There are many laundry detergent brands on the market. However, some may not clean clothes as thoroughly as others. In addition, some detergents have too many starches, which can damage fabrics. Others are simply too costly.
Fortunately, it is possible to create homemade laundry detergent that does a stellar job cleaning clothes and other fabrics for a fraction of the cost of most leading cleaning products. Some of the best homemade laundry detergent options are listed below.
What are the best homemade laundry detergents?
The following laundry detergents are excellent options for people who want to save money without compromising quality.
Loni Labs has a great economical, effective detergent that is also great for the environment. It is safe for babies and pets, so it can be used to clean baby clothes and pet bedding.
This laundry detergent is eco-friendly, vegan, and cruelty-free. It contains non-toxic, bio-based ingredients and works well in HE washers. It's hypoallergenic and ideal for those with sensitive skin. The formula uses enzymes to break down and remove tough stains naturally. The formula is free of harsh chemicals and artificial fragrances, making it a safer and healthier option for you and the environment.
Ivory soap and borax
Karrie of the Happy Money Saver Blog shared a great recipe for people wanting to make laundry detergent. The ingredients needed to make this laundry detergent include a box of super washing soda, a box of borax, a box of pure baking soda, a black garbage bag, three bars of ivory soap and a container of Oxy-Clean.
The process is very straightforward. Just grind the ivory soap with a cheese grater or food processor, dump it and the other ingredients in a black plastic bag, and mix it around. Karrie says that people only need to use a tablespoon of this detergent in each load to clean their clothes thoroughly.
Purex, borax, and baking soda
This is a recipe from Jill Nystul of the One Good Thing Blog. The ingredients for this DIY laundry detergent recipe are three Fels-Naptha laundry bars, one box of borax, one box of washing soda, two cups of baking soda, two boxes of OxiClean stain remover, and one or two bottles of Purex crystals.
The first step is to take the Fels-Naptha laundry bars and grind them into a fine powder. It is crucial to ensure the pellets are small enough to dissolve in a washing machine. The powder will then be mixed with the other ingredients in a couple of trash bags. Once they have been mixed thoroughly, the detergent should be poured into a large jar for safe storage.
Laundry detergent with Castile soap
This DIY laundry detergent recipe was shared by Kristen Maher of the Live Simply Blog. This detergent removes stains better than most commercial detergents and is non-toxic. The ingredients are:
- One cup of liquid Castile soap.
- One cup of washing soda.
- One cup of borax.
- 50 drops of essential oil.
- 15 cups of water.
Boil the water in a large pan and mix the other ingredients in.
Laundry detergent with Zote and Arm and Hammer washing soda
This is a recipe from the Mommy's Kitchen Blog. The ingredients are a box of 20 mule team borax, a box of Arm and Hammer washing soda, Purex crystals, and a box of Zote laundry flakes. You can also include a box of Oxy-Clean.
The process is extremely straightforward. All ingredients need to be poured into a container and thoroughly mixed.
Another laundry detergent recipe with Zote
The Farmer's Almanac has another laundry detergent recipe that uses Zote soap, similar to the one listed above. The main difference is that this recipe calls for two bars of soap rather than flakes. In addition, the soap bars need to be thoroughly grated. It is more work than the abovementioned process, but it provides better consistency.
Homemade laundry detergent with sea salt and Epsom salt
This is a DIY natural laundry detergent recipe by the Fresh Mommy blog. This calls for only four ingredients: sea salt, washing soda, baking soda, and Epsom salt. This is an excellent recipe for anybody that wants to avoid using toxic chemicals. Another advantage is that it is very inexpensive. Furthermore, it doesn't require bar soap, so the recipe does not require grating soap in the powder.
The recipe is very easy to prepare. All the ingredients need to be thoroughly mixed in a glass jar.
Natural DIY laundry detergent with coconut oil
This is a laundry detergent recipe shared by the Nerdy Farm Wife Blog. It only calls for three ingredients: coconut oil, distilled water, and sodium hydroxide. Essential oils can also be added as an optional ingredient to improve the scent.
The process is more intensive than some other recipes in this article. The water will need to be heated on the stove, and the sodium hydroxide needs to be carefully mixed. It is vital to wear goggles and avoid breathing in the fumes. The mixture should be boiled for 40 minutes before being set aside. Coconut oil can then be stirred in. The final mixture should be poured into a mold to make soap bars, which homeowners can grate into laundry detergent.
Lavender and lemon laundry detergent
This recipe requires 1/2 cup of washing soda, 3/4 cup of Castile soap, 2 gallons of water, 1/2 cup of baking soda, and 15 drops of lavender and lemon essential oil. The baking soda and washing soda need to be mixed in a large bucket of hot water until they dissolve. The Castile soap and essential oil will then be mixed thoroughly to make the laundry detergent.
The detergent should be added to a jar or bottle. It may be necessary to use a funnel to minimize spillage.
Coconut oil soap laundry detergent
This is another recipe for coconut oil laundry detergent. This one was shared by the Coconut Mama blog.
Unlike the previous coconut oil recipe, this recipe calls for three bars of coconut oil soap rather than liquid coconut oil. It also calls for 6 1/2 cups of washing soda. The soap bars must be grated into tiny pieces and mixed with the washing soda in a food processor. The detergent will then be poured into a jar or other storage container.
Bare bones recipe with borax and soap flakes
This is one of the most straightforward natural laundry detergent recipes. It calls for only three ingredients: soap flakes, borax, and washing soda. The soap flakes can be substituted for a bar of Ivory Snow or Zote soap, but the soap must be carefully grated.
Mix 2 cups of washing soda, 2 cups of borax, and one cup of soap flakes into a plastic or glass container. Ideally, they should be mixed in the jar they will be stored in so they don't have to be transferred to another container. This should decrease the risk of spillage.
Natural laundry detergent for baby clothes
This natural detergent recipe is excellent for families that need to clean baby clothes. The recipe calls for 6 cups of washing soda and three bars of soap with coconut oil. Castile soap will work the best.
The soap will need to be carefully grated with a food processor or cheese grater. It will then be mixed with 6 cups of washing soda. The soap and washing soda need to be thoroughly mixed. The final step is to pour the mixture into a jar to store it safely .
Lavender and coconut laundry detergent
This laundry detergent recipe requires a bar of Castile soap, 2 cups of washing soda, 2 cups of baking powder, some Epsom salt, and lavender essential oils. The first step is to grate the soap into a fine powder with a food processor or cheese grater. Next, all of the ingredients need to be mixed except for the lavender essential oil. Add the lavender oil afterward and continue mixing.
The mixture should be added to an airtight jar for storage. Use one or two tablespoons of detergent for every laundry load.
Vinegar and Castile soap laundry detergent
This detergent calls for more ingredients than most other homemade laundry detergent recipes, but the detergent can do a better job cleaning as well. The ingredients for this recipe include:
- A bar of Castile or ivory soap.
- A box of borax.
- White vinegar washing soda.
- Baking soda.
- Sea salt.
- Distilled water.
- Liquid Castile soap.
The first step is to grate 1/4 of the soap bar and boil it in 2 cups of water. The next step is to fill a 1.5-gallon plastic container halfway with warm distilled water. Next, add the dissolved soap,1/2 cup of white vinegar,1/4 cup of borax, and washing soda. Mix them thoroughly and then fill the rest of the container with more distilled water.
Laundry detergent without borax
This is a great recipe for anyone who doesn't want to use borax to make laundry detergent. The ingredients are 2 cups of warm water, a cup of baking soda, and 1/3 cup of salt. The ingredients need to be combined in a gallon-sized plastic jug. Tighten the lid of the jug and shake the mixture carefully.
Laundry detergent with citric acid
This is a recipe from Kara of the Saving by Design blog.
The recipe calls for two bars of Castile soap, 2 cups of washing soda, one cup of baking soda, one cup of Epsom salt, and half a cup of citric acid.
The washing soda, baking soda, Epsom salt, and citric acid must be mixed in a large bowl. The soap needs to be grated with a cheese grater or food processor. Add 1/2 of the bar of grated soap and two tablespoons of the dry ingredients to a food processor and blend them. Repeat the process until all of the dry ingredients and soap have been added.
Remove the soap and store it in a sealed container.
Fels Naptha liquid laundry detergent
This recipe calls for 4 cups of water, a bar of Fels Naptha soap, 2 cups of borax, and 2 cups of washing soda. The first step is to boil the water. The next step is to grate the soap bar and put it in the boiling water. Reduce the heat to medium and wait 15 minutes for the soap to dissolve. Then add the washing soda and borax and stir until they are dissolved. Store the liquid in glass jars, then add enough water to fill most of the jar. There should be a 1.5-inch gap between the lid and the mixture. Wait for the contents to cool, then place them in a blender to improve consistency.
Fels Naptha soap bombs
Grate a Fels Naptha soap bar and put it in a plastic bowl. Add 2 cups of washing soda, 2 cups of Epsom salt and begin to stir. Add hydrogen peroxide and vinegar and resume mixing. Flatten the mixture against the side of the bowl to improve texture. Add the contents to a sheet pan and allow them to harden. Spray vinegar and water over the soap bars and let them sit for 8 to 10 hours.
Three-ingredient laundry detergent with Castile soap
This quick and simple laundry detergent recipe from the Note to Trash blog involves only three ingredients: one box of baking soda, one box of washing soda, and one bar of Castile soap. The first step is to mix the washing soda and baking soda. The next step is to grate the soap bar and combine it with the baking and washing soda mixture. That is all you need to do!
Three-ingredient detergent with borax
This is another straightforward DIY laundry detergent recipe from Simple Living Mama Blog that only involves three ingredients. The ingredients are a box of washing soda, a box of borax, and three bars of Castile or Fels Naptha soap. Grate the soap bars and mix them with the borax and washing soda.
