I did it … finally.
I have been wanting to make my own homemade laundry detergent for a few years now. I was all ready to take the plunge earlier this month. But, as happens now and again when living on an island, I couldn’t find all of the ingredients.
Yes, it is true, there are only 3 necessary ingredients. And I couldn’t find Borax or washing soda. Such is island life, it was a fun scavenger hunt for a few days, though.
Update: We’ve moved back to the US and you can easily find Borax here and washing soda here.
Lucky for me, I’m at least smart enough to have smart friends. Smart friends who, when they find Borax they know it’s not always available so they buy what they consider to be a ’5 year supply’ and are happy to sacrifice a box for the greater good. Thank you Anita!!!
And, still without washing soda, I looked into it a bit and learned that the difference between washing soda and baking soda is that baking soda is almost half the pH of washing soda, rendering it a gentler product while reducing a little bit of the cleaning ability.
But, I just so happened to have some Oxy Clean on hand, so I thought that would add back in an appropriate amount of cleaning power.
Seems logical, right?!?
For everyone who has been asking, that little beauty of ours, Mico, is doing amazingly well … and keeping a closer eye on me than ever. Just how we both like it. Thank you for all the kind thoughts.
My ingredients of choice for homemade laundry detergent:
1 cup Ivory Soap grated (you could use any natural soap, ie. Kirk’s Castile, Dr. Bonners, Fels Naptha or Zote)
1/2 cup Borax (there are alternatives using a pure glycerin soap if you prefer to not use Borax)
1/4 cup Baking Soda*
1/4 cup Oxy Clean*
*if you have washing soda you can substitute 1/2 cup for the 1/4 baking soda and 1/4 Oxy Clean.
Here’s my understanding of the purpose for each ingredient in homemade laundry detergent:
Ivory Soap – main cleaning ingredient
Borax – whitener and deodorizer
Baking Soda – stain and odor remover
Oxy Clean – additional cleaning umph
And, the two best parts of this project in my opinion, you ask?!?!
Unless you live on an island and have trouble sourcing ingredients, this is a super simple project.
Grate the soap and combine all ingredients. Easy peasy. Feel free to multiply the recipe as desired. My three 3.1 oz bars of soap were about 3 cups total and I combined the other ingredients accordingly.
And, use 1 tablespoon of the concoction for regular loads and up to 2 tablespoons for your nasty laundry heavily soiled loads.
And the other best part … the cost breakdown vs. store-bought powdered laundry detergent.
No, I don’t have a mathy breakdown because I didn’t actually buy all of the ingredients and yes, my comparison would be a Curacao cost breakdown. But, word on the street is this is cheaper. :)
And, it is low suds so can be used in HE, front loading units. Bonus!
Update: You can make a diy desiccant to prevent your homemade laundry detergent from clumping, the recipe is here.
Tell me … have you ever made your own laundry detergent? Anything else homemade that I should give a try? Wish I actually had a mathy cost breakdown? I do. :)
And … the winners for the Homezada.com giveaway were picked, find out if it’s you here.
I might link this post at Tip Junkie, BNOTP, DIY Show Off, Positively Splendid, Home Stories A to Z, House of Hepworths, Shabby Creek Cottage, The 36th Avenue and Savvy Southern Style.
*post contains affiliate links
i have been really wanting to make my own laundry detergent. where did you find the borax?? i am almost out of my current laundry soap so maybe this would be a good time to try out my homemade soap
I’ve been making my own detergent for awhile now. Same ingredients just done a little bit different and uses water so I have a liquid detergent. Just about the same amount of ingredients that you used (up the powdered ingredients by about a half a cup) and it yields 10 GALLONS of liquid detergent!!! I supply detergent now for all the kids and their significant others! Little moochers!
On another note – I have tried at least a dozen times to take off the no-reply blogger thing and the box is definitely check marked where it says show email like all the tutorials I’ve been reading so I’m not sure what’s up. Could you attempt a reply and let me know? My next step is contacting Google!
I have a jar of this sitting in my laundry room right now! And I just washed my sheets with it! It’s so great!
Have a blessed day!
karianne
Must Try!
Hi Karah – I was one of those who thought making my own laundry detergent was a good idea…someday. Well that day came about a month ago. I am allergic to almost every laundry detergent on the market. The no-name one I used was the only one I could use and they stopped making it! I tried some expensive natural hypo-allergenic ones – nothing worked so I made my own. I’ve been using it for 3 weeks now and it’s great! Takes a few minutes to make, gets my clothes clean with no fragrance left and I’m not allergic! The fact that it is much cheaper is a bonus. I will always make my own from now on. J
It’s one of those things I can’t believe I’ve waited so long to do it, you know!! So encouraging to hear the positive outcomes. I’ve been thrilled so far.
Karah, how well does the ivory soap work? I usually use fels naptha in my laundry soap but ivory would be cheaper!
I might just have to try this to put it to the smelly-teenage-boy-athlete test.
I’ll let you know if I do!!
xo Heidi
I’ve been itching to try this… definitely need to check it out!
I’ve been seeing this, and it seems like such a money saver! Thanks for sharing!!
This is good to know! I’ve been kinda wanting to try this. Though i will say I draw the line at homemade deodorant… have you seen that on pinterest? I mean really???
My laundry room is in a closet – literally! So there’s no room for cute jars in there! I just hide my big ugly orange tub of detergent but I wish I could sit this on a shelf in my light filled laundry room – some day!!
Kelly
Karah, I have seen a couple of homemade laundry detergent “recipes”…I love that this one has Ivory soap…love that smell !!
Love that Mico is doing well…Such a cutie!!!
I get your posts by email and thought you’d like to know that at the end of your post was a LOT of gibberish I presume was code. It said it was a clipped version. I clicked to see the whole post and got to the comment area. Just a glitch I would want to know of if it were mine, that’s all. Isn’t this homemade stuff awesome?!?!?!?
I’ve been dying to try this too! How does it work compared to the store-bought stuff?
I love the idea of Home made laundry soap, what could be added for a great smell?
I understand that essential oils work, a friend of mine uses a few drops of lavender … she makes this same recipe in the liquid version. You have to boil the ingredients with a LOT of water … it makes a lot, but I don’t know the exact amount. Check out Jaye’s comment … she makes 10 gallons.
I’ve seen a pin on Pinterest for Lavender. It recommends about ten drops of essential oil. I’d imagine any essential oil could work. I did a search for mixing essential oils, and found this one to be very helpful: http://www.soap-making-essentials.com/essential-oils-blends.html
Thanks for the resource Allie!
Pinned it!
OK, I’m really going to make some! I’ve been saying it for months! Thanks for the reminder
I’ve pinned like 3 of these recipes, but have yet to try one. Aaaaaaand now I’ll pin yours.
Yep, I’ve done this before and it worked. I didn;t have washing soda but I doubled up on baking soda, still worked out well.
You just need one or two tablespoons of the homemade detergent?! Wow! I use at least a cup of the bought stuff – maybe I’m overdoing it?! I hate that laundry detergent makes me choke when I breathe it in – really makes me wonder what it’s doing to the environment. I’m going to give this detergent recipe a try.
I haven’t made any homemade cleaning products, but I’m going to try making homemade deodorant. The store bought stuff can’t be good for you, with aluminium being one of the ingredients. Who knows what it does to your body after it gets absorbed…. here’s a recipe that I came across:
http://www.crunchybetty.com/not-a-secret-homemade-deodorant
This is totally something that is on my “if I ever have time” list. But then I’d have to make my laundry room all pretty to go with it too:)
Tried to +1, but got an error, hmmm….
Jessica
This is so funny because we both must of been on this kick this week to make our own detergent. I am not on an island as you are and had the most difficult time finding Borax and washing soda. Nobody carries it anymore. Did find several online sites who will ship these items to your home.
That is too funny! Same troubles in totally different locations.
I too make my laundry soap. I’ve read you can make your own washing soda by baking/cooking regular baking soda in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. It said you can feel the difference in the before baked and after baked soda. It’s more coarse. I’ve also seen recipes that use Zote and Fels Naptha. Some claim your water hardness can affect your results, so try the different soaps and adjusting the amount of soda more or less.
Hi Michelle – I read that too about the baking soda to washing soda … but the article I read said that after exposure to the air it turns back to baking soda so it had to be sealed in an air tight container. But I might try that next time. :0
I just made my laundry soap this past week. I intentionally ran out before we left for holiday so I would be forced to get going on this. Now I did not find any cost savings as it cost me about $11 to get all the supplies at Walmart. We can get washing soda locally although I have ordered it online in the past. I am going to do a more accurate analysis the next go around. I would add one other ingredient and that is essential oils of your choice. That is the main reason I even wanted to do this- I love all the fun smells, like rosemary. Thanks for your great post and photos, especially of sleepy puppy.
My MIL has been using Borax for years… I’m just too dern lazy to do this, but it looks amazing and I LOVE Ivory soap! You go.
I just found the my new hometown grocery store has the washing soda – yay! I’ve been using borax for a few years as a laundry additive, but now I’m going to make my own powdered stuff. Quick question – any thoughts on adding vinegar for de-stinkifying work out clothes? Will it still work with this formula?
YES!! I would add it directly to a load of super stinky clothes! AND, vinegar is a great washing machine cleaner. I run my washing machine empty every few months and just put 1/2 cup of vinegar in the soap dispenser. Works like a charm.
This is the same recipe I use…it works so well. The only place I can find washing powder other than online is at Ace/ Do you have Ace Hardware where you live?
I am loving it, Holly!! I live in Curacao … and island in the southern Caribbean.
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this looks so much easier than what i made. when its all gone im trying your idea. thanks. do you have a recipe for dishwasher soap. i tried one and my clear glass looked awful.
I LOVE this laundry detergent, but unfortunately I haven’t tried a dishwasher soap since we were living without one the last 3 years … I’ll have to work on one when we get moved into our house! I’ll let you know if I come up with something good.
I pinned this Karah, I need to make this!! Thank you for sharing:)
Thank you Barbara!!
Looks totally doable Karah! Thanks for sharing with awesome pics!
Thank you so much Heather!
I’m about to make my 3rd batch. The first lasted 9 months! And costs under $20. I too have used Ivory when I couldn’t fine the Naphatha. (sp?) The ingredients are easier and easier to find the more popular Pinterest becomes. Literally, every grocery store in my town has the ingredients. It really only takes about 15 minutes to make this to save a lot of money. For a nice smell I use the new fragrance crystals for laundry but only a couple of tablespoons per load, not 1/4 cup the manufacturer recommends.
I’m so glad you like it, I have been amazed at how long it lasts and how well it works!!
Just curious can scented dial soap be used.
I have never heard of Scented Dial being used, I might be concerned with the color … it’s orange right?!?!