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.
Echo
I love this recipe but my came out with the viscosity of liquid snot. Any idea how to fix this? I go to shake my bottle and it gets everywhere when I pour it. ☹️
Jessica
It should be thicker than normal water, that is good and normal! What are you using to pour it? I have never had a problem with that. Good luck!
Leslie Hodge
I have been using Fels-Naptha for years now, but just as a stain cleaner to rub on stubborn stains. I have heard about grating it and adding it to the laundry for cleaning, but this sounds awesome!! Going to try it tomorrow ( if I can get ahold of a box of Borax and Cleaning Soda)
Sarah
Best of luck finding them! This detergent is worth the effort! :)
Amy Goehring
Love it.
Charm
First time I tried home made detergent, my consistency is like almost water, its not think and not really soapy texture, I followed the ingredients, since I just finished it and the water is still hot, will the consistency change by tomorrow?
Is there anything I should add or fix?
Thank you
Jessica
Yes, it will thicken a lot overnight, that is totally normal! Don't worry :)
Cheryl
Do you have any trouble with the clothes coming out at all stiff? Do you need to add softener to the wash?
Jessica
I haven't with ours, but you are welcome to add softener if you'd like!
Brittany
You are supposed to add like a cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle (I do it on “extra rinse”). Vinegar is a rinsing agent and helps eliminate that build up. It’s also great to use if you forgot and left a load in the washer too long, takes out that mold smell.
Shonda
How much essential oils fo you use?
Jessica
I do about ten drops, give or take! You can add as many or as few as you like. If I make a batch and it doesn't smell as fragrant as i'd like, you can add those in later too!
Penny Warren
I'm on my 2nd batch and love it. It makes your clothes so clean and fresh smelling. Ill never go back to regular detergent as long as I'm able to make this. Thanks!!
Jessica
Yay! Penny that makes us so happy! Thanks so much for letting us know, it makes our day!
Christine selleres
Is there anything that I can use instead of washing soda. It makes me itch
Jessica
You could try increasing the borax and the fels naphtha in the recipe to make up for the loss of washing soda. I'm not sure of anything that would directly substitute for washing soda, I'm sorry!
Terri Jones
Is this safe for High Efficiency Front Load Washers?
Sarah
I believe so!
Melissa J Pribbenow
Help! My concoction solidified like the slime my daughter makes using borax. Is it supposed to do this? Perhaps I did not measure correctly.
Sarah
Hey, no it shouldn't be solidified. It is liquid, similar in consistency to the kind of liquid laundry detergent you might buy at the store.
Virginia
Can I use ivory or dial soap instead of fels naptha?
Jessica
I've never tried it but I found this online, "Only use Ivory, Zote, or Fels-Naptha bar soap. Many "bath" soaps contain oils and perfumes that will stain clothes." So it sounds like Ivory should work okay!
Robin
Virginia ~ our daughter and I make this detergent and only use Ivory soap. We love it!
Jessica
Thanks for your response Robin! So good to know.
Alicia
Hi, this is a great recipe, I make it X 3, in three 5gallons buckets so I have enough for a very long time. I use vinegar gallon containers to store it, instead of glass bottles.
ALICIA
I add Tea Tree oil to the big bucket. It comes out smelling amazing! Delicate and the smell of 'CLEAN"!
Megan
How many drops of essential oil would you recommend for a front loader (1/4 cup)?
Jessica
Three or four! You don't want too much so it is over powering, but you can use trial and error and see how much smell you like!
Renee
Oh nevermind. I’m apologize. I didn’t read the directions well enough. I was looking at the ingredient list.
Renee
Is it really only 4 cups of water not 4 gallons? To
Make a 5 gallon bucket
Krystal
It's only 4 cups of boiling water to melt the soap. Then you fill up the rest of the bucket with hot tap water. It's in the directions..
Andrea
Can you use oxiclean when you you make the detergent?
Mae
Yes I use it in mine.
Patty
I'm on my second 5 gallon bucket of this wonderful detergent! I use a tidy cat 5 gallon container to hold my detergent. It's convenient because the lid lifts up on one end...I have two of them rotating so I always have detergent! I know in the last 3 months I have saved more than a hundred dollars.
Our clothes smell great and are super clean .
This is a tried and true recipe!!!
Jessica
Oh my goodness your comment made my day! I'm so glad you love it and it's working so well for you. Mine just ran out yesterday, time for another batch!!
Kaylyn
Is there something that acts as the detergent in this?
Jessica
Yes, the washing soda!
Vicki Leach
How many drops of essential oils please
Whitney
I accidentally used the whole box of borax and super wash... Will it still be okay or what do you recommend I do? ??♀️
Jessica
I would maybe double the recipe so it isn't as disproportionate, but on the bright side you will have a lot of detergent, haha!
Larry
That much Borax will strip colors !