DIY Homemade Laundry Detergent: Your Guide to Natural, Cost-Effective Cleaning

Discover how to create your own homemade laundry detergent with this easy-to-follow, natural tutorial. Making your own DIY natural laundry detergent is not only incredibly cost-effective but also significantly healthier for your family and the environment compared to many conventional options. Below, you’ll find comprehensive tips and answers to frequently asked questions to ensure your transition to a natural laundry routine is smooth and successful.

Are you tired of spending a fortune on commercial laundry soaps, only to find them packed with artificial ingredients and questionable chemicals? It’s time to consider a healthier, more sustainable, and budget-friendly alternative for your home cleaning needs. Embracing a natural lifestyle doesn’t mean sacrificing cleanliness, especially when it comes to laundry.

This DIY laundry detergent recipe is a true game-changer. It will not only revolutionize your laundry routine but also offer peace of mind, knowing exactly what’s touching your family’s clothes and skin. I’ve been making my own laundry detergent for many years, and the positive impact on our health and finances has been profound. Due to popular demand and countless questions, I decided to compile all my insights and experiences into this comprehensive guide.

My goal is to simplify the process of making the switch to healthier alternatives without adding inconvenience to your busy life. This homemade laundry detergent powder recipe is incredibly fast to prepare, uses simple ingredients, and is remarkably cheap. Imagine reducing your laundry cost to just 1-2 pennies per load! This is a stark contrast to typical store-bought detergents, which average around $0.28 to $0.30 per load – that’s massive savings over time, proving that making your own is a smart financial decision.

I am a strong advocate for homemade cleaning products because they offer triple benefits: saving money, optimizing time by buying in bulk and making large batches, and allowing complete control over the ingredients. Knowing that I’m using safe, natural components that I feel good about is incredibly important to me. Just as I craft our other household cleaners, from furniture polish and glass cleaner to an all-purpose cleaner and even toilet cleaner, it was only natural to extend this philosophy to our laundry.

Years ago, when I first ventured into making my own homemade laundry soap, truly natural store-bought alternatives were scarce. This scarcity spurred my desire to create effective, natural, and cost-effective solutions for our home. While life can get hectic, and sometimes convenience wins, it’s reassuring to know that more natural options are now available on the market. For those times when DIY isn’t feasible, I’ve also included a selection of highly-rated natural detergents you can purchase below.

Tips for Homemade Laundry Detergent:

To ensure you get the best results from your homemade laundry detergent, consider these helpful tips:

• Troubleshooting Dissolution: If you notice your homemade laundry detergent isn’t dissolving completely, especially in colder washes, there are easy fixes. The most straightforward approach is to use warm or hot water, as the elevated temperature significantly aids in dissolving the powder. Alternatively, you can pre-dissolve the recommended amount of detergent in a cup of hot water before adding it to your washing machine along with your clothes. This ensures it’s fully dispersed and ready to clean.
• Natural Fabric Softener Alternative: Wool Dryer Balls: Ditch conventional fabric softeners that often contain synthetic fragrances and chemicals. Wool dryer balls are an excellent natural alternative. They work by creating space between tumbling clothes, allowing air to circulate more efficiently, which reduces drying time and helps prevent wrinkles. The gentle friction they create also naturally softens fabrics, leaving your laundry feeling pleasant and smooth. For those who still desire a subtle scent, simply add a few drops of your favorite essential oils (like lavender or lemon) to the dryer balls before tossing them into the dryer.
• The Power of Vinegar: For an additional boost in softening and cleaning power, consider adding half a cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle. Vinegar acts as a natural cleaning agent, deodorizer, and helps to remove residual detergent and mineral buildup, leaving clothes softer and brighter. It’s also completely safe for your washing machine and is an eco-friendly choice. Don’t worry, the vinegar smell dissipates entirely as your clothes dry.
• Tackling Tough Stains: Even the most effective homemade detergents sometimes need a little help with stubborn stains. For grass, coffee, wine, or grease, my DIY Stain Remover has proven incredibly effective. Pre-treating stains before washing can significantly improve your laundry results and extend the life of your garments. It’s one of those practical life skills that brings immense satisfaction!
• Adjusting for Water Quality: While this natural laundry detergent recipe has been highly successful for my family for years, its performance can sometimes be influenced by local water quality, particularly hard water. If you find the results less than ideal, don’t be discouraged! Experimenting with water temperature or adding a tablespoon or two of Dr. Bronner’s Sal Suds Liquid Cleaner can significantly enhance cleaning power and help prevent any potential buildup. Sal Suds is a concentrated, biodegradable cleaner that offers an extra punch for tough grime and residue.

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Tools You Will Need:

To prepare your DIY laundry detergent, you’ll need a few basic tools:

• Measuring cup (for precise ingredient amounts)
• Cheese grater (a fine grater works best for soap)
• A large storage container (I often find great, inexpensive options at thrift stores!)
• Wool dryer balls (an excellent, natural alternative to conventional fabric softeners)
• Optional: Food processor or blender (for an even finer detergent powder)

FAQ About Homemade Laundry Detergent:

Why Switch to Natural Laundry Detergent?

We all love the comforting smell of freshly laundered clothes, but that enticing aroma often comes at a hidden cost. Many commercial detergents achieve their long-lasting scents through a complex cocktail of synthetic ingredients, frequently labeled simply as “fragrance.” This seemingly innocuous term can represent hundreds of potentially toxic chemicals, some of which are known endocrine disruptors, allergens, irritants, and even carcinogens.

When you use conventional detergents, these synthetic fragrances don’t just rinse away; they cling to your clothes, creating a constant exposure throughout the day. This prolonged contact with chemical residues in our clothes and homes can have serious long-term health implications, especially for sensitive individuals, children, and pets. Making the switch to a natural laundry detergent allows you to eliminate these hidden dangers, ensuring a safer home environment.

The benefits of making your own DIY laundry soap are substantial. You gain complete transparency over the ingredients, actively reducing your family’s exposure to harmful chemicals. Beyond health, homemade detergents are incredibly cost-effective and environmentally friendly. They offer a powerful solution for consumers seeking an HE-safe, natural, and budget-conscious way to achieve clean, fresh laundry, naturally.

Is Homemade Laundry Detergent HE Safe?

Absolutely, yes! Homemade laundry detergents, when formulated correctly with low-sudsing ingredients, are perfectly safe and effective for high-efficiency (HE) washing machines. The primary concern with HE washers and detergent lies in suds production. HE machines use significantly less water than traditional washers and rely on tumbling or spinning actions to clean clothes, rather than a central agitator.

Traditional detergents, designed for abundant suds, can cause major issues in HE machines. Excessive suds can lead to poor rinsing, leaving detergent residue on clothes and inside the machine. This residue can foster mold and mildew growth, cause unpleasant odors, and potentially damage your washer’s sensors and pump over time. HE washers are engineered to be highly efficient, optimizing water and energy use based on load size and fabric type, making low-sudsing detergents crucial.

Our homemade detergent recipe specifically utilizes ingredients with low sudsing properties, making it entirely safe for HE washers. It effectively cleans dirt and stains while being gentle on fabrics and, crucially, prevents residue buildup. You can often identify an HE washer by a clear label, by the absence of a central agitator, and by their typical front-loading design.

Can I use Baking Soda Instead of Washing Soda?

No, baking soda and washing soda are not interchangeable in this laundry detergent recipe, despite their similar appearance. They are distinct compounds with different chemical compositions and properties. Washing soda is sodium carbonate, a highly alkaline substance with powerful cleaning capabilities. Its alkalinity makes it exceptional for breaking down grease, removing tough stains, brightening fabrics, and softening hard water by neutralizing minerals. It’s a cornerstone ingredient in many effective laundry boosters.

Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is also a natural product but is much milder in alkalinity. While it cannot substitute washing soda for its primary cleaning functions in this recipe, it serves as an excellent laundry additive. You can add baking soda alongside your homemade detergent to boost whitening, effectively neutralize odors, and further soften fabrics. It also helps regulate the pH balance in your wash water, creating an optimal cleaning environment. Interestingly, if you ever find yourself without washing soda, you can actually bake baking soda to convert it into washing soda! Using both baking soda as an additive and washing soda as a core ingredient will maximize your detergent’s overall effectiveness.

Is Borax Safe to Use in Homemade Laundry Detergent?

Borax, scientifically known as sodium tetraborate, is a naturally occurring mineral compound composed of sodium, boron, oxygen, and water. It’s widely recognized and used as a household cleaner, laundry booster, and pesticide. The discussions surrounding borax safety often highlight ingestion risks, but when used externally for washing clothes, it poses little to no concern, especially since it is thoroughly rinsed out during the laundry cycle. It has been used for generations in household cleaning products.

When incorporating borax into your homemade laundry detergent, it’s essential to take proper precautions, just as you would with any cleaning agent. Avoid direct inhalation of the powder and ensure good ventilation. Keep it out of reach of children and pets. When handled responsibly and used as directed for laundry, borax is considered safe and effective, contributing significantly to the detergent’s cleaning power by boosting alkalinity and helping to whiten and deodorize. For a deeper dive into the safety of borax, you can find more detailed information here.

Can I Add Essential Oils to My Laundry Detergent?

While the idea of adding essential oils directly to homemade laundry detergent for a natural scent is appealing, in my personal experience, it hasn’t yielded significant lasting benefits. During the wash cycle, essential oils can quickly evaporate due to heat and agitation, or they may simply rinse away, leaving little to no noticeable scent on your dried clothes. Moreover, some oils can degrade or lose their aromatic properties when exposed to the harsh conditions of a washing machine.

However, if you’re determined to infuse your laundry with natural fragrance, I highly recommend using essential oils with wool dryer balls. This method allows the scent to be transferred to your clothes during the drying process, where it’s more likely to adhere and linger. Simply add a few drops of your preferred essential oil, such as lavender, lemon, or tea tree oil, to each dryer ball just before tossing them into the dryer with your wet clothes. This provides a gentle, natural aroma that you can truly enjoy.

How Do You Make Liquid Laundry Detergent?

If you prefer a liquid consistency for your laundry detergent, rest assured that you can achieve a similar natural formula. The ingredients are largely the same as this powder recipe, but the preparation method is adjusted to create a smooth, pourable liquid. You’ll typically involve grating soap, dissolving it in hot water, and then combining it with the other powder ingredients to form a gel-like consistency. For a detailed guide and video tutorial on making liquid homemade laundry detergent, you can find a specific recipe here. It’s a fantastic alternative if you prefer liquid over powder.

What About Natural Fabric Softener?

Just like commercial detergents, many commercial fabric softeners are laden with synthetic fragrances, phthalates, and other chemicals that can be harmful to both your health and the environment. These ingredients can cause skin irritation, respiratory issues, and contribute to indoor air pollution. Fortunately, switching to natural laundry care extends to fabric softeners with very simple and effective alternatives.

The simplest and most budget-friendly option is distilled white vinegar. Adding half a cup of vinegar to your washer’s fabric softener dispenser during the rinse cycle not only softens clothes but also acts as a mild disinfectant, helps remove residual soap buildup from fabrics, and even cleans your washing machine over time. The vinegar smell completely disappears as clothes dry. Other natural options include wool dryer balls (as discussed earlier for both softening and scenting) or specific store-bought natural fabric softeners with excellent safety ratings, which I’ve listed further below.

Where Do I Get the Ingredients?

Sourcing ingredients for your homemade laundry detergent is typically quite straightforward:

• Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate): This essential ingredient can often be found in the laundry aisle of most major grocery stores, supermarkets, and big-box retailers. Look for brands like Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda. If you’re struggling to find it locally, it’s readily available for purchase online through retailers like Amazon or specialty eco-friendly cleaning suppliers.
• Borax (Sodium Tetraborate): Similar to washing soda, borax is usually located in the laundry or cleaning aisle of grocery stores and big-box stores. Even hardware stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot often carry borax, given its versatility as a household cleaner. Again, online availability is also excellent if local options are limited.
• Natural Bar Soap (Castile or Fels Naptha): For the bar soap component, I highly recommend an unscented castile soap bar, such as Dr. Bronner’s, which is gentle and free from artificial fragrances. These are typically found in the natural health section, soap aisle, or sometimes even the laundry aisle of larger supermarkets and health food stores. Fels-Naptha is a common choice for many homemade detergent recipes and is widely available in the laundry aisle, but it does contain artificial fragrances and other synthetic ingredients, which I opt to avoid in my quest for truly natural products. Always check the ingredient list to ensure it aligns with your natural living goals.

No matter where you live, with a little searching (online or in person), you’ll be able to gather all the necessary components for your DIY natural laundry detergent with ease.

My Recommendations for Natural Store-Bought Laundry Detergent:

While making your own natural laundry detergent is my preferred method, I completely understand that it’s not always feasible for everyone. Life gets busy, and sometimes a ready-made solution is simply necessary. The good news is that the market for natural and eco-friendly cleaning products has expanded significantly. However, it’s still crucial to be discerning, as “natural” labeling can sometimes be misleading.

A fantastic resource for evaluating product safety is the Environmental Working Group (EWG) website. EWG is a non-profit organization that researches and rates products based on their chemical safety and transparency. Their database is invaluable for consumers seeking healthier options, as many products formulated decades ago contain chemicals whose long-term health effects, including links to cancer and endocrine disruption, are now better understood. Looking for products with a good EWG rating ensures you’re choosing items that are safer for your family and the planet.

EWG-Approved Detergent Brands:

Based on their excellent ratings on the EWG website, here are some natural laundry detergent brands I would confidently recommend, including a few personal favorites:

• Ecover – This brand consistently receives an “A” rating from EWG, and I can personally attest to its effectiveness. It’s often my go-to choice when I haven’t had time to whip up a new batch of homemade laundry soap.
• EverSpring Free And Clear – I’ve used this detergent while traveling, and it performs remarkably well, leaving clothes clean without any irritating residues or scents.
• Branch Basics – While it might seem a bit pricey upfront, Branch Basics offers a concentrated cleaner that’s incredibly versatile. It’s not just for laundry; you can use it throughout your home – in the kitchen, bathroom, and for various cleaning tasks. It’s truly one of the best multi-purpose natural cleaners I’ve encountered.
• Country Save – Another solid choice with strong EWG ratings, known for its effectiveness and minimal ingredients.
• Ecos – A widely available and reliable natural detergent that often scores well for its ingredient transparency and performance.

Here are additional brands that I haven’t personally tried but consistently boast good ratings on the EWG website, making them worthy considerations:

• Aspenclean
• Attitude (offers various laundry products with high safety standards)
• Common Good, Unscented
• Seventh Generation Laundry Detergent Powder Free And Clear (a great option if you prefer powder and no scent)
• Planet 2x

Fabric Softeners with Good Ratings:

If you prefer a dedicated fabric softener product over vinegar or wool dryer balls, these brands have received favorable ratings on the EWG website:

• 9 Elements Purifying Softener
• Attitude Fabric Softener
• Dropps Fabric Softener Pods (convenient and eco-friendly pods)
• Truly Free Fabric Softener
• Clean People Fabric Softener

Homemade Laundry Detergent Key Ingredients:

Understanding the role of each ingredient in your DIY natural laundry detergent empowers you to make informed choices and even troubleshoot if needed:

• Borax: This naturally occurring mineral is an alkaline salt that acts as a powerful cleaning booster. Its alkalinity makes it exceptionally effective at tackling acidic stains such as tomato, wine, and coffee by helping to neutralize them. Borax also plays a crucial role in whitening white clothes, brightening colors, and effectively neutralizing a wide range of odors, leaving fabrics smelling truly clean. It’s also known for its ability to inhibit mold and mildew.
• Washing Soda (Sodium Carbonate): Another highly alkaline compound, washing soda is particularly beneficial for households with hard water. It works by softening the water, which allows the soap to lather more effectively and prevents mineral buildup on clothes and inside your machine. Beyond water softening, it’s a stellar stain remover and an excellent agent for eliminating stubborn odors from laundry, contributing to a deeper clean.
• Natural Bar Soap: The soap component provides the actual “suds” and cleaning action by lifting dirt and oils from fabrics. My personal preference is an unscented castile soap bar, as it’s made from natural vegetable oils and is incredibly gentle, making it an ideal choice for those with sensitive skin or allergies. While Fels-Naptha soap bar is a common and effective choice in many homemade laundry detergent recipes, it typically contains artificial fragrances and other synthetic ingredients, which I opt to avoid in my quest for truly natural products. Always check the ingredient list to ensure it aligns with your natural living goals.

How to Make DIY Laundry Detergent:

Creating your own natural laundry detergent is a simple, quick process that will quickly become part of your regular home maintenance routine. Follow these straightforward steps:

Step 1: Combine Dry Ingredients
In your chosen storage container, thoroughly mix the borax and washing soda. Ensure they are well combined to create a uniform base for your detergent.

Step 2: Grate the Soap Bar
Using a fine cheese grater, carefully grate the entire bar of natural soap. Finer shreds will dissolve more easily in your washing machine.

Step 3: Integrate Soap and Mix
Add the freshly grated soap to the container with the borax and washing soda. Stir everything together thoroughly until all ingredients are evenly distributed. This ensures each scoop of detergent has the right balance of cleaning power.

Optional Step: Achieve Finer Texture
For an even finer, more uniform powder that dissolves extremely well, you can run the entire mixture through a food processor or blender. Pulse until it reaches your desired consistency. This can be particularly helpful if you frequently wash in cold water or have an HE machine.

How to Use Your Homemade Detergent:

Using your newly made homemade laundry detergent is incredibly simple and efficient:

• Dosage: For a standard load of laundry, add 1-2 tablespoons of your homemade detergent directly into the washing machine drum before adding clothes. For larger or heavily soiled loads, you can use slightly more, up to 3 tablespoons.
• Water Temperature Considerations: I personally prefer using cold water for most of my laundry, as it significantly helps in saving energy, and I haven’t experienced any issues with undissolved detergent. However, if you notice detergent residue on your clothes, particularly if you have hard water or a top-loading machine, there are simple solutions. Using warm or hot water aids in the dissolving process. Alternatively, you can pre-dissolve the detergent in a small amount of hot water before adding it to the washing machine, ensuring it disperses completely.
• Liquid Detergent Preference: If you’re more inclined towards liquid detergents, a similar recipe exists for a DIY liquid laundry detergent. The ingredients are much the same, but the process involves dissolving and combining them to create a liquid consistency.

Explore More DIY Natural Home Cleaning Products:

Once you’ve experienced the benefits of homemade laundry detergent, you might be inspired to explore other natural cleaning solutions for your home. Here are some of my other favorite DIY recipes to help you create a truly non-toxic and sparkling clean living space:

• Natural Homemade Glass Cleaner – Achieve streak-free shine on windows and mirrors with simple ingredients.
• DIY All-Purpose Cleaner – A versatile cleaner that works wonders on multiple surfaces, including glass.
• Homemade Toilet Bowl Cleaner – Two effective and natural recipes for a pristine bathroom.
• Homemade Air Freshener – Natural Room Spray – Banish stale odors with refreshing, natural scents instead of synthetic chemicals.

Want a printable version so you always have this fantastic recipe on hand? Find it below. If you try it and love it, please come back and give it a 5-star rating – your feedback is greatly appreciated!

Happy saving money and enjoying truly clean laundry!

– Amy

This post was originally published in October 2011 and was updated April 2024.