.
Conclusion
Whipping up your own homemade laundry detergent recipe at home is a total game-changer. It’s not just about saving a few bucks (though, let’s be real, who doesn’t want that?). Your skin will thank you, too; no more mystery chemicals clinging to your clothes.
Plus, Mother Earth? She’s giving you a slow clap.
Go powder, go liquid, go wild with whatever non-toxic blend catches your eye. These DIY mixes actually work sometimes they even outshine the big-name stuff.
Give it a whirl. Once you see how cheap and stupidly simple it is, grabbing a plastic jug from the store will feel kinda old-school. You might never look back.
