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Home » Homemade Cleaners » Homemade Laundry Detergent

Homemade Laundry Detergent

By Julie

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure policy for details.

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homemade laundry detergent recipe

Inside: Save some money with this easy homemade laundry detergent recipe. You will love this homemade laundry soap, which only takes a few minutes to make!

homemade laundry detergent

Learn how to make your own laundry detergent using simple and natural ingredients. Not only is it more affordable, but it's also better for the environment and your skin.

I prefer using a powder laundry detergent. It is better for your washing machine to keep it clean.

If you have been wanting to try making your own detergent check out this homemade laundry detergent recipe.

diy laundry detergent

Homemade Laundry Detergent

It's easy to make up a big batch of this homemade laundry detergent recipe and won't take a bunch of time. It gets rid of stains and keeps your clothes smelling great!

You will need a food processor to grate the Fels-Naptha bar, or a lot of arm power grating it by hand with a cheese grater.

Necessary Ingredients And Supplies

One of the things I love about this DIY laundry detergent is that I can mix up the way it smells by adding some scent booster. If you don't want your clothes to smell like anything, just leave out he scent booster.

You will need:

  • Baking Soda
  • Fels-Naptha Bar
  • Borax
  • Super Washing Soda
  • Scent Booster (if desired)

To start you will need baking soda, Fels-Naptha bar, borax, and super washing soda. If you want to add a fresh smell to your laundry you can add some scent booster.

Why this works?

The Fels-Naptha helps get rid of any set in stains, the baking soda helps eliminate any odors, borax will deodorize and help get out tough stains, and super washing soda will get out dirt and stains. Using all of them together will give you a powerful laundry detergent.

Step By Step Instructions For Making Powder Detergent

Step 1: To start, you can either hand grate the Fels-Naptha bar or use a food processor. I used a food processor to grate it and it only took about 20 seconds to do.

Note: It pretty much looks like cheddar cheese.

fels-naptha detergent

Is Fels-Naptha Bar Soap?

Fels Naptha is not a bar of soap that you would use for washing your hands or body. It is a laundry bar that can be used to remove stains or oils from clothes. It can be used either by rubbing the bar over the stain or by adding a little bit of the flakes into a load of laundry.

Step 2: Once you get the Fels-Naptha bar grated then add in the baking soda and washing soda.

Step 3: Pulse the food processor a few times to mix.

Step 4: Add the borax and the scent booster, if you are using one.

Step 5: Again after adding the ingredients to the food processor pulse a couple of times to get it all mixed up.

Note: This helps to get the fels-naptha bar ground down smaller too.

Step 6: Once everything is mixed then you are ready to start using the detergent.

Tips For Storing And Using Homemade Detergent

Storing this homemade laundry detergent recipe is easy. You will want to store it in an airtight container. If you don't store it in an airtight container the powder detergent can get kind of clumpy.

If it does get clumpy just break it up by shaking the container a little or putting it back through the food processor.

To use the homemade laundry detergent add about 1 tablespoon of detergent to small washer loads and two tablespoons of detergent to large loads. If you have an extra dirty load I would recommend using 2 tablespoons.

homemade laundry detergent recipe

Benefits Of Making Your Own Laundry Detergent

Your laundry will come out clean and smelling great with this easy to make homemade laundry detergent. There are so many benefits to making homemade laundry detergent.

  • You save money
  • Avoid harsh chemicals
  • Can make your own scents that you love

Looking for other easy laundry tips? Check out how to make homemade fabric softener for pennies.

Print Recipe

Homemade Laudry Detergent

Learn how to make your own laundry detergent using simple and natural ingredients. Not only is it more affordable, but it's also better for the environment and your skin.
Cook Time15 minutes mins
Total Time15 minutes mins

Equipment

  • 1 Food Processor or cheese grater
  • 1 Air tight container

Ingredients

  • 1 Cup Baking Soda
  • 2 Cups Washing Soda
  • 2 Cups Borax
  • 1 bar Fels-Naptha
  • 1 Cup Scent Booster if desired

Instructions

  • To start, you can either hand grate the Fels-Naptha bar or use a food processor.
  • Once you get the Fels-Naptha bar grated then add in the baking soda and washing soda.
  • Pulse the food processor a few times to mix.
  • Add the borax and the scent booster, if you are using one.
  • Again after adding the ingredients to the food processor pulse a couple of times to get it all mixed up.
  • Store in an airtight container

Notes

To use the homemade laundry detergent add about 1 tablespoon of detergent to small washer loads and two tablespoons of detergent to large loads. If you have an extra dirty load I would recommend using 2 tablespoons.
Will I need to use a dryer sheet with this recipe?

You can, if you want to. I prefer to make a homemade fabric softener with vinegar and essential oils to save money.

Does this work in a high-efficiency washer?

Yes, you can. However, keep in mind you will want to use less in your high-efficiency machine. I would try using half as much per load. You will want to do so at your own risk because it could possibly void your warranty.

« Easy Crock Pot Uses To Save You Time & Money
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Comments

  1. Marie says

    December 03, 2018 at 10:30 am

    That is waay too complicated for me.
    When my husband was working in the field and coming home with sap and poison oak on his clothes, I found a simple recipe that worked wonders on all the mystery stains on his clothes.
    One Tablespoon Borax
    One Tablespoon Super Washing Soda
    One Tablespoon Dawn Dish Soap
    Start to dissolve it with some warm water and throw it into the washing machine.
    Nothing worked better to get my husband's clothes clean so I continue to use it to this day.

    Reply
  2. Vanessa says

    November 29, 2018 at 10:32 am

    I truly love all your suggestions. We have been making our detergent soap for years. I will try this recipe with the scent suggested. I usually do not add scent when my children were babies. I will try it now.

    Merry Christmas and God bless you,

    Vanessa

    Reply

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Hi, I'm Julie! Welcome to Frugally Blonde! I love sharing my favorite cleaning tips, decluttering tricks, & household hacks. I am a certified organizational specialist with a love for cleaning!

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