Did you know it’s actually ridiculously easy to make your own Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent? You won’t believe how much money you’ll save!
Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe
Who knew making your own Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent could be SO easy?
Just a few simple ingredients, and you’ve got a fabulous laundry soap to clean your clothes for pennies!
Seriously, this one trick will save you SO much money!
Tonya writes: “I have been making this for years. I spend about $15 for a year for 5 of us and fur babies. We are always doing laundry. One 5 gallon bucket lasts about 3 months!”
This DIY Liquid Laundry Detergent is thrifty, simple to make, and works great!
Now you’ll never have to buy expensive laundry detergent at the store again!
Trust me… once you start making your own detergent, the savings are mind-blowing! It’s such a simple way to Save Money Fast!
Prefer powder detergent? No problem!
Simply use this Homemade Laundry Detergent Powder Recipe instead!
Then after you make your own homemade laundry soap, don’t forget to make some Homemade Fabric Softener, too!
So are you ready for this DIY Recipe for the best homemade liquid laundry detergent already?
Here’s what you’ll need to get started…
Related: 50 DIY Homemade Cleaners That Actually Work!
Why Make Your Own Laundry Detergent?
There are so many reasons why I love making my own laundry soap! Here are just a few…
> It’s easy to make!
> You’ll know exactly what ingredients are going into your laundry products.
> It will reduce packaging waste.
> You won’t run out often… each batch lasts a long time.
> If you want to stock up even more… just double the batch.
> It’s ridiculously frugal ~ you’ll save SO much money!
Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap Reviews
What Your Frugal Friends Are Saying About This DIY Laundry Soap Recipe…
Misty writes: “I wish I had discovered and known about this many years ago!! I could have saved so much money!!”
Tia writes: “I made my first batch and love how it cleans.”
Rose writes: “Just finished my first batch so making a 2nd time. Works great.”
Tonya writes: “I have been making this for years. I spend about $15 for a year for 5 of us and fur babies. We are always doing laundry. One 5 gallon bucket lasts about 3 months!”
Kristy writes: “I’ve been using this exact recipe for laundry detergent for almost a year now”
Kristen writes: “The Fels Naptha laundry soap bar is by far the best stain remover on clothes ever! It’s my secret ingredient for my messy children and it’s so cheap!
Wet clothing, rub bar on stain, rinse under cold water and repeat until it comes out. Then I toss in the wash! I invested in some nice clothes for my little ones so I invest a lot of time in keeping them nice 🙂 ”
Ingredients for Homemade Laundry Detergent
You’ll just need 3 simple ingredients to make your own liquid laundry detergent…
- 1/2 Cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (not Baking Soda)
- 1/2 Cup Borax
- 1/3 Bar of Fels-Naptha Soap (you could also use Ivory soap, but if using Ivory… use the whole bar.)
- Bucket (2 gallon size or larger)
- Empty laundry detergent containers or bucket with lid to store detergent.
- Funnel
How to Make Laundry Detergent at Home
Making this laundry detergent at home is easier than you might think.
Here’s what to do…
1. Grate 1/3 bar of Fels-Naptha Soap, then transfer to large stockpot.
2. Add 6 cups of Hot Water.
3. Heat on stove over Medium-High heat until soap dissolves and melts.
4. Once soap has melted, add Washing Soda & Borax, and stir until dissolved.
5. Then remove from heat and set aside.
6. Pour 4 cups Hot Water into large plastic bucket, then pour in Soap Mixture and stir well.
7. Then, add 1 Gallon + 6 Cups (22 cups total) of additional water, and stir again.
8. Transfer to empty laundry detergent containers using your funnel.
9. Allow detergent to sit overnight, or up to 24 hours, to thicken and gel up. Then it’s ready to use! Stir or shake before each use, as it will continue to gel.
Note: Consistency and color will vary depending on your soap & water ~ it may be lumpy and watery… kind of like a watery gel, but it works great!
How Much Laundry Soap To Use in the Washer
Keep in mind, the amount of laundry soap you’ll use depends on a variety of factors, including the size of your laundry load, how heavily soiled your clothing is, and the type of washing machine you’ll be using.
You’ll want to use more in upright machines, and slightly less in HE front loaders.
So wasn’t that easy?? Now you know how to make your own laundry detergent at home!
Bonus Tip: How to Make Washing Soda
No washing soda? No problem! Check out this simple tip from frugal friend Lynn…
Lynn writes: “Making your own washing soda saves even more money. Put a layer 1/2″ thick of baking soda in a half sheet pan, into preheated 400 degree oven.
Bake for 1 hour, stir 2 or 3 times in that hour, then cool and use as washing soda.
I always make mine as it is not always available.”
More Easy Cleaning Recipes
In addition to this easy recipe, I have even more ideas that will help you can save money on laundry and cleaning supplies.
So be sure to check out these tips to make sure you’re saving as much money as possible…
Homemade Laundry Detergent Powder Recipe
Do you prefer Powder Laundry Detergent? It’s so easy to make that, too!
Homemade Fabric Softener Recipe
This Homemade Fabric Softener with Vinegar and Hair Conditioner Recipe is about as easy as can be! You won’t believe how much money you’ll save!
DIY Wool Dryer Balls
I love my wool dryer balls. I can’t even imagine doing laundry without them!
DIY Wrinkle Releaser
You need to try this DIY Wrinkle Release Recipe that is both fast and frugal!!
Homemade Glass Cleaner Recipe
I’ve been using this Homemade Glass Cleaner for years and I love, love, love it! It’s so fast and easy to make, so frugal, and honestly works better than store bought glass cleaner!
Homemade 409 Recipe
Just a few simple ingredients, and you’re on your way to an effective and thrifty all-purpose cleaner!
DIY Foaming Dish Soap
You’ll love the simplicity of this ridiculously smart tip. Sometimes it’s shocking how easy it is to save money!!
How to Keep your Washing Machine Smelling Fresh
Keep the odors away with this easy Smelly Washing Machine Fix!
DIY Homemade Febreze
This DIY Homemade Febreze Recipe is such a cinch to make, and you’ll save SO much $$ with this simple little trick!
DIY Carpet Powder Freshener
We love using this DIY carpet powder on the carpets, what an effective and frugal way to make carpets smell fresh!
How to Make Your House Smell Good (HUGE List of Genius Hacks)
Nobody likes a stinky home. So skip the stink, and transform your home into a paradise of lovely fragrances with my easy hacks!
50 Homemade Cleaners Recipes That Work! (Surprisingly Easy)
Get ready for some serious savings with these simple DIY Homemade Cleaners Recipes and Tips!
How to Save Money Fast (20 Genius Tips to Save $2200 this Month!)
Are you wondering how to Save Money Fast? It’s easy when you start slashing expenses and adding these extra sources of income to your finances!
So have you tried making this Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent at home yet??
Leave a comment and share…
Ive been trying to wade through all the comments but how much do you use for a normal load and is it safe for babies? I have a newborn and have been using hypoallergenic detergent. He has very sensitive skin! Thanks!
I have made 3 ‘batches’ of homemade soap and LOVE IT!!! The fact that I am saving money, packaging, and know what is in it makes the difference for me! My recipe is 1 cup borax, 1 cup washing soda, 1 bar ivory and 1 cup dawn. All mixed into a 5 gallon bucket. I use 2 lid fulls per load. I add 1/4 dry baking soda for smelly stuff when needed.
I will try using different soaps as suggested the next batch around!
Hi, I apologize if this answer was provided somewhere in the HUGE list of comments…I could’ve easily missed it. First, with the liquified/gelled version of this laundry soap, approx how much do you use/load…about the same as conventional laundry soap? And, I like things to smell nice (dogs and kitties in the house…so it’s kind of a necessity), so is there a way to add essential oil (like lavender, or lemon) into the mix, without effecting the efficacy or safety to wash. machine, etc.? Thanks!
Yes and yes- I use 2 cap fulls per load (make sure you shake your container every time!) My recipe also has dawn in it! I’ve added essential oils but you will have to use a lot, and that can get expensive! Look into the fabric softener recipe too!!
you can also use ZOTE soap or Ivory works also. I have made batches with each kind and add lavender oil to help it smell pretty or peppermint and tea tree oil they all help with bateria also. as for Vinegar use it in every load and it has the added benefit of cleaning your washer of any deposits that are building up and the pipes too. I have done that for years also. there are so many more you can use. and the ZOTE Soap with borax and washing soda can be used as a powder detergent also just don’t melt the soap on the stove but use a food processor to make it all super fine and mix in a large container or ziploc bag and only need a few tblspoons full to get the clothes washed 🙂
I have been making my own laundry soap for almost 3 years now after reading about it on the Simple Dollar blog. Works great. Plus I can get unscented bar soap and have unscented laundry soap (which is so hard to find). Gets stains out and saves so much money. Really quick to make. My teenagers take turns making it about every 5-6 weeks.
How much of this detergent do I use per load? Thank you
Does anyone who has allergies used this. I have a friend that’s asking. I love the detergent. I use it dry 1 cup washing soda, 1/2 cup Borax, 1 bar Fels-Naptha. I use a little over a tbls per load and get about 25-30 per batch.
Brian my son has eczyma and we swear by it my son is very sensative to detergents and this helps him so much I just make him his very own batch and he knows it and he even helps wash his clothes with it 🙂
Is this safe to use with clothe diapers?
I was wondering if there was any way to make a homemade detergent without using Borax. I had used it several years ago and my son had an allergic reaction.
Thanks!
you should be able to omit the borax if needed and still get clean clothes — my husband used to jst use the washing soda
and it worked for him
I made my first batches of homemade cleaners today. Waiting until tomorrow to test the laundry soap. I tried and LOVED the homemade dishwasher detergent that I learned about through another website. Recipe for dishwasher detergent is:
1 cup of kosher salt
2 cups of borax
2 cups of washing soda (arm & hammer; same as used for laundry recipe)
4 packets of lemonade koolaid
(added white vinegar to the “jet dry” dispenser in the dishwasher too)
I used it after cheesy macaroni dinner and dishes were sparkling, no white residue at all, and dishwasher smelled fresher than it has in a long time!