Make Your Own Powdered Laundry Detergent
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!
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cathy
February 2, 2020i have tried this- and it does not seam to get stains out of underware- any sugestions?
Ann Lail
March 23, 2020DOWNY BALL: (for softener or vinegar) dispenser are offered on AMAZON for sale👍👍
April Bailey
April 5, 2020I 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!
Whitney
February 24, 2022I have used Fels-Naptha, works just fine.
Deb h
April 11, 2020Will this make colors fade with the oxi-clean? I thought that was like a bleach?
Jessica
April 13, 2020Hi, 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!
S Harper
December 2, 2020I 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.
Petunia
April 13, 2021Hi, 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!!
Clara Campfield
April 29, 2021Do I need to use the scent boosters? I’m allergic to most due to the fragrance inside even the hypoallergenic ones.
Lea
April 10, 2022Nah, it’s just for scent
Trudy
May 29, 2022I am finding that the laundry soap isn’t dissolving completely. I am adding it into the washer first ,before putting the laundry in. Wash temp is set to warm. How can I solve this problem?
Trudy
Carol
May 30, 2022Trudy,
I have been getting hot water at start of cycle into a small round pint to quart size plastic round container. Pour the laundry soap into container and stir briskly until dissolved, I use round bristle brush. I then pour over agitator and clean with brush too, rinse agitator off with filling water, then add laundry. I started doing it this way after back surgery and have been doing it this way ever since. Hope this helps.
Ronda Joe Blount
March 7, 2023I’ve been making my laundry detergent for 12 years using similar recipe. I Used to make bar soap and would make a 100% coconut oil bar soar for this purpose. High cleaning value. I have used fels-naptha as well. What I did was buy a cheap ($30) food processor at walmart and use it exclusively for grating my bar soap and store it in a plastic ice cream container. When I go to make the laundry detergent I measure all ingredients proportionally that will fit in the processor. Then I grind it all up and put it in my soap storage container. This makes the grated soap is very fine and there are no clumps of the other products used. Works great
Selena
January 3, 2024How much detergent do you use per load?