After testing many different recipes for homemade laundry soap I can confidently say this one is the best. Join thousands of others who are saving money with this awesome liquid laundry detergent recipe.
DIY Laundry Soap Recipe
If you are sick of spending tons of money on laundry detergents that do a sub-optimal job, we have the solution for you.
Not only is this recipe easy to make and cost effective, but it works better than any store bought brand we’ve tried.
We have used this recipe for ten years, and hundreds of others have as well. Read on for detailed instructions as well as a video tutorial that shows you just how simple this detergent is to make.
Why I Choose Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent
I had almost given up on homemade laundry detergent completely, when my good friend Keesha texted me and said she had a recipe and wanted to make it together! I had my doubts, but she told me her mom and her sister had both been using this kind forever and swore by it, so I decided I would give it a go. Holy cow. I am in love with this homemade liquid laundry detergent, it is AMAZING!
Every time I open up the washer to switch loads, I am filled with joy because it smells fresh and clean. It also doesn't leave gross residue, and gets out tough dirt and stains. Suffice it to say, this recipe is gonna shrink your laundry expenses considerably!
*This post contains affiliate links.
Homemade Laundry Detergent Ingredients
- Fels-Naptha soap bar
- Washing soda
- Borax
- Essential oils (optional)
- Water
How to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent
1.Start by grating your Fels-Naptha soap bar. Here is what the Fels-naptha soap looked like after grating it. You want to use the smallest grater that you have, so that it melts as quickly and easily as possible!
2. While you are grating your soap start four cups of water boiling.
3.Add your grated Fels-Naptha bar and stir over medium heat until soap is completely melted.
4. Next, fill your five gallon bucket up halfway with hot tap water.
5. Then add your other dry ingredients and stir together.
6. Finally, fill your bucket the rest of the way with hot water and stir again.
Homemade Detergent Recipe Label & Storage
Be sure to clearly label your containers so that everyone knows they contain a detergent. Also, if you have young children be sure to keep your laundry detergent in a childproof container or on a high shelf. Here is the gallon jar I used, and here is a good five gallon bucket! I also love this gamma seal lid!
How much DIY Laundry Detergent does this recipe make?
This recipe makes a 5 gallon tub of liquid detergent. You only need ½ cup detergent for top loader machines and ¼ for front loader machines per load! It's easy to see how utilizing homemade laundry detergent can add up to a big savings!
It costs less than $10 to make 5 gallons of this laundry soap (not including the cost of the bucket). Which equals out to 160 ½ cup loads or 320 ¼ cup loads. Either way, there is a massive savings when comparing to store bought laundry detergents, even when they are purchased in bulk quantities.
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Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe
Video
Equipment
- 5 gallon bucket
Materials
- 4 cups boiling water
- 1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
- 1 cup washing soda
- ½ cup Borax
- essential oils (optional)
- 5 gallon bucket
Instructions
- Heat 4 cups of water until boiling.
- Grate your Fels-Naptha soap bar (I just used a cheese grater) and add to boiling water. Stir continuously over medium low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
- Fill your 5 gallon bucket half full with HOT tap water, add melted soap, washing soda, and borax and stir well until all powder is dissolved.
- Fill the bucket the rest of the way to the top with hot water, stir, cover, and let sit overnight to thicken.
- The next day, stir well and fill an old laundry detergent container with detergent.If desired, add your essential oils at this point! I use Doterra citrus bliss.
Notes
- Shake well before each use, because detergent can separate a bit.
- Top load machines use ½ cup per load, front load machines use ¼ cup per load.
- Here is the gallon jar I used, and here is a good five gallon bucket!
It's SO easy and SO worth it you guys! I can guarantee you're gonna be glad you tried this DIY liquid laundry detergent!
xo,
*This post was originally written September 1, 2014 and has been updated with new photos, video and more detailed text.
arva abbas
i tried this recipe. after leaving it overnight, it did not thicken, it had this thick layer of transparent gooey substance which even after a lot of stirring hasn't dissolved completely. I need to know what to do with it. Please help as I have 5 gallons of liquid detergent ready but not really ready to be used.
Sarah
Hey, I'm so sorry, that is weird... it's always worked for me. Since I am not there I don't know how I can help. I hope you can get it to thicken!
Jan Hunt
It doesn't make any difference to the quality or usefulness if it doesn't thicken. It can still be used so don't throw it away. It has happened to me so don't worry.
Heather
I’ve never tried this recipe but to the ones not wanting to use the Napa bar or the borax you could use a bar of castle soap in place of the Napa and oxi free in place of the borax. I make nature detergent powder with these ingredients and was looking for a natural liquid recipe. I think I’m going to try it. I’ll let ya know! ?
Toni
This is absolutely amazing!! Thank you so much for sharing!
Trang
This is a wonderful idea! I have seriously never thought about being able to make my own detergent before and it looks so easy!
Sarah
It really is so easy!
Becky Hardin
I need to breakdown and make some homemade laundry soap. I have been waiting to. This looks so easy.
Sarah
It's amazing how easy it is and honestly kind of fun!
Kristyn
I have never made my own, but I am so excited to try this!! Thank you so much for sharing this!
Sarah
You're welcome!
Beth Pierce
What a great DIY hack! I never knew how easy it was to make your own detergent!
Sarah
I know right!? It's so easy and really kind of fun!
Anjel thomas
Can I make it without borax and it still be effective? I've heard of health risks using borax. Thanks
Jessica
I'm not sure I haven't tried it!
Renee
I couldnt get my soap to mel all the way (zote)it geld up in clumps afTer over 20 minutes of stirring over medium heat . Any suggestions ?
Jess
I used to make this as a powder and I have switched over to liquid a few years ago. It is so easy! I love this recipe.
Charles Johnson
WOW! lovely like this post. What a great review. it’s really amazing.
Karen
I am having the hardest time getting this soap to melt!. I have been using the recipe that uses Dawn liquid soap and it is much easier except for the liquid is extremely thin so I thought I would try this to thicken it up like store bought laundry detergent but this is a lot of work!!????
Holly o'Hara
Can this be used IF.The washing machine requires he detergent?
Niese
I've BEEN DOINg a lot of research on homemade detergent. I've read a lot of articles about homemade detergent ruining washers & also not getting the CLOThes truly CLEAN. Just WONDERINg have you ever stripped your clean clothes to see if there was still DIrt. Apparently laundry soad and detergent are different (THERe was a whole scientific explanation that WENT over MY head). I just want to make sure I'm not RUINIng my brand NEW washer trying to save money on laundry detergent.
Sarah
Can I substitute the bar soap for liquid Castile soap? If so what's the ratio?
Jessica
Yes that should be fine! Substitute one cup of the liquid Castile for the bar!
Heather
When you say it thickens as it sits overnight, does it normally turn into a thick gel that you have to stir and break up before you can put into containers or did I do something wrong? I had to add a bit of hot water to mine to get it diluted to a runny consistency again. Thank you so much for the post though I was excited to find it!
Jessica @ Pretty Providence
Yes it does! That is totally normal! And adding a bit of water is okay!
Verna Chaney
I followed a link to this page and the picture used for that page was this detergent in an empty orange juice container - bad idea - it looked just like orange juice. BAD IDEA. Don't use empty containers that were used for food that a child might be used to "helping themselves" too.
Verna Chaney
I followed a link to this page and the picture used for that page was this detergent in an empty orange juice container - bad idea - it looked just like orange juice. BAD IDEA. Don't use empty containers that were used for food that a child might be used to "helping themselves" too.
pj
I have been using the same recipe, but you dilute it one step further....when you put it in your jug for everyday use, you fill the jug with 1/2 water and 1/2 detergent. That 5 gallon container gets doubled to make 10 gallons total! Have been doing it that way for some time now, and so has my sister....and it gets the clothes clean! Also, I don't put it in the soap dispenser in my HE front loader (I read on one site that it could clog it up!).......I have a glass 4 cup measuring cup on top of the washer that I put my 1/4 cup soap and just add some water to dilute a little further, and pour it on my clothes. I also use white vinegar in the softener bin....it helps release the soap in the rinse, and makes clothes soft...and there is NO vinegar odor....clothes just smell clean!! Using commercial softeners puts chemicals in your clothes, sheets, towels, etc....and then your skin is exposed to them 24/7 !!
Julie Crutchley
Hi Jessica - I'm interested in making this and I really would love to add Citrus Bliss to it, but I'm worried about storing it in plastic containers - don't citrus oils "burn" through plastic?
Jessica @ Pretty Providence
I've never had a problem with it before, maybe because the amount of oil vs. liquid is so small? But you could also keep the oils separate and just add a drop or two to each load!
Julie Crutchley
Excellent, so happy to hear! I can't wait to try this!
Jessica @ Pretty Providence
You will love it!
Davina Duncan
Holy Cow! 5 gallons is way more than i need. Any conversion to a gallon?