Last week, we shared our recipe for homemade laundry detergent powder for sensitive skin (compared to Ivory Snow or Dreft) that we use for our baby and our son with eczema. We promised that we would share the recipe we use for the rest of the family, our towels and bedding. Are you ready to make your own laundry detergent? Let’s get started!
Similar to the previous recipe we shared, this one is also very easy and quick to whip up a batch at less than 10 minutes – a perfect length for our busy family. 
And as the recipe we share gives you enough for 80 light loads or 40 heavy loads of laundry you can adjust the recipe to meet your family size and your schedule!
We actually make a double or triple batch of this powdered detergent because as we mentioned before, it stores better than the liquid detergent (our own opinion) and the larger batch decreases the number of times we have to make it. But as we mentioned before, we are certainly willing to try a liquid if you have a recipe you recommend!
First, here is the ingredient round-up:
- 1 bar of Fels Naptha Soap
- 2 cups of Super Washing Soda
- 2 cups of Borax
- 5-6 Drops of Lavender Essential Oil (or other fragrance if you prefer)
Step #1 – Prepare your Fels Naptha:
- Microwave your Fels Naptha soap bar for 30-60 seconds to soften the bar. It will not create the cool meringue marshmallow growth like Ivory does, but it will certainly be easier to deal with when it is softer In addition, it leaves a nice clean smell in your home.
- Then cut it into cubes and stick it in a blender/food processor
- You will note some recipes encourage you to grate your soap; I really don’t like to grate it as I prefer softening and then blending. So yes, some might refer to this as the “lazy way” but I prefer to think of it as the “very busy, yet very productive mom way!”
Step #2 – Blend in the Borax and Washing Soda:
- With the Fels Naptha softened and cubed, next add your 2 cups Borax and 2 cups Washing soda. I actually add 1 cup of each of these at a time, so start with 1 cup of the Washing soda and blend, then 1 cup of the borax and blend and then repeat!
- Continue blending until you see uniform mixture.
This is what is looks like with 1 cup of the white powder and the blended Fels Naptha
Step #3 – Add scent:
- Drop in 5-6 drops of Lavender Essential Oil into the mixture and then blend for 20-30 seconds one last time to that the fragrance is evenly distributed.
- Your final product will be a nice fluffy peach-colored powder detergent that smells great and works well! We store it in a #10 can in our laundry room! The end product will yield 40-80 loads worth of detergent!
This is what is looks like in the end as a fine “light peachy” colored powder!
Here’s how to use it:
- Light Load – 1 Tablespoon
- Heavy Load – 2 Tablespoons
We’ve also had a few of you ask about odor after using our detergents. When we use both the clothes smell clean and don’t have an odor. We also want to remind you of our recommendation to use vinegar as a fabric softener which also helps to remove odor.
Here’s the cost breakdown:
- 1 Bar of Fels Naptha sold for around $1.00 in-store
- Borax with average cost per box of $4 (for a 76 oz. box) = $0.84 per 2-cups for each laundry batch
- Super Washing Soda with average cost per box of $3 (for a 55 oz. box) = $0.87 per 2-cups for each laundry batch
- Lavender Essential Oil around $5 a bottle (Puritans Pride buy 2 get 3 free sale is one of the cheapest!) which will last for a LONG time (ours has lasted forever) so we will estimate around $0.20 to be conservative?
This makes the final price an average of $2.91 per batch of 4-7 cents per load (even cheaper if you purchase the above ingredients for less with sales or coupons)!
Here’s how Tide (usually most expensive in-store) and All Surf (usually on the lower end of cost in-store) stack up in price to this homemade equivalent. We are comparing to Walmart’s everyday low prices.
Tide Powdered Detergent 169 oz. (equal to 120 loads) sells for $20.47 = $0.17 per load
All Surf 156 oz. Powdered Detergent (equal to 120 loads) sells for $10.97 = $0.09 per load
When you make your own laundry detergent you can save between 61-76% compared to popular national brands! Our homemade laundry detergent is 61% cheaper than store-bought All Surf and 76% cheaper than Tide powder detergent! Even with sales and coupons, you would need to purchase the name brands for 60% off or more to equal the same value.
If you wanted to purchase the ingredients online and have them shipped to you, here are some options. Please note the Fels Naptha and Borax are cheaper in-store, but we provide you these online resources for comparison and in case you can’t find it easily in your local supermarket:
Fels Naptha
- Ace Hardware HERE for $1.02 each
- Drugstore.com HERE for $2.49 each
- Amazon HERE for $3.91 with FREE shipping
Super Washing Soda 76 oz. (will make multiple batches as you only use 16 oz. per batch)
- Ace Hardware HERE for $3.72 each
- Drugstore.com HERE for $7.19 each
- Amazon HERE for $8.26 with FREE shipping
- Buy.com HERE for $2.99
- Soap.com HERE for $13.99 for two or $7.35 for one, then use coupon code: USDUOVG for another 20% off = as low as $5.60 each
Borax 76 oz. (will make multiple batches as you only use 16 oz. per batch)
- Ace Hardware HERE for $4.33 each
- Drugstore.com HERE for $9.49 each
- Amazon HERE for $10.40 with FREE shipping
- Buy.com HERE for $4.29
- Soap.com HERE for$10.39 for two or $5.45 for one, then use coupon code: USDUOVG for another 20% off = as low as $4.16 each
Lavender Essential Oil (this will last FOREVER and has many household uses!)
- Drugstore.com HERE for the Wyndmere Brand at $8.18 each
- Amazon HERE for $7.98 with FREE shipping
- Buy.com HERE for $4.99 Shipped
- Puritan’s Pride for $5.20 when you buy 5 or two for $12.99 (buy one get one FREE)
See our sensitive skin homemade laundry detergent powder recipe to save 90% over store bought equivalent.
See more of our Daily Doses of Thrifty to save even more money in your household budget!
Disclaimer: Before using any homemade laundry detergent, please be sure to test it on a small piece of clothing first. Finally, don’t forget to have fun. When you make your own laundry detergent not only can you save money, but have a wonderful time with your children as well!
{ 53 comments… read them below or add one }
This is the Duggar’s recipe and I have been using their liquid version (same ingredients) for a year and a half and it is great. I will say I broke my food processor (cracked the plastic casing of the blade) doing the Fels Naptha “the lazy way” LOL So now I grate. but I do love it and it’s super cheap. Even my mother who is die hard Tide (50 years+) loved the way it made her clothes smell and how soft they were. Highly recommended!
BTW, the liquid version lasts very close to 6 months. Yes, I pay less than 10 dollars for about 10 loads a week for close to 6 months!
I have heard good things about it – but it also seems like such a process to make it! I have heard some people literally melting their grated Fels Naptha for hours. However, I should give it a fair shake sometime and compare
Hi Michelle, The Duggars recipe is a lot different: http://duggarfamily.com/content/duggar_recipes/30456/powdered_laundry_detergent_top_load_machine. We’ve tried that and we like the one we have posted here as I like more of the other powders and using essential oils for the fragrance.
Also, the Fels Naptha is very hard and that is why I microwave it for about a minute so that it doesn’t “hurt” the food processor. It makes it very soft and very easy on the food processor
I definitely want my food processor to last a long time!!
I wonder if this would help make my clothes smell better due to hard water??
Suzette,
Yes, it does. That is what Borax is used for. It is a natural deodorizer.
I have been making the Duggar’s recipe for several years. If you use your price break down and apply it to the Duggar’s liquid recipe it works out to only 0.009 cents a load for top loading machines and 0.002 cents a load for front loading machines. I have 7 children and we homeschool so I can totally understand busy, but this recipe is not awful time consuming or difficult. Honestly it probably takes me less time to make it myself than to load everyone up and go to the store
My food pricessor has a cheese grater attachment and I highly reccomend using this for the soap bars. Actually if I am breaking this out to grate soap I do several bars at once and then store the individual already grated bars into baggies for future batches. Then I don’t have to wash it each time I am making laundry soap. It only takes about 5 minutes for me to dissolve the grated soap in a pan of water on the stovetop. Then I add that to my 5 gallon bucket which already has the washing soda and borax poured into it. I move the bucket to my shower and add hot water and stir with a 5 gallon paint stirrer stick (from Lowes) so I don’t burn my hand. Put the lid on and let it sit overnight and it gels up. Now for my very favorite part… once it is gelled we set it on a bench in the kitchen and we fight over, I mean take turns, squishing it through our hands and fingers to break it up. Seriously this is so fun! Then I pour it into old laundry soap bottles and remember this is concentrated so my 5 gallon bucket actually makes 10 gallons of laundry soap. I have several old bottles so I refill them all and “restock” my shelves! I make it for several family members too. I am sure the powder is easier but the liquid is cheaper per load, and I am cheap (I mean frugal). I read somewhere if you have hard water to use a bit more Borax, I actually use 1 cup rather than the half a cup the Duggar recipe calls for. We have well water here but the family members I make it for don’t.
Hi Lori,
We have 5 kids and homeschool
I really should try it sometime. I am saving my detergent bottles from our super sweet in-store deals to store it in and give it a try. I think because I already make the sensitive skin powder detergent and it takes just a few minutes, I just go ahead and make the regular one that way too. I will try it sometime (soon maybe??) and post about my thoughts and experience too! Thanks for sharing all of that information, it is much appreciated!
Can you send me the exact recipe? Thanks
Oh and you can add essential oils to liquid soap also, just add it after it has cooled. Duggar’s mention it too, their recipe is here…
http://www.duggarfamily.com/content/duggar_recipes/30455/homemade_liquid_laundry_soap_front_or_top_load_machine_best_value
This may seem like a silly question but do you use have 2 separate food processors-one strictly for making detergent and the other that is used for food?
correction ‘do you have’ lol
Hi Monica,
No, I only have one. I just wash it immediately and rinse out with really hot water a couple of times.
I have sensitive skin, could I use Ivory or Dove soap? Thanks!
Hi jlm, We actually have a son with eczema and a baby that we make a separate detergent for due to their sensitive skin specifically designed and made for sensitive skin.
We shared the recipe on our post at this link: http://thethriftycouple.com/2012/01/26/homemade-laundry-detergent-powder-recipe-like-ivory-snow-and-dreft-soap/
I shave 1/2 the bar of Fels Naptha with a knife put it in a pot with 1/2 gallon of water heat until melted. Take off burner add 1/2 cup each of Borax and Washing soda stir until dissolved. Add a gallon and a half of warm water stir well. Next sit overnight, stir well dump into 2 ice cream buckets. I use 1/2 cup to 1 cup depending on how big and dirty the load is.
I forgot to ask in my earlier message if this recipe will work in cold water? Thanks!
Hi jlm, Sorry for not noticing your comment until now. Yes, we use it in all temperatures and cold water is great
i think i have found a liquid recipe that might be worth trying on youtube
http://youtu.be/66puEYarq4o it has all the same thing from your original recipe. i want to try this myself. hope this helps
Thank you! I do have liquid on my list next to try! We have quite a bit of laundry detergent at the moment, but I am going to try it soon and post my results/thoughts
I have been using these same ingredients (plus baking soda & oxy clean) for a year now. LOVE IT! I grate my soap though so, I’ll have to try the microwave/food processor way next time I make it. I have a 5 gallon bucket full though so, it might be a while.
Oh! Also, do you have a dishwasher? You can make your own dishwasher detergent too. I started doing that a couple of weeks ago.
How is that working for you? Do you have a recipe?
Working great!
Dishwasher detergent
1 cup Borax
1 cup Washing Soda
1/2 cup Coarse Salt
15 packets of unsweetened lemon kool-aid
Mix all ingredients in a container.
Use 1 tbs per load.
Also, you can use vinegar in place of rinse aid!
I’m just wondering why the entire family doesn’t use the sensitive soap?
Hi Libby!
Someone asked a similar question on the other detergent post for Sensitive Skin, so I will give a similar answer as it is the same
We use this detergent most and more often because Fels Naptha is the classic heavy duty laundry soap booster/degreaser and so I guess it makes me feel better for the more heavy duty laundry that I am using a more heavy duty soap 
I would use it for our boys too if it wasn’t for sensitive skin. But the sensitive skin one does the job too – I just think this one is a little better if you didn’t have to deal with the sensitive skin issue. Hope that helps answer your question. If not, let me know!
I don’t have a food processor, and I’ve been thinking about getting one as much for homemade laundry soap as for regular use in the kitchen. I’m not a fan of the tedious grating. What size do you have so I know it’d be large enough for recipes like this? Do you have any recommendations on brands/models? Thanks!
Hi Lisa – We have a Cuisinart 14-cup processor. I saved and budgted for one for a while as they are a little pricey. The soap and ingredients are soft enough though that most all would be good! There is an 8-cup one by Black and Decker for a good price here: http://amzn.to/N8trbP
Also, with this being 8-cups, you can divide the recipe and blend it 1/2 at a time, otherwise an 8-cup one might get pretty full
You can see a number of other ones on Amazon too. We find that Amazon consistently has great prices on those types of items! They do have a number of sales on food processors right now too! You can see them here: http://amzn.to/KUbOIN
Hope that helps and we would love to know which you decided to go with and how that is working!
Hi everyone I am new to all this DIY stuff.
I am really interested in making my own laundry detergent as I am a mother of three young boys and am constantly doing laundry. I was wondering if either of these laundry soap recipes are o.k. to use in an HE only washer and dryer?
Thanks,
Kimberly
Hi Kimberly! Yes, both of these detergents work just fine in an HE washer. The issue with HE washers is over sudsing with regular laundry soap. This does not “over sud”
Hope that helps and please come back and let us know how it works for you!
Does this work in a HE washer?
Hi Tiffany, just as I said to Kimberly above, this works just fine in an HE washer as it won’t over suds
Let us know how it works for you when you try it!
I just tried making this and it was pretty easy! I don’t have a food processor, just a blender and I found that my blender didn’t really like it. I ended up just blending up the fels naptha and a cup of the washing soap until fine and then putting it in my mixer to mix in the rest of the washing soap and borax. Do you normally let the fels naptha cool before putting it in the blender/food processor?
Hi Katie – No, I just stick it right in. I make it so quickly that I haven’t tried to just let it set. I do wash out my food processor with hot water and a bit of dish soap and then a second washing using either vinegar or lemon juice to get any remaining scents off. Mixing it warm does make the fragrance stronger, but I like that my house smells “clean” when making it
I too love that this is very easy to make in literally just a few minutes. Usually when I run out of laundry soap, it is not planned ahead and so I am throwing the clothes in the washer, opening the soap and realize “oh, I am out” and make it and back in the laundry room in just a few minutes. Hope that helps!
Found all ingredients at my local wal-mart cheaper than any listed here. Essential oil was $2 for 2 oz and the borax, washing soda, and fels naptha bars were lined right up in the laundry aisle!
Awesome Mike!! We would love to get the prices from you to include in the post. Would you mind emailing us at thriftyus@thethriftycouple.com? We appreciate it
Been using a liquid variation for a LONG time! My daughter gave me the recipe but it looks like it’s based on the Duggar’s recipe! 1/6 bar fels-naptha (I GRATE it in the processor—it doesn’t cause so much wear and tear on the machine) then separate it into 6 parts that I wrap in plastic wrap or sandwich baggie) which has been stirred and melted into 3 qt boiling water. Turn down burner to low then slowly add 1/3C borax until completely absorbed and then 1/3C Super Washing Soda. Mix until it’s turns as clear as it can to make sure its all absorbed (2 min max). Take boiler off burner and set aside for 12-24 hrs. It will gel. You can use the gel in top load machines but I put the gel through my blender then place in old detergent bottle. Shake well and use as much as you normally would!
A friend of ours determined it as $.58 per BATCH to make this! I also use vinegar for a rinse agent and have used it with my bedridden Mother’s bedthings and it’s worked better than anything I’ve bought!
Just found this website today and am enjoying it immensely. Do you need to vary the amounts of 1T for light loads, 2T for heavy loads for front-loader machines? Also, has anyone made it without the lavender essential oil? I don’t have skin issues, but certain strong scents can trigger asthma attacks. (For example, I had a really good coupon for that Gain scent booster and it was on sale at our local store, but when I smelled it I knew it would not be a product I could have in my house, let alone use on my clothes! I left the coupon on the store shelf for someone else to use!)
Hi, I love the thought of making my own laundry detergent, but i was just wondering if the soap you use is a type of laundry soap? (We don’t have that brand in Australia)
Love this!!! Today was my first time making this and it only took me four minutes. Thanks for posting this.
Awesome Tabitha! I am so glad to hear it and thank you for your update. I love simple and effective things too
I have made this twice now and we have been very happy with how its working and the smell of our laundry. We have hard water so I tend to have some trouble with it. Do you know if this would be safe to use in place of woolite fir washable suade or would I need to do something different? (it says woolite only)
Is there an easy printable for this recipe? Thanks!
Hi Julie, We got our printable recipe plug-in several months after posting this. I haven’t updated those recipes with that, but you have reminded me to do that and so I will get that done
Watch for that soon!
I don’t have a washer so I have to visit my local laundromat to do laundry. Should I contact them before taking homemade laundry soap to use in the commercial machines? I also want to try the vinegar for the rinse but am not sure how they’d react to that in a crowded public laundromat LOL!
Thank you so much for sharing all the stuff you do! I’m on disability and a fixed income. My husband has been out of work since December and his unemployment won’t last long. I need to find ways to save a few dollars. I’ll definitely be checking back with your website to get more tips!
Hi Sherrie – I don’t think that there is any need to get permission as this is less “gunky” and very safe for any washing machine. Vinegar is also a much better option for both your clothes and the machines themselves as it is not as damaging as commercial products. They would probably be quite happy to have you use less harsh products on their machines as it would create less buildup and residue! I had to take some rugs to the laundromat a few weeks ago and I noticed a gentleman there with a bottle of vinegar
Can you use this powdered detergent in a front loading machine? If so how?
Hi Joni – yes you can and it works very, very well as Borax is naturally an HE product. I now have a front-loader myself and I put this in the dry powder detergent spot. Do you have one of those?
I just have a tray that pulls out and has a spot for detergent, fabric softner and bleach. The instructions that came with the washer (2008) only state that the detergent must be HE.
Also, is there a link to print this?
I haven’t made any homemade detergent yet, but it is on my list of things to try this year. I have seen another version that adds oxicean (from the Dollar Tree) and Purex Crystals. I know this would add to the cost of making your own, but wondered if anyone added these for brighteners and scent and if they think it is worth it? Or had success?
I personally use vinegar for much of the same reasons you listed for the extras – but put the vinegar in the liquid softener slot on my machine in the loads that I think need it. I haven’t tried adding those extras that you mentioned though. On my really soiled and tough loads, I do use oxygen bleach (which is like Oxi-clean, but there are much cheaper versions) for that specific load! Hope that helps!
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