It’s day three of my natural cleaning recipes. If you have missed any you can check out my Window & Glass Cleaner and Dishwasher Detergent. Today I’m sharing my homemade natural Laundry Detergent.
Ingredients:
1 box of Borax (4lbs 12 oz)
1 box Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (55 oz)
3 bars of Fels-Naptha soap
2 small containers of Oxy Clean or store brand Oxy Clean (Approx 3.5lbs) Optional
The first thing I do is grate up my 3 bars of Fels Naptha soap. I bought a cheap grater at Walmart for just a couple bucks because I didn’t want to use my food grater with the soap. It grates up really easily and will look like a big bowl of cheese when your done. If you have a HE washer you may want to use a food processor to make the pieces even finer.
Once the soap was all grated it was time to mix all the ingredients up. I used a large bucket and lined it with a trash bag. I poured the Borax, washing soda, baking soda, and the grated soap into the bucket. Then I muscled up and gave it all a good stir.
You will use 1-2 tablespoons per load. I wash most of my clothes in cold water and this DIY Laundry Detergent works great with it. The chunks of soap dissolve perfectly.
I store the detergent in a very large glass jar that I bought at Walmart. It was only $9.99 and it is large enough to hold all 2 gallons (approx) of laundry detergent.
Of course I couldn’t leave well enough alone and decided that the plain glass jar needed a bit of pizzazz. I used my Cricut and my word collage cartridge to make this vinyl subway art for my jar. It turned out so cute, I just love it!
Add a scoop and your all set to get your laundry clean without using harsh chemicals.
If you have any questions please let me know!!!
Linking up to these great link parties!!!
Hmmm, I think I may try this one! Can you tell me where you find the bar soap? I am not fa,Iliad with that brand.
Thanks! Nicole
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I found it at Walmart at $.97 each.
Thanks!!
Visiting from Tatertots & Jello. I just love the jar! I’m almost out of detergent and homemade is next on my list!
This is close to the laundry soap that I make and the first time that I made it I used fels naptha but after reading that you shouldn’t let it come in contact with you skin, I tried using Kirks Castille Soap and it works great plus it is all natural, no lye. I keep mine in a pretty jar too, but I love your decals! t.xoxo
Great tutorial! I love the vinyl that you used to decorate your glass jar.
I have got to try this!! A friend of mine does this and she saves so much money on laundry and dishwashing detergents. Your canister for it is so cute! Great tutorial!
http://www.inside-outdesign.blogspot.com
Can you add some type of fragrance like essential oils or anything like that?
Yes, I don’t think it would negatively effect the usefulness of the detergent. Also there are EO’s like Eucalyptus oil has been known to kill dust mites. So if added to your wash or the recipe it may help rid you of dust mites and help with allergies! HTH!
Is it possible to scent it somehow?
Yes.. I make mine in to liquid… just add essential oil too it…
I hope this is not a dumb question but, is it safe to use in front loader HE washers?
Yes it is safe, but add it to the barrel instead of the dispenser.
Is the Fels Naptha really not supposed to be on your skin? And was the Castle Soap a bar or liquid? I’ve only seen Castle Soap in liquid form.
We have been using the detergent for awhile now and have had no issues with the Fels Naptha. I did not use Castle Soap in this recipe.
I have made my own laundry detergent a couple times but I ran out and just haven’t got around to making more. I used the Fels Napa, didn’t know about the Kirks castille soap. Think I will try it instead of Fels Napa, and I didn’t add the box of baking soda. Thanks for sharing your recipe.
Fels Naptha is fine on your skin. Growing up we used it for poison ivy relief.
Can I use this with my he washer?
You can also use Dove soap for a scent in your detergent.
I used Ivory soap in my mix, it works great and cleans well. Another bonus – no scent! But I also added Purex crystals for a nice lavender scent.
This is the same recipe used for liquid soap…but I like the idea of not having to do the mixing and shaking up of detergents to make it smooth.
I’ve used the borax washing soda and fels naptha for years now and it works great for us. I used to be a tide person but my son developed an allergy to commercial detergents, making my own took care of that and lightened the stress on my wallet.
Quick tip buy the fels naptha in advance open it and slice it width ways down the middle and let it air dry out for a few weeks, it grates into a powder then without the food processor. I have a 4 sidded metal grater I use for it and I use the side with the 2nd smallest holes, wear gloves to protect your hands or you’ll en up grating your fingers at some point. I grate 5 bars at a time and I buy the ones for the next batch when I buy the borax an washing soda for the current batch I’m making. I just put them in an open plastic bowl to air dry on top of my dryer and leave them sit til i run out of detergent. I mix 2 boxes of borax 3 boxes o washing soda with the grated 5 bars of fels naptha in an old kitty litter bucket. I use an old oxy clean scoop and 1 scoop per load.
I’ve used it on every kind of material including oops wool and have never had an issue with my fabrics, I only use cold water to wash and I keep a bar of fels naptha for pretreating stains as well. A friend of mine tried this in her HE washer and loved it!
Loved homemade,but whites got dingy over time. I started adding the store brand oxyyclean to the detergent and the dingies are gone!
I make this and love it , but use Zote soap from Wal-mart . It smells like lemon and leaves your clothes smelling fresh . Love the jar ! So cute .
I LIVE IN N.C.,,AND I CAN’T FIND THE 20 MULE TEAM BORAX NOOOO WHERE. THEY HAVE STOPED CARRING IT AROUND HERE FOR SOME REASON,,SO WHAT ELSE COULD YOU USE?
I order mine from http://www.soap.com (along with diaper and wipes from diapers.com) usually get free shipping and it comes to my door.
If you add 3 bottles of Purex softener to the detergent you have detergent & softener all in one. It works great.
I made this today should the water when washing clothes become foamy?
Made seems clear with tiny bubbles…
I love this laundry detergent! I placed the fels naptha in a food processor and it was fine enough that It dissolves perfectly in the detergent drawer of my front loader. I also use Purex Crystals for fragrance and fabric softener 🙂
Do you sell the vinyl you made? 🙂
I’ve been making laundry soap (liquid form) for a while now. I used Fels-Naptha in the past, but wanted something less harsh. I’m going to try the Zote soap. How do you feel your recipe cleans clothes? THANKS so much. Love your jar and I wish I had a cri-cut!
I feel like the detergent has been doing a great job for us!
I love this idea but can someone tell me total start up cost and how long the batch will last?
Hi Tara, it will depend on where you are able to buy the supplies. I think you can get all the supplies for around $35, maybe even less. It will depend on how much laundry you do on how long the batch lasts. We are a family of 4 with a fair amount of laundry and my last batch lasted 6 months!
Let me know if you have any other questions!
I have been wanting to make my own detergent for quite sometime just been too afraid to try it. So you pour the whole box of washing soda, borax etc. into the bucket?
How did you mix it with it being in a bucket with the trash bag and not rip the bag?
I usually use a large plastic spoon from my kitchen to mix it all up. You just mix everything up and it’s ready to use!