Ditch the Store-Bought: How We Make Our Own Laundry Detergent for a Cleaner, Fresher Wash
- Eutierria Essence
- Mar 11
- 3 min read
Homemade Laundry Detergent: A Simple, Effective, and Natural Solution
Laundry is a never-ending chore, especially with two toddlers in the house. We find ourselves doing 2-3 loads a day, and despite using store-bought detergents, our clothes just weren’t getting as clean or smelling as fresh as we wanted. This led us down a rabbit hole of research, looking for a better, more natural, and cost-effective alternative. After trying several recipes, we found the perfect homemade laundry detergent that checks all the boxes: powerful cleaning, fresh-smelling results, and a simple ingredient list.
Why Make Your Own Laundry Detergent?
There are so many benefits to making your own detergent at home. Here are a few of the main reasons we love it:
Cost-Effective: One batch lasts us 6-8 months, saving us a significant amount of money compared to commercial detergents.
Powerful Cleaning: With toddlers in the house, stains are a daily struggle. This detergent, combined with Oxi-Clean, tackles even the toughest messes.
Natural Ingredients: Many store-bought detergents contain harsh chemicals, artificial fragrances, and unnecessary fillers. Our homemade version is free from dyes and unnecessary additives.
Customizable Scent: Using essential oils, we can naturally fragrance our laundry without synthetic perfumes.
Eco-Friendly: With fewer chemicals and less plastic packaging waste, this is a more sustainable option for our family and the planet.
Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe
This simple, effective recipe provides powerful cleaning while being gentle on skin and the environment.
Ingredients:
Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (55 oz. Box)
20 Mule Team Borax (65 oz. Box)
Pure Baking Soda (4 lbs)
Fels-Naptha Soap (3 Bars)
Oxi-Clean Stain Remover Powder (1.3 lb Tub) - a must-have with two toddlers!
Instructions:
Grate the Fels-Naptha Soap. You can do this by hand with a cheese grater or use a food processor. Some people microwave the bars first to make them easier to grate, but we don’t own a microwave, so we go the old-fashioned route.
In a large container (we use an old protein powder container, but a lined 5-gallon bucket works too), add the grated soap.
Pour in the entire box of Borax, Washing Soda, Baking Soda, and the Oxi-Clean.
Stir or shake well to combine all ingredients evenly.
Optional: DIY Laundry Scent Booster
If you love scented laundry but want to avoid artificial fragrances, you can make your own natural scent booster.
Ingredients:
2 Cups Epsom Salt
30-50 Drops Essential Oils (we use 50 drops for a stronger scent). Some great essential oils to use include lavender for a calming scent, lemon for a fresh and clean aroma, eucalyptus for its antibacterial properties, or tea tree oil for extra deodorizing power. You can also mix scents like lavender and peppermint or citrus blends for a refreshing boost.
1/2 Cup Baking Soda
Instructions:
Mix the essential oils into the Epsom salt until well combined.
Add the baking soda and mix thoroughly.
Stir the entire batch into your laundry detergent mixture.
How to Use It
For regular loads: Use 1 Tablespoon of detergent.
For heavily soiled loads: Use 2 Tablespoons.
This homemade detergent works well in both standard and high-efficiency (HE) washers. Simply add it directly to the drum before adding clothes, and wash as usual.
Final Thoughts
Switching to homemade laundry detergent has been a game-changer for us. Not only do our clothes come out cleaner and fresher, but we also have peace of mind knowing exactly what’s in our detergent. It’s a simple, budget-friendly, and effective solution that we highly recommend trying.
Have you ever made your own laundry detergent? We’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!
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