How to Make Your Own Laundry Detergent

Homemade detergent cuts the cost of your laundry ritual.

Homemade laundry detergent is less expensive than commercial brands but provides all the same cleaning power. Most commercial detergents have fragrances and chemicals that can irritate sensitive skin or allergies. Depending on the type of soap you use to make it, your laundry detergent can be fragrance-free and gentle. Make a large batch of laundry detergent and store it in a closed container instead of mixing up a batch for each load of laundry.

Things You'll Need

• Cheese grater
• Bar soap or castile soap
• Paint-mixing stick
• Washing soda
• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Measuring cups

Instructions

1. Grate 1 bar of Fels-Naptha or similar soap with a cheese grater. Alternatively, use ¼ cup of liquid castile soap. Place the soap into a bucket or large container.

2. Add 1 cup washing soda and 1 cup baking soda to the soap. Stir together with a paint stick until they are mixed in thoroughly.

3. Mix ¼ cup vinegar with the soap mixture. Vinegar helps soften clothing washed in hard water.

4. Combine 2 gallons of water with the soap mixture if you are using bar soap, as the laundry soap is concentrated and requires dilution. Do not add water if using liquid soap, as the detergent is not concentrated.

5. Add ½ cup of the homemade detergent to each load of laundry once the washing machine tub is filled with water. Wash as usual.

Tips & Warnings

• Washing soda is available where laundry detergent is sold. It is not the same as baking soda.

• Homemade detergent may separate during storage. Stir it back together before using.

• Do not use handmade detergent in front-loading washers. These machines require special low-suds detergent or they overflow.

References

• Vassar University: Cleaning Products
• Binghampton University: Homemade Laundry Soap Detergent