Wow!! It is easy to make laundry detergent!
I have had the supplies for a while thinking I should make detergent. But the actual doing of it did not
happen. Somehow I thought it would be harder than it was. Well today was the day. It only took fifteen
minutes, such a surprise.
Melted 1/3 bar of Fels Naptha in a pan with 6 cups of water until dissolved.
Then, added 1/2 cup each washing soda and borax until it was dissolved. In a bucket , I placed 4 cups
of water and poured the soap mixture in as soon as everything became a smooth solution. Used a spoon
to see. Added another 10 cups of water. As it cooled I dropped in about 15 drops of Sweet Orange
essential oil. Finished. And it smells wonderful.
I will add more when I wash my whites to tell you how well it works. I initially had it in a large bowl
but poured it into gallon pitchers with lids. It should be easy to pour out 1/3 cup when I do the wash.
Can you tell? I am really satisfied and pleased. It was so easy!!
See Recipe #4 for powdered version.
Here are more recipes found on the net. http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundr...rgent-recipes/
10 Homemade Laundry Soap Detergent Recipes
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Here is a nice stack of different homemade laundry detergent recipes I’ve collected over the years. Do
they work? Yes, I’ve had good luck with them.
Tipnut's Homemade Laundry Detergent
At the time I was using homemade detergent, we had a relative who was in trade school living with us.
Every day he was mechanic grease from head to toe–the clothes cleaned up nice!Making your own
laundry detergent is a discipline and it’s not for everyone, but it definitely saves money–sometimes just
costing pennies a load!
First Some Tips:
• For the bar soaps required in the recipes, you could try Fels-Naptha, Ivory soap, Sunlight bar
soap, Kirk’s Hardwater Castile, and Zote. Don’t use heavily perfumed soaps.
• Washing Soda and Borax can normally be found in the laundry and cleaning aisles.
• Some people with really hard water or well water may have to adjust the recipes if the clothes
look dingy.
• Although several of the recipes have the same ingredients, the measurements are different–some
contain a higher soap to water ratio. Test and see which works best for your laundry needs.
• You can make huge pails of this at once, or smaller quantities. Also if you can get your hands on
a few empty liquid laundry detergent bottles they work great for storing the detergent. Just make
a big batch and pour in bottles, cap then use as needed–shake before use.
• Some of the recipes call for large amounts of water. Check with a local restaurant to see if they
have any empty large pails from deep fryer oil–that’s how many restaurants buy the oil. See if
you can have one or two of the pails after they’ve emptied it–just wash them out really well
before using. They’re big, heavy plastic and very sturdy when stirring the soap and hot water.
10 Homemade Laundry Soap Detergent Recipes
Recipe #1
1 quart Water (boiling)
2 cups Bar soap (grated)
2 cups Borax
2 cups Washing Soda
• Add finely grated bar soap to the boiling water and stir until soap is melted. You can keep on
low heat until soap is melted.
• Pour the soap water into a large, clean pail and add the Borax and Washing Soda. Stir well until
all is dissolved.
• Add 2 gallons of water, stir until well mixed.
• Cover pail and use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry. Stir the soap each time you use it (will gel).
Recipe #2
Hot water
1 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1 Soap bar
• Grate the bar soap and add to a large saucepan with hot water. Stir over medium-low heat until
soap dissolves and is melted.
• Fill a 10 gallon pail half full of hot water. Add the melted soap, Borax and Washing soda, stir
well until all powder is dissolved. Top the pail up with more hot water.
• Use 1 cup per load, stirring soap before each use (will gel).
Recipe #3
Hot water
1/2 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1/3 bar Soap (grated)
• In a large pot, heat 3 pints of water. Add the grated bar soap and stir until melted. Then add the
washing soda and borax. Stir until powder is dissolved, then remove from heat.
• In a 2 gallon clean pail, pour 1 quart of hot water and add the heated soap mixture. Top pail with
cold water and stir well.
• Use 1/2 cup per load, stirring soap before each use (will gel).
Powdered Laundry Detergent – Recipe #4
2 cups Fels Naptha Soap (finely grated – you could also try the other bar soaps listed at the
top)
1 cup Washing Soda
1 cup Borax
• Mix well and store in an airtight plastic container.
• Use 2 tablespoons per full load.
Recipe #5
Hot water
1 bar (4.5 oz) Ivory Soap – grated
1 cup Washing Soda
• In a large saucepan add grated soap and enough hot water to cover. Heat over medium-low heat
and stir until soap is melted.
• Fill a large pail with 2.5 gallons of hot water, add hot soap mixture. Stir until well mixed.
• Then add the washing soda, again stirring until well mixed.
• Set aside to cool.
• Use 1/2 cup per full load, stirring well before each use (will gel)
Recipe #6
2.5 gallons Water (hot)
1 Bar soap (grated)
3/4 cup Washing Soda
3/4 cup Borax
2 TBS Glycerin
• Melt bar soap over medium-low heat topped with water, stir until soap is melted.
• In a large pail, pour 2.5 gallons of hot water, add melted soap mixture, washing soda, borax and
glycerin. Mix well.
• Use 1/2 cup per full load.
Recipe #7
2 cups Bar soap (grated)
2 cups Washing Soda
2 – 2.5 gallons hot water
• Melt grated soap in saucepan with water to cover. Heat over medium-low heat and stir until
soap is dissolved.
• Pour hot water in large pail, add hot soap and washing soda. Stir very well.
• Use 1 cup per full load.
Recipe #8
2 gallons Water (hot)
1 bar Soap (grated)
2 cups Baking soda (yes baking soda this time–not washing soda)
• Melt grated soap in a saucepan with enough hot water to cover. Cook on medium-low heat,
stirring frequently until soap is melted.
• In a large pail, pour 2 gallons hot water. Add melted soap, stir well.
• Then add the baking soda, stir well again.
• Use 1/2 cup per full load, 1 cup per very soiled load.
Powdered Laundry Detergent – Recipe #9
12 cups Borax
8 cups Baking Soda
8 cups Washing Soda
8 cups Bar soap (grated)
• Mix all ingredients well and store in a sealed tub.
• Use 1/8 cup of powder per full load.
Recipe #10 – (Powdered)
1 cup Vinegar (white)
1 cup Baking Soda
1 cup Washing Soda
1/4 cup liquid castile soap
• Mix well and store in sealed container.
• I find it easiest to pour the liquid soap into the bowl first, stirred in the washing soda, then
baking soda, then added the vinegar in small batches at a time (the recipe foams up at first). The
mixture is a thick paste at first that will break down into a heavy powdered detergent, just keep
stirring. There may be some hard lumps, try to break them down when stirring (it really helps to
make sure the baking soda isn’t clumpy when first adding). I used 1/2 cup per full load with
great results.
Liquid Detergents Note
Soap will be lumpy, goopy and gel-like. This is normal. Just give it a good stir before using. Make sure
soap is covered with a lid when not in use. You could also pour the homemade soap in old (and
cleaned) laundry detergent bottles and shake well before each use.
*If you can’t find Fels-Naptha locally, you can buy it online (check Amazon).
Optional
You can add between 10 to 15 drops of essential oil (per 2 gallons) to your homemade laundry
detergent. Add once the soap has cooled to room temperature. Stir well and cover.
Essential oil ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil
*Admin Update: clarified instructions for Recipe #10 and liquid detergent notes.
Thanks everyone for shopping tips, recipes, and comments
The Duggar Family laundry soap recipe
The Duggar Family Laundry Soap (you know, the family with 20 eleven children.)
4 Cups hot tap water 1 Cup Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda
1 Fels Naptha soap bar 1/2 Cup Borax
Grate bar soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over med-low heat till dissolved and
melted. Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda, and borax. Stir
till 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
the way with water. Shake well before each use. Optional: you can use 10-15 drops of essential oil per
2 gallons. Add once the soap has cooled. ie: lavender, rosemary, tea tree or orange oil. This recipe
makes 10 gallons. (when you use the dispenser with the added water).
Top loading machine 5/8 C. per load 180 loads.
Front loading machine (HE) 1/4 C. per load 360-400 loads.
I would also like to have the recipe for the dry mix, too. It would take up less space.
I have another recipe for homemade laundry soap but do not have the exact measurements of each
ingredient. When I find it I will post it. It is made with grated Ivory soap bars, borax, washing soda and
generic brand Oxy-clean (at Wal-mart), $5.99 a container.