Want to make an all-natural laundry detergent as effective as commercial detergent? Your search is over. Here’s how to make the best DIY homemade laundry detergent. And all you need is 3 key ingredients and 15 minutes.
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11 years ago, I started making the switch to natural cleaning products, including laundry detergent!
At that time, the majority of recipes online called for a bar of fels naptha, washing soda, and Borax. But there was one problem: our clothes came out with chalky white spots.
So I made a simple swap: liquid Dr. Bronner’s castile soap instead of the fels naptha soap bar. With this one change, the detergent worked just as good as Tide.
This recipe is non-toxic, fights stains better than commercial detergent, and is cheap! I’ve been making this liquid laundry detergent for over 11 years (originally created in 2014) because of its extraordinary cleaning power.
Homemade Laundry Detergent Benefits
Before You Get Started: What You’ll Need
Ingredients
This recipe, made with simple ingredients, makes 1 gallon of homemade soap.
- 1 cup borax – freshens, deodorizes, and lifts dirt and stains
- 1 cup washing soda – freshens and deodorizes
- 1 cup liquid castile soap or Sal Suds – the main cleaning agent, lifts dirt and cleans
- 50 drops essential oil – optional for a scent
- 15 cups water – distilled water, found in any grocery store, is best as it doesn’t contain containments found in tap or filtered water
Equipment
- Large saucepan or Dutch oven – enough to hold 1 gallon of liquid, 15 cups
- Storage Jars – such as 2 half gallon-size glass mason jars, 1 gallon-size jar, or reuse an old detergent bottle
Thicker Detergent Tip: This recipe calls for 15 cups of water. If you’d like a thicker, more concentrated soap, use 10-12 cups of water.
How to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent: Recipe Steps
- Step 1 Boil 6 Cups of Water: In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, bring 6 cups of water to a slight boil. Once the water begins to boil, turn off the burner.
- Step 2 Add Borax, Washing Soda, More Water, and Castile Soap: Add the Borax and washing soda. Stir to dissolve. Then add 9 cups of room-temperature water and 1 cup of liquid castile soap. Give the ingredients a stir to combine.
- Step 3 Cool for 5-10 Minutes: Allow the soap to cool for a few minutes before pouring into one large gallon-size jar or smaller containers, like quart-size jars. Make sure your jar(s) are heat-safe. If not, wait until the soap is cool, then spoon the soap into the jar(s).
- Step 4 Add Essential Oil For Scent: Add an essential oil of choice (if using) to the soap (now in the jar) and stir to combine with the detergent.
What to Avoid Doing
- Baking Soda – Don’t use baking soda in place of washing soda. Washing soda has a different chemical composition and will not work in this recipe. It is NOT a substitute.
- Dish Soap – Don’t use other dish soaps in place of the castile soap. Dish soap will cause the soap to have too many bubbles in the wash.
- Lack of Suds – Don’t assume that a lack of suds and bubbles means the soap isn’t effective. Suds and bubbles don’t equal clean.
- Plastic Containers – If you’re reusing an old detergent bottle for storage, make sure the laundry detergent is fully cool before adding to a plastic container.
- Heat-Safe Glass – Use a heat-resistant glass jar (if using glass for storage), and also allow the detergent to cool a bit (about 10 minutes) before adding it.
- Essential Oils – The essential oil will add a subtle fragrance, but shouldn’t be added until the soap cools as heat will cause the essential oil to evaporate.
How to Prevent Chunky or Gelled Detergent
After a few days the liquid laundry detergent may clump or gel. This is a completely normal chemical reaction that is usually caused when the outside temperature is cooler. There’s no way to completely prevent this from happening; however, one option is to use more water (2-3 cups more) to make a less concentrated soap.
The laundry soap is 100% usable if it gels up (l actually love this form). Simply scoop the detergent from the container and add to the washer.
Key Takeaway: Whether the laundry detergent gels up or remains liquid, it’s 100% effective and usable in both forms.
How to Use This Liquid Laundry Soap
The detergent is ready to use immediately after making. And may be stored for later use.
- Give the jar a good shake or stir (with a long spoon) before use.
- Use this detergent just as you would any laundry soap to clean clothes.
- This homemade liquid laundry soap is highly concentrated, which means you need only a tiny amount to get a dirty job done.
- For top-loading washer machines, use 1/8-1/4 cup.
- For an HE front loader, use 1-2 tablespoons.
- Add the detergent directly to your washer or the laundry soap compartment.
Can I use this in an HE washer?
I do, so I can only speak to my personal experience. I use 1-2 tablespoons per load. If it’s in gel form, add it straight to the washer on top of the clothes.
Always consult your machine’s user guide before using any laundry detergent to know what your machine can and can’t handle.
How long does this recipe last?
- Use the soap within 1 month.
- Store in your laundry room, at room temperature.
- Learn more about the safety of making your own natural cleaners.
FAQs
- Can I use a castile soap bar instead of liquid castile soap? Yes, you can. Use a cheese grater to grate a bar of castile soap into the hot water (along with the borax and washing soda). Stir and continue to boil the ingredients to dissolve fully (takes about 10 minutes). I also use a bar of castile soap to make powder laundry soap.
- Is it normal that it’s more watery than soapy? Yes, this is normal. For a thicker, more concentrated detergent, there are two options: use Sal Suds instead of castile soap OR reduce the water to 10-12 cups for a more concentrated detergent.
- The detergent is chunky (or gelled) after cooling, is that normal? Yes, this is normal. Depending on your home’s temperature, the soap may be more liquid or even chunky (like a gel). Both are normal and usable!
- My laundry soap didn’t gel. What happened? If your environment is cooler, your laundry soap may gel after cooling. Or it may not. This is normal. Both forms are 100% good and usable. A reader recently shared this tip you can try as well, “I also like the the detergent to be more gelatinous and I use my immersion blender for a few seconds after it is cool to whip it. It turns white and jelly.”
- Is borax safe? Borax is a debated ingredient in naturally-minded circles. I personally don’t see any reason to avoid it. This borax article from Wellness Mama has fantastic information.
- Can I use this soap to lift stains? Yes, you can. You can either add the garment to the washer or add the garment to your kitchen sink with the soap and water and soak the garment to lift the stains. Or, apply the soap directly to the stain and scrub. If you’re dealing with tough stain, I recommend using this homemade stain remover before washing the garment.
- Does this soap work with hard water? Yes, it does. I have hard water and this soap works great. You may want to use this laundry softener recipe as well.
Conclusion: Does this detergent work?
People always ask me, “Will homemade soap work as well as a store-bought product?” The answer, “YES! It will.”
My daughter’s chocolate stain on the left and after using this detergent in the wash. The stain lifted and the shirt was saved. If you need need extra help lifting a stain, you can also use my homemade stain remover first.
The Best Natural Laundry Detergent Brands: I’ve researched and tried many different laundry soap brands and narrowed down the best 11 brands!
Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe
Equipment
- 1 large saucepan or dutch oven (big enough to hold 15 cups of liquid)
- storage jars (such as 2 half gallon-size glass mason jars, 1 gallon-size jar, or reuse an old detergent bottle) for storing the laundry soap
Ingredients
- 1 cup borax
- 1 cup washing soda
- 1 cup liquid castile soap unscented or scented
- 15 cups water divided
- 50 drops essential oil optional for scent
Instructions
- In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, bring 6 cups of water to a slight boil. Once the water begins to boil, turn off the burner.
- Add the Borax and washing soda. Stir to dissolve. Then add 9 cups of room-temperature water and 1 cup of liquid castile soap. Give the ingredients a stir to combine.
- Allow the soap to cool for a few minutes before pouring into one large gallon-size jar or smaller containers, like quart-size jars. Make sure your jar(s) are heat-safe. If not, wait until the soap is cool, then spoon the soap into the jar(s).If you're reusing an old detergent bottle, make sure the soap is fully cool before adding to a plastic container.
- Add an essential oil of choice (if using) to the soap (now in the jar) and stir to combine with the detergent. The essential oil will add a subtle fragrance, but shouldn't be added until the soap cools as heat will cause the essential oil to evaporate.
- As the soap sits, the mixture may form into a gel and become chunky. There may also be liquid and gel separation, simply stir or shake. This is normal.
How to Use
- For top loading washer machines, use 1/8-1/4 cup. For a front loader, use 1-2 tablespoons. Add the detergent to the liquid soap compartment of the washer.
- Stain Treatment – Use a small amount of soap directly on the stain, scrub or rub the stain with a cloth. Repeat as needed, then wash the garment. Or use this stain remover spray.
- Laundry Softener – This laundry detergent may be used with a fabric softener. I use vinegar added to the softener compartment or this salt scent booster & softener added directly to the wash basin before running a wash cycle.
Hello Kristin!
So excited to start making your DIY cleaner recipes! Been having a hard time finding Washing Soda. What is the difference between Washing Soda & Baking Soda? Could I substitute with Baking Soda??
Hey Renee, I’m so excited for you :)! Washing soda has a much higher PH- (something like 11) than baking soda (more neutral, around 8). You could use baking soda in a pinch, but washing soda has more cleaning power thanks to the higher PH level. You can also make washing soda with baking soda. Place the baking soda on a cookie sheet and bake at 400F for 30 minutes, until you notice a change in composition (washing soda looks like salt–very grainy). Hope that helps :).
Awesome! Thank you for the speedy reply! I will check Walmart out and if I still am having a hard time finding it, I’ll try your suggestion on “making” my Washing Soda! Love your site! 🙂
Thank you so much, Renee! I’m so glad you’re enjoying Live Simply. Walmart should definitely sell washing soda–check the laundry aisle :). I also make a homemade bleach alternative using the washing soda. I’ll be sharing that recipe soon.
I made this and after a few days it formed a chunky layer of soap on the top and I have to super stir it every time. Is there a way to prevent that?
Hey Sydney, Stirring/shaking is usually the only option from my experience. Sometimes the laundry soap doesn’t fully gel (in the heat of summer) and then stirring isn’t needed.
I was wondering if this was okay to use in my HE washing machine!
Hey Sierra, I don’t have any personal experience with an HE washer, but I believe a reader commented about her success with this soap and her HE washer…maybe in the comments above?
So thrilled to stumble upon your blog and I do appreciate all your efforts to educate and share!! I’ve made a few of your recipes as I’m trying to live not only a more simple life, but a “greener” one! I have a question specifically regarding the laundry detergent. I made it exactly as your recipe states and found it quite easy. My question is on “sudsing” or lack of suds…I actually see no suds at all when the washer is going…is this normal? Thank you so much again!
Hey Cindy, You’re very welcome. I’m glad you found Live Simply! A lack of suds (or no suds at all) is completely normal. Commercial detergents add ingredients specifically designed to create the suds.
Thanks so much for the post! I’m making my own laundry detergent for the first time as we speak! I’m going to try out 1 part washing soda to 1 part grated Dr. Bronners. I read an article on Little House in the Suburbs by a woman who appeared to do very thorough research on laundry detergents, and that’s how she makes hers. I didn’t want to use Borax, and her article says that Borax is only used in liquid detergents anyway.
Thanks for posting the pictures btw!
Sounds great, Nicole. Enjoy!
Hi. Maybe you can help me. I was using this recipe for about 4 months, and I loved it. Then all of a sudden, it started leaving these orange-yellow stains on my clothes. I have a friend who said it did the same thing to her. Do you have any idea why?
Hey Shanay, I’m not sure of an exact cause for the yellow, but I have a couple of ideas…Do you have hard water? Are you using cold water?
The yellow may be caused by the minerals in the hard water reacting to an ingredient. Try adding kosher salt to a few loads to see if that works to help soften the water. If you’re using cold water, switching to hot for a few loads may also help. Another option is to clean the washer with vinegar and let it run for a wash cycle–this may also work with the clothes in the washer. You could also add powdered borax during the wash cycle (with the clothes inside) to help brighten the clothes again.
Let me know how it goes!
Hi,
I made the dry version a few years ago when I was cloth diapering. I tried using it on our everyday laundry but after a few months the clothes began to look very faded and worn looking. I also sub’ed baking soda for washing soda as I read it would be more gentle. Has anyone who has used this liquid version noticed the faded, worn looking clothes? Thx.
I just had to come back to say how much I love this laundry soap! It doesn’t create residue or make me itch like the DIY dry mixes do, it smells so good, and its more concentrated than other DIY liquids. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
I’m so glad you love the laundry soap. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Kristin! Thanks so much for this recipe! I just made it today and while transferring to a smaller container I spilled a bit on my kitchen floor. A little context here, my kitchen floor is very old white linoleum. It never looks clean. Even when just mopped, it still looks dirty…..Not now! That bit where I spilled is the whitest I have ever seen this floor! I decided to mop with it and it looks fabulous! I can hardly wait to see how the load of laundry comes out! Thanks again for all you do. Your efforts are truely helpful!
That’s awesome, Carmen! Thank you for sharing. I’m so happy your floors are so sparkly…what a great accident ;). Enjoy!!
Price per load comes out to about $0.07 per load
I broke down the price of the ingredients to price/ounce to figure out just how much this mixture would cost per load. I used Wal-Mart prices on the borax and wash powder however. I did not include price for essential oils as that is optional and only uses a little anyway.
On another note, my wife and I are stereotypically opposite you could say. I’m a kinda guy that bargain shops and tries to find the best bang for the buck. Also I’m always trying to find healthy and green altinatives with this functionality cheap mindset too. Soo thanks for the tips and website helping me to become more of a “crunchy dad” if that’s the term… I’m gonna have to look up the origin of that term, “crunchy…” Ha 🙂
Lol, I’m glad Live Simply is helping with the “crunchy” dad transformation :). Thank you so much for breaking down the cost of this laundry soap. I’ve never actually calculated the amount per load, so your comment is incredibly helpful! Enjoy!!
Yup.
I have managed to convince my wife to move from the red tide bottle to the cheaper no frills yellow tide bottle (10 cents per load). looking forward to moving away from tide all together and saving those 3 cents AND saving from loads of chemicals too. will be buying wool balls too. the ones I am buying come with soap nuts… I’m interested in trying those too.
Hey Jeremy, That’ great! I’ve used soap nuts before, but didn’t really care for them…maybe I was using them all wrong. Let me know how it goes.
Mine hasn’t gelled, but it seems to work great anyway. I used lemon essential oil and it smells very nice with the lavender. Thank you for the recipe!
Awesome, Bethany! Yes, the gelling doesn’t always happen, but the power is still present :). Enjoy!!
I’m wondering if you know of anyone who has ever experienced dermatitis using this mix? We’ve got sensitive skin in our family but I’d love to get away from commercial brands with all the extra junk. Thanks!
Hey Elizabeth, I don’t know anyone, but maybe a reader will be able to comment :).
I’ve been making the laundry soap for a while now and I’ve noticed that grease and oil spots are not coming out with the regular formula. I wanted to try boosting the cleaning power a bit by using Sal Suds instead of the regular Dr. Bronner’s castile soap. Do you think this will be a problem? Would I need to alter the amount I used?
Hey Becky, Sal Suds should substitute perfectly for the castile soap. I would use the same amount.
Hi,
I love this but I made a few mistakes. I poured it into my old container and it saturated and clogged the spout. So I dumped it out and put it in the kitchen aid. Still was clumpy so I put it in my vitamix. I also don’t have a large bucket do I used a stock pot. Now I’m worried I might have poisoned my mixer, my pot, and my vitamix with borax being in it. Do you think it’s ok?
Also…this is awesome on soap scum on tile!
Hey Christy, I think your mixer, pot, and Vitamix will be just fine :). I actually use borax in my homemade dish soap recipe since it’s great for cutting grease and removing food particles. Borax (while highly debated) is just as safe as salt, in my opinion. You can read more about borax safety in this great article from Wellness Mama: http://wellnessmama.com/26407/borax-safe/. Enjoy the super clean mixer, pot, Vitamix, and clothes ;).
Has anyone used Zote soap grated for washing cloths? Great!!!!! I will give this recipe a try!
Hi Kristin, thanks for the recipe. Have done a batch last night but i might have put too much water as it’s very runny (no gel-like consistency). Will try to add some borax/washing soda to the mix in the hope it will help.
One other thing, i poored the mixture in a 2L glass container and it makes the manipulation quite risky with slippery hands. I see an accident in the near future 🙂
Hey Aurelie, The laundry soap will be very watery in the beginning. If the laundry soap gels (it doesn’t have to gel to work), it usually takes about 24 hours. Enjoy!!
can baking soda be used in place of the washing soda?
Hey Grace, Baking soda won’t work as a substitute, however, you can make your own washing soda! Here’s a great tutorial: http://www.mommypotamus.com/how-to-make-washing-soda/
Thank you so much for this recipe! I’m vegan, an essential oil lover, and a crunchy doggie mommy. I have done dog rescue my whole life and have struggled with washing dog bedding multiple times to get the dog smell out. This detergent works great in my HE washer. I use a 1/2 cup. When I make more is it ok to mix the new ingredients in with the old batch? Or do I have to wait for the new batch to set up and then add the old batch?
Hey Kristin, I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you so much for sharing. I’ve added new soap to my old soap many times, and it always seems to nicely blend together.
Hi Kristin
Thanks for your prompt reply. Today I managed to purchase 2 smaller bottles of locally made liquid Castile soap, and also found an Australian importer of Dr Bronners on the web.
I have used the Ozzie made one before, (not for laundry purposes), so am excited about trying out your recipe this weekend.
I was so pleased to find your recipe, as I have tried others and they were always gluggy. No thanks!
Heaps of luck with your lovely website.
I’m so glad you found the castile soap, Carmel! Thank you for reporting back. Enjoy the laundry soap :).
Thanks so much for publishing this recipe – looks great.
One question please.
It is not all that easy to buy Dr Bronner’s here in Australia. I am impatient to try this recipe, and I have just purchased a bottle of Dr Bronners Shikakai Soap (Lavender)
Now I am thinking perhaps I should not use this for the laundry, but maybe just use it to make up your body wash recipe. Any thoughts on this please.
Hey Carmel, I’ve never heard of Dr Bronner’s Shikakai Soap. After a quick Google search it appears this soap is made specifically for the body: http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Bronners-Organic-Hand-Shikakai/dp/B002UYW3JU? I’m not sure how well it work in this recipe. Another option is to use a bar of natural soap and melt it with the washing soda and borax.