Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe (DIY Laundry Detergent That Saves Money)

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If you’ve ever wanted to make your own laundry detergent, this DIY laundry detergent recipe is simple, affordable, and incredibly effective. Making your own homemade laundry detergent can save a lot of money, reduce exposure to harsh chemicals, and still give you clean, fresh laundry. This homemade detergent is especially helpful for large families, anyone with sensitive skin, or anyone who prefers natural ingredients over commercial laundry detergents filled with toxic chemicals and volatile organic compounds.

Originally posted September 2013, updated March 2026

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Months ago, I posted a picture of my homemade laundry detergent on Facebook, and several readers asked for the detergent recipe. So today I’m finally sharing exactly how I make my DIY laundry detergent.

But before we get to the recipe, let me tell you my experience with making my own detergent.

My Experience Making Homemade Laundry Detergent

The first step was to spend a lot of time reading and checking out several DIY laundry soap recipes. Mine is certainly not the only recipe out there, and if you don’t like this one, I’m sure you can find one that suits your personal preference.

I made my first batch of this homemade laundry powder on June 3, 2013. When I checked on September 5, 2013, I still had more than half of it left.

I kept the bulk of the detergent in a large container in my laundry room (a plastic trash can with a lid that works like an airtight container), and I refill a smaller bottle about once a month.

Because I’m a little obsessive about tracking things, I started writing the refill date on the bottom of the bottle each time I refilled it. It helped me see just how long this natural laundry detergent actually lasts.

This detergent is great for a large family. At that time, we had six kids in our house – eight people total. We typically washed 2–3 loads of laundry a day, doing laundry 5–6 days a week. That’s a LOT of laundry/

Update

One batch of this own homemade laundry detergent lasted our family more than 5 months. I also added some essential oils for fragrance. Lemon and lavender are both popular.

That’s about 5½ months of detergent for a family doing 14–16 loads of laundry per week. This detergent lasted much longer than the previous liquid detergent I usually bought.

How Much Money Does It Save?

When I bought the ingredients again, I saved my receipt.

The total cost for all the basic ingredients was $27.38 at Walmart.

That works out to:

• Under $5 per month
• About $0.16 per day

That’s dramatically cheaper than store-bought laundry detergents or commercial laundry detergents from grocery stores.

Plus, this homemade detergent smells great, works great, and doesn’t contain the toxic chemicals, harsh chemicals, or volatile organic compounds found in many commercial detergents. Having natural options for laundry detergent (among other things) is wonderful for anyone who wants less toxins in their life.

It’s also a great option for families with sensitive skin or anyone trying to use more natural ingredients in their laundry routine or someone who just wants to slash their laundry bill.

Why This Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe Works

This DIY laundry detergent recipe uses simple ingredients like washing soda, baking soda, and Zotes or Fels-Naptha soap to create a powerful, natural laundry detergent.

These ingredients help remove odors, soften hard water, and clean clothes effectively without the chemical compound mixtures found in many commercial laundry detergents.

Because this powdered detergent produces fewer suds, it works well in high-efficiency washing machines (HE Machines).

Two Things I Learned the First Time

Before we get to the recipe, here are two quick tips.

Tip #1: Use a Food Processor

The first time I made this DIY laundry detergent, I used a cheese grater to shred the pink Zote bar of soap.

It worked, but the soap pieces clogged the container’s spout and made pouring annoying.

Now I cut the bars of soap into chunks and use a food processor to break them down. It creates smaller pieces and mixes better with the powdered detergent ingredients.

Tip #2: Finding Ingredients

I live way out in the country, and my shopping options are limited.

I was able to find almost everything at Walmart — about 40 miles away — including the box of Borax, baking soda, and soap bars like Fels-Naptha. The only ingredient I had to order online was washing soda (sodium carbonate).

Most grocery stores also carry these simple ingredients, but if not, they’re easy to order online.

DIY Laundry Detergent Recipe

This DIY laundry soap recipe makes a large batch of homemade laundry powder.

Ingredients

• 1 box of Borax (65 oz)
• 1 box (55 oz) Washing Soda (sodium carbonate)
• 1 box (64 oz) Baking Soda (sodium bicarbonate), 4 pounds
• 1 container (3 lb) OxyClean
• 2 bars (14 oz each) Zote – other options are Fels-Naptha soap, Kirk’s Castile soap, Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap, or another bar of Castile Soap
• 1 bottle (39 oz) Purex Crystals

Optional additions:

• Essential oils – If you prefer a more natural option, you can substitute essential oils for the Purex Crystals to add scent to your homemade laundry detergent. Simply mix in a few drops of your favorite oil, such as lavender, lemon, or eucalyptus. The benefit of using essential oils is that they avoid the synthetic fragrances found in scent boosters. However, the scent is usually much lighter and may not last as long on clothes compared to products like Purex Crystals, which are designed to leave a stronger, longer-lasting fragrance.
• Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) – this is sometimes added to help soften hard water and keep powdered ingredients from clumping so the detergent dissolves more evenly.
• White Vinegar – white vinegar is used as a natural fabric softener, helping remove detergent residue and leaving clothes feeling softer. However, it should not be added directly to the dry detergent mixture. Instead, add about ½ to 1 cup to the rinse cycle or pour it into your washer’s fabric softener dispenser so it mixes with the water at the right time during the wash.

Tools

• Food processor
• Large bowl
• Scoop
• 5-gallon bucket or airtight container

Instructions

1. Process the soap

Cut the bar of soap into chunks and place them in a food processor. Pulse until you get small soap pieces.

2. Combine ingredients

In a large bowl, mix together:

• soap pieces
• washing soda
• baking soda
• box of borax
• OxyClean
• purex crystals

Mix well so the ingredients are evenly distributed.

3. Store the detergent

Store the finished powdered detergent in a large box, an airtight container, or a 5-gallon bucket in your laundry room.

How to Use Homemade Laundry Detergent

Use 2–4 tablespoons per load of laundry.

This natural detergent works well in HE washing machines or traditional washers.

You can wash in hot water, warm water, or cold water.

If you have hard water, adding white vinegar to the rinse cycle can help improve best results.

Extra Laundry Tips

To boost cleaning power, you can add:

• Hydrogen peroxide
• A drop of blue dawn
• Extra washing soda

For softness, skip dryer sheets and use wool dryer balls instead.

For fragrance, the Purex crystals are great, but if you want something more natural, you can skip the Purex and add a few drops of essential oil.

FAQ About Homemade Laundry Detergent

Final Thoughts

This DIY laundry detergent has saved our family a lot of money and works just as well as many store-bought laundry detergents.

With simple ingredients, minimal prep time, and a batch that lasts for months, it’s an easy switch if you want a more natural option without the chemical compound mixtures found in many commercial laundry detergents.

If you’ve been thinking about making your own laundry detergent, this DIY laundry detergent recipe is one of the easiest and most affordable natural laundry detergent options you can try.