Make Your Own Powdered Laundry Detergent
{a DIY recipe that really works and smells good, too}
Make Your Own Powdered Laundry Detergent
I LOVE THIS POWDERED LAUNDRY DETERGENT “RECIPE”!
WHEN WE WERE INTRODUCED TO THIS LAUNDRY SOAP RECIPE SEVERAL YEARS AGO BY A FRIEND, WE DECIDED TO TRY IT OUT. I’ll HAVE TO ADMIT, AT FIRST, I WAS A BIT SKEPTICAL IF IT WOULD REALLY DO THE JOB.
AFTER TRYING A LIQUID DETERGENT AND DECIDING THERE WERE TOO MANY STEPS TO IT (NOT TO MENTION IT DISSOLVES QUICKLY IN THE WASH ANYWAYS), I CAME UP WITH OUR OWN EASY DETERGENT!
I DEFINITELY WAS NOT DISAPPOINTED! I GREW UP IN A LARGE FAMILY, SO FOR US THERE WAS ALWAYS A LOT OF LAUNDRY–AND LAUNDRY SOAP CAN BE EXPENSIVE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE LOADS AND LOADS OF IT TO DO. THIS LAUNDRY DETERGENT MAKES ABOUT 2 GALLONS, AND I COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW LONG IT LASTED US. IT IS DEFINITELY A BUDGET FRIENDLY DETERGENT, PLUS IT CLEANS OUR CLOTHES SO WELL! 🙂
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED:
- 1- (4 lb.) box Arm & Hammer baking soda
- 1- (3 lb. 7 oz.) box Arm & Hammer super soda
- 1- (4 lb. 12 oz.) box Borax
- 1- (3 lb.) tub OxiClean
- 2- (14.1 oz.) Zote soap (pink or white bars) or 5 bars (5 1/2 oz. each ) Fels-Naptha soap bars *
- 1- (24 oz.) container Arm & Hammer clean sensations In-Wash Freshness Booster (or any other laundry enhancer like these Purex crystals or this container of Downy Unstoppables Scent Booster)
- basic grater
SO, LET’S GET STARTED. . .
Make Your Own Powdered Laundry Detergent
YOU’LL FIND MOST OF THESE INGREDIENTS IN THE LAUNDRY AISLE AT WALMART. I NEEDED TO MAKE ANOTHER BATCH OF THIS LAST WEEK, SO I DECIDED TO SHARE THE “RECIPE” WITH YOU TODAY. I GOT ALL OF MY INGREDIENTS FOR JUST UNDER $25. A LOT OF TIMES YOU’LL FIND COUPONS FOR SOME OF THE INGREDIENTS MAKING IT COST EVEN LESS. IT SERIOUSLY LASTS A REEEAAALLY LONG TIME!! 🙂 IT’S A FRACTION OF THE COST OF WHAT WE USED TO SPEND ON LAUNDRY DETERGENT, AND I’VE FOUND THAT IT WORKS JUST AS WELL. (AND THAT’S COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO USED TIDE DETERGENT 🙂 )
YOU’LL WANT TO HAVE A LARGE BUCKET OR PLASTIC CONTAINER TO EASILY BE ABLE TO MIX EVERYTHING TOGETHER.
Start by mixing together the baking soda, super soda, Borax, and OxiClean.
I find that it’s best to add one ingredient, mix it up, and then add the next ingredient. A large wooden spoon works really well to get it all mixed up, but feel free to use whatever, including your hands. 🙂
Next, add your booster, whether it’s Purex Crystals, Downy Unstoppables, or the Arm & Hammer Clean Sensations. This ingredient is based on personal preference, so whatever smell you prefer is what you can use. 🙂 My favorite is the Purex Crystals, but I like to mix it up and try new scents. (You’ll want to save the lid if you use the Purex Crystals since the top makes the perfect measured scoop.)
Mix it all up again. You can see how well you’re mixing everything up now that you have some color in there.
Lastly, add the Zote soap or the Fels-Naptha, whichever you’ve chosen to use. You can use some of both, it really doesn’t matter. Grate it using a cheese grater. (It’s a good idea to have a grater that you will use just for soap.)
I like to grate one bar, mix it up, then grate the other and mix it in. I find it’s easier to mix in one bar at a time, than trying to mix in all of the shredded pieces at the same time.
*The Zote is very easy to grate and makes larger shreds. The Fels-Naptha is harder to grate and makes finer shreds. So, you can experiment with it and see which you prefer and which works better in your washing machine.
I found something a couple of years ago when I was out getting my laundry soap ingredients. . .already grated Zote flakes!! So, if you are in a rush to get your laundry soap mixed up, or you just don’t feel like grating the soap, you can buy it already done. It does costs twice as much, but it might be worth it to you. If you decide to use this, you’ll need 2 boxes.
Once you’ve gotten it all mixed up, it’s good to go! It’s that easy!
I like to fill up my empty OxiClean container for what I want to easily have on hand and store the rest in a 2-gallon bucket with a lid.
And, remember if you’ve saved your Purex Crystals lid, you’ll have a nice scoop. Use about 2 Tbsp. of this detergent per load, (3 Tbsp. for larger/soiled loads). And, the bottom line of the Purex Crystals lid is the perfect 2 Tbsp. measurement. 🙂
Put the soap directly in the drum if you have a front loading washing machine.
{DIY} Powdered Laundry Detergent
a homemade powdered laundry soap that really works and smells good, too!
Here’s what you need:
-
1- (4 lb.) box Arm & Hammer baking soda
-
1- (3 lb. 7 oz.) box Arm & Hammer super soda
-
1- (4 lb. 12 oz.) box Borax
-
1- (3 lb.) tub OxiClean
-
2- (14.1 oz.) bars Zote soap (pink or white) . . .OR
-
5- (5 1/2 oz.) bars Fels-Naptha soap
-
1- (24 oz.) container Arm & Hammer Clean Sensations In-Wash Freshness Booster or any other laundry enhancer
-
basic grater
-
bucket
Instructions:
- Mix the baking soda, super soda, Borax, and OxiClean in your bucket, stirring after adding each ingredient.
- Add the freshness booster.
- Mix until even distributed.
- Grate the bars of soap and mix in.
- Stir until all is combined.
- Use 2 Tbsp. for normal loads and 3 Tbsp. for larger/soiled loads.
Notes
- *The Zote is very easy to grate and makes larger shreds. The Fels-Naptha is harder to grate and makes finer shreds. So, you can experiment with it and see which you prefer and which works better in your washing machine.
P.S. I also love adding a bit of vinegar to my machine during the start of the rinse cycle, like DIY Naturals recommends!
It definitely helps with towels especially!
Do I need to use the scent boosters? I’m allergic to most due to the fragrance inside even the hypoallergenic ones.
Hi, I love this detergent – made some for my home, my neighbors and relatives!!! Quick question/request? Do you have a recipe for homemade dryer sheets? I’d like to try to make some with washcloths, but have no idea how? If you know how to make these and can share the instructions – that would be awesome! Thank you – love your site!!
I use the Fels Naptha soap but to make grating the soap easier I bought a Pampered Chef cheese grater off of Facebook Marketplace. I cut the bars into 3 pieces to fit the grater better. The hand crank on it made it easier plus I didn’t risk my skin against the blade.
Will this make colors fade with the oxi-clean? I thought that was like a bleach?
Hi, Deb,
Oxi-Clean is not a bleach; the Oxi-Clean is chlorine-free and color safe. You can find more about it here –
https://www.oxiclean.com/en/products/stain-fighters/oxiclean-versatile-stain-remover.
Hope this helps!
I have been using this recipe for close to 2 years (that’s how long my first batch lasted-just husband and me) I was wondering instead of the Zote or Fels-Naptha soap can I use a castile soap instead? I use to have to use Tide-sensitive for my husband and I’ve asked him if he’s breaking out (a couple of times) and he hasn’t. Thank you for sharing the recipe and information!
DOWNY BALL: (for softener or vinegar) dispenser are offered on AMAZON for sale👍👍
i have tried this- and it does not seam to get stains out of underware- any sugestions?
I found that a very fine cheese grater works best for me. It gets mixed in to the powders very easily too with very little clumping of the grated soap.
Great idea! Thanks for sharing!
Is this soap safe for babies?
Is this recipe safe for people with allergies and the soap does it give off a strong sent
Hmm, none of us have allergies, so I’m not 100% sure about that. The scent isn’t very strong, just clean.
16 oz peroxide for tough odors wash before or add to the water with this. It gets the odors out of even my teen boys toughest gym socks.
Is this safe for High Efficiency washers? I assume it would be since that’s what most new machines are now but I wanted to check with those using this detergent mixture. Thank you! 😊
We have found it to be safe for high efficiency washers since it contains no sudsing agent as an ingredient. It is recommended that you put it directly in the washer and avoid the automatic dispenser. But try it in your own machine and use your own discretion. 🙂 Hope this helps!
How long does this mixture last? And is it safe on colors along with whites as well?
Hi, Delana– You use 2 Tbsp. per load, so it just depends on how much laundry you do for how long it lasts. 😉 We have always found it to be safe on colors and whites, but always use your own discretion.
My sister made this and I used it while visiting her. What a difference. My liquid detergent was leaving our clothes feeling chemical filled. T
Now I only use this recipe for detergent. Less expensive also, it lasts a very long time.
So glad you like it!
I’m using this recipe and it seems to clean well, but I’m finding that there is still bad smell, say armpit zone. Should I use more? Maybe add more scent booster? I would love any advice as I really would like to continue using. Thanks!
Hi, Cheri–
If you have heavy soiled clothes, you could try just running it through the washer with some vinegar before washing. You could try adding a little more soap to see if that helps, and definitely more scent booster is an option– or even try another brand if you prefer. The scent booster is just personal preference! Also, hot/warm water may cause the odor to “set” in more, so you could try washing on cold. Hope this helps!
I always put a couple tablespoons of white vinegar in with my wash! It eliminates any mustiness.
I have heard that the vinegar is most efficient as a softener/booster when added in the rinse phase of the cycle as it can neutralize the baking soda during the wash. I know some like to place the vinegar in a downy ball so it releases at the appropriate time. Have you ever found that to be an issue, W. ladies?
Hm, interesting – I’d try the downy ball trick if we had them over here. 😉
But I always put it right in with my soap, and my laundry smells really fresh and clean!
Gotcha! Good to know. I did manage to find a downy ball….apparently the only place locally I can find them (along with Zote) is Walmart. I did choose to use Fels-Naptha as we have hard water but will try Zote next time, whenever our family of 2 needs more! 😀 Thanks for the money-saving tips and tricks!
This is the exact recipe I’m using now too. And, instead of fabric softener, I just use white vinegar. It works just fine and does not leave a smell once the clothes are dry.
Don’t you love this soap recipe? ????That’s nice to know. ???????? I’ve heard of people doing that but haven’t tried it yet.
I always put a couple tablespoons of white vinegar in my wash! It eliminates any mustiness.
Does it leave a suddy residue and is it high efficiency safe?
Katherine,
We’ve been making and using this for years and it has not left a suddy residue for us. As far as being safe for high efficiency washers, it should be since it contains no sudsing agent as an ingredient. It is recommended that you put it directly in the washer and avoid the automatic dispenser. But try it in your own machine and use your own discretion. :-)Hope this helps!