How to Make Laundry Soap For Your Clothes

Get your dirty laundry clean.

Whether you want to save money or would just like to be more self-reliant, making your own laundry detergent is simple. Many people are allergic to laundry soap and detergent, so making your own guarantees there are no pesky allergens to irritate your skin. This laundry detergent just costs a fraction of the amount of the cheapest store-brand soap, and works as well as the most expensive name-brand detergent.

Things You'll Need

• Knife
• Bar of soap
• Food processor
• Washing soda
• Borax
• Bowl
• Measuring cups
• Plastic container

Instructions

1. Cut up a bar of soap into small chunks. Use an actual laundry soap or Fels Naptha soap, or use any regular bar soap that doesn't contain lotion.

2. Place the soap chunks into a food processor. Process the soap until it is powder.

3. Mix the powdered soap with ½ cup washing soda in a bowl. Washing soda is available at stores on the laundry detergent aisle.

4. Mix ½ cup borax with the soap and soda. Borax is sold on cleaning supply aisles.

5. Pour the mixture into a plastic container and place a tight fitting lid on top. Use 2 tablespoons per load, just like you would use regular store-bought detergent.

Tips & Warnings

• Use soda ash, available at swimming pool stores, if you can't find washing soda where you live.

• If you don't have a food processor, grate the soap with a cheese grater. Let the soap shavings dry for a couple of days then crush to a powder with the back of a spoon.