Homemade Laundry Soap: Easy, Economical, and Effective!

"I did it! Thank you to those that posted the recipe! I'm very happy with the outcome and I've stocked the ingredients for making more. It's so easy and economical!" 🧼✨

Homemade Laundry Soap — easy, economical, and works great! 🧼

"I did it! Thank you to those that posted the recipe! I'm very happy with the outcome and I've stocked the ingredients for making more. It's so easy and economical!" 🧼

Making your own laundry soap is one of the most satisfying and budget-friendly DIY projects you can do for your home. With just three simple ingredients — Fels Naptha soap, Borax, and washing soda — you can create 2 gallons of effective laundry detergent for pennies per load. No harsh chemicals, no artificial fragrances (unless you add them), and no endless trips to the store.

🧼 Why make your own? Commercial laundry detergent can cost $0.20-$0.50 per load. This homemade version costs about $0.02-$0.05 per load — a savings of up to 90%!

📌 In This Article

🧼 Why Make Your Own? 📦 Ingredients 📝 Recipe 👩‍🍳 Instructions ⚠️ Usage Guide ❓ FAQs

🧼 Why Make Your Own Laundry Soap?

💰

Economical

The maker says: "It's so easy and economical!" A batch costs about $2-3 and makes 2 gallons — enough for 64 loads!

🌿

Simple Ingredients

Only 3 main ingredients: Fels Naptha soap, Borax, and washing soda. No harsh chemicals or unpronounceable names.

🎁

Great for Gifts

Give homemade laundry soap in mason jars with cute labels — a thoughtful, practical gift!

📦 Homemade Laundry Soap Recipe

Yield: 2 gallons | Prep time: 15 minutes | Cook time: 10 minutes

🏆 "I've stocked the ingredients for making more!" — This recipe is so good, you'll want to make batch after batch.

📦 Ingredients

Ingredient	Amount
Fels Naptha bar soap (or Zote, Ivory, Kirk's Castile)

1 bar Borax (20 Mule Team or generic) 1 cup Washing soda (Arm & Hammer) 1 cup Water (for boiling and diluting) 2 gallons total Optional: Orange essential oil ¼ ounce (about 1.5 tsp)

🥫 Equipment Needed

• Large pot (holds more than 2 gallons)
• Cheese grater (for grating the soap)
• Funnel (for pouring into jugs)
• Long spoon (for stirring)
• 2 empty 1-gallon jugs/containers (milk jugs, water jugs, or old detergent bottles)

📝 Instructions

Step 1 – Grate the Soap

Grate the bar of Fels Naptha soap into the large pot using a cheese grater. The finer the shreds, the faster they'll dissolve.

Step 2 – Add Water and Heat

Fill one gallon jug with water and pour it into the pot with the grated soap. Heat and cook until the grated soap completely dissolves — about 5-10 minutes over medium heat.

Step 3 – Add Borax and Washing Soda

Add 1 cup Borax and 1 cup washing soda to the pot. Stir well. Bring to a boil — the mixture will thicken.

Step 4 – Add Cold Water

Turn off the heat. Add 1 gallon of cold water and stir well.

Step 5 – Add Essential Oil (Optional)

If desired, add 1/4 ounce (about 1.5 teaspoons) of orange essential oil for a fresh citrus scent. Stir thoroughly.

Step 6 – Bottle and Store

Pour 1 gallon of detergent into each container using a funnel. Let cool completely before sealing.

✅ Makes: 2 gallons of homemade laundry detergent. Usage: Use 1/2 cup per load.

⚠️ Important Usage Guide

⚠️ Important Update from the Maker: "Based on the feedback from those more experienced than me in this thread, it appears that this detergent should only be used in washing machines that have agitators and should not be used in high efficiency washers."

📋 Which Machines Can Use This Detergent?

✅

Works Best In:

• Top-loading machines with agitators (traditional center post)
• Older washing machines
• Portable washing machines

❌

NOT Recommended For:

• High Efficiency (HE) washers — the suds can cause issues
• Front-loading machines
• HE top-loaders without agitators

🧺 How to Use:

• Amount: 1/2 cup per load (adjust based on load size and soil level)
• Shake before use — the mixture may separate over time
• Store in a cool, dry place — no need to refrigerate
• Shelf life: Up to 6 months (though it rarely lasts that long!)

💡 HE Machine Alternative: If you have an HE washer, use the powdered version of this recipe (skip the water, store as dry powder, use 1-2 tablespoons per load).

💰 Cost Breakdown & Savings

Ingredient	Approx. Cost per Batch
Fels Naptha bar soap

$1.00 - $1.50 Borax $0.50 - $0.75 Washing soda $0.50 - $0.75 Total per batch (2 gallons) $2.00 - $3.00 Cost per load (½ cup) $0.02 - $0.03 Store-bought detergent per load $0.20 - $0.50

💰 Annual Savings: If you do 300 loads per year, homemade detergent saves you $50-$140 annually!

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! Zote, Ivory, Kirk's Castile, or any pure bar soap without moisturizers works well. Fels Naptha is a classic choice because it's designed for laundry and tough on stains.

HE washers use less water and require low-sudsing detergents. This homemade soap can create too many suds, potentially causing issues with the machine's sensors and drainage. Use the powdered version for HE machines.

Not recommended. This detergent can cause buildup and repelling issues. Use a cloth diaper-specific detergent instead.

Yes! It's completely normal for the mixture to separate over time. Just shake well before each use. This is why a squeeze bottle or jug with a good lid works best.

Absolutely! The recipe includes optional orange essential oil. Other great options: lavender, tea tree (antimicrobial), lemon, peppermint, or eucalyptus. Add ¼ ounce per batch.

📄 Printable Recipe Card

╔═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
║                    HOMEMADE LAUNDRY SOAP                              ║
║         "It's so easy and economical!" 🧼                            ║
╚═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝

Yield: 2 gallons | Cost: ~$0.02-0.03 per load

INGREDIENTS:
- 1 bar Fels Naptha soap (or Zote/Ivory)
- 1 cup Borax
- 1 cup washing soda (Arm & Hammer)
- 2 gallons water
- ¼ oz orange essential oil (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Grate soap into large pot.
2. Add 1 gallon water. Heat until soap dissolves.
3. Add Borax and washing soda. Bring to a boil.
4. Turn off heat. Add 1 gallon cold water. Stir.
5. Add essential oil if desired.
6. Pour into 2 empty 1-gallon jugs.

USE: ½ cup per load (agitator machines only)
NOT for HE washers!

FROM THE MAKER:
"I'm very happy with the outcome and I've stocked 
the ingredients for making more."
    

🧼 Ready to Make Your Own Laundry Soap?

Find Fels Naptha, Borax, washing soda, and gallon jugs for your homemade detergent.

Shop Laundry Supplies →

⚠️ Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only. Always test homemade detergent on a small load first. Not recommended for HE washers, cloth diapers, or silk/wool delicates. The maker advises this detergent is for agitator machines only.