I pretty much love all things homemade! I love the feeling of industry and resourcefulness that comes from making something myself for cheaper than I could have bought it at the store.
Many years ago, my mom bought me the Reader’s Digest Homemade
book (mine is the older version of the one in the link). That’s where my homemade hand soap recipe came from. There is a laundry detergent recipe in there as well, but it tells you to use 1/2 a cup per load which just doesn’t seem economical to me.
After searching for a more economical laundry soap, I came across a recipe from TheFamilyHomestead.com. (she has an excellent cost breakdown on there too!) For years this was the recipe I used:
1/3 bar of pure soap
1/2 c. washing soda
1/2 c. borax
(& sometimes I added a few drops of essential oil as well)
1.5 – 2 gallon container with lid (I used a plastic tub)
Grate the soap. (I use my Bosch Slicer/Shredder and do the entire bar or more on a fine shred.)
Put 1/3 of a bar into a saucepan. Add 6 c. of water and heat on low until soap melts.
Add washing soda & borax. Stir until dissolved. Remove from heat.
Add your essential oil here if you like.
Pour 4 c. hot water into the 2 gallon container, add soap mixture, and stir. Now add 1 gallon + 6 cups (22 cups) of water and stir.
Let sit for 24 hours to gel. Can be poured into an old liquid detergent container and used the same way you would your usual liquid detergent.
1. It’s not ready right away.
2. It can get messy because it is liquid.
3. I often didn’t feel like my clothes were really getting clean. (not that they weren’t, but I often felt like the soap had too much water in it.)
So, recently via Twitter, I came across the Dugger family’s recipe for powder laundry detergent and decided to give that a go. So far, I am quite pleased! Here’s that recipe:
1 bar pure soap (Fels-Naptha, castille, etc)
1 c. washing soda
1/2 c. borax
medium-sized container with lid
Grate soap (as shown in previous recipe).
Place soap in container. Add washing soda & borax. Mix well.
Use 1 Tbsp per load or 2 Tbsp per load for heavily soiled clothing.
1. No wait time. I ran out of soap this morning. I made some up and could use it right away.
2. No mess.
3. Psychologically, *I* feel as though my clothes are really getting clean. 
Looking for more laundry detergent recipes? Head over to MamasLaundryTalk.com (she’s hosting a link up on Friday…don’t miss it!)
Enjoyed this tutorial? Perhaps you’d like to make your own Baby Wipes Solution? Or maybe some Playdough for the kiddos? Or maybe you just want to know more about Laundry in a larger-than-average family! Whatever you’re looking for, enjoy your visit!
Ok, got a silly question… your shredder chopper thing.. do you wash it out and use it for other things? or do you save this for soap only? I know it’s soap and all, but can it be rinsed out enough to use for food again? or do I need to check out some yard sales.
Dear Amy,
I also found the first recipe and wa not sure the clothes were clean too!!!!
Looking at your grated sop though I am wondering if my bar is too small. What size in oz or grams is it? We don’t have that brand here in Australia o i have been using a laundry soap that is 125grams.
I am keen to find out and try this recipe as I have just bought more ingredients .
So your post is very timely.
I would also be interested how you find it after using it for a time.
Blessing
Blessings and prayers, andrea
Lisa,
You can easily use a regular cheese grater too. And yes, it’s soap…I use the slicer/shredder for lots of other things.
Gae,
Fels Naptha is 5.5 oz or 155g. I try to base my calculations off of that because, as you can tell from the pics, I’m using up the last of my homemade castille soap and it is much smaller than the other bars.
I make my own laundry detergent too, the powdered version. Love it! Do you know if I could use it to wash diapers? It gets my husbands filthy work clothes clean, so I was figuring it would be ok.
how neat. Just found your blog from anothers. I love it… so peaceful… beautiful.
Hugs,
Teena
You know, Emily, I have asked this many times on forums and such and everyone seems to think you can, just in a smaller amount (you almost always reduce the amount of soap you are using when you wash diapers). I’m definitely going to try it.
I was just thinking of making my own laundry soap today! Thanks for sharing:) The only problem is that I’ve been looking for “washing soda” for years, and none of my local grocery stores carries it.
Blessings,
Michelle
Amy – Thanks so much for linking your post to the Laundry Detergent Recipe Round-Up!
I’ve heard such good things about the Duggar’s recipe. I might just have to break down and try it!
I agree – I love all things homemade too.
-Lauren
Michelle,
You are right…washing soda can be hard to find. Our local Kroger sells it, but I think that is it. I know the Duggers buy theirs in bulk through Meijer.com.
Anyone know of any other place to get it???
walmart sells washing soda and hannaford. we have used this powdered recipe for a few years now and love it.
I have all the ingredients for making both kinds. I have been considering making it for MONTHS now, however, my wonderful husband got me a front loader recently that calls for high efficiency only detergent. Can I use homemade soap in it?
I use Homemade Laundry Detergent in my frontloader. Have for many months now. ;o) HTH
Audra,
The Dugger’s have a liquid soap that is safe for front loaders on their site (same link as in this post)…check it out!
Have I told you lately how brilliant you are? Thanks for linking up
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Hi Amy,
I have to order my washing soda and soap online (unless I can use Ivory) so I can’t help but wonder if I’m costing myself more in the long run when I can just buy a huge thing at Sams of all and use it for regular clothes and my cloth daipers, what do you think?
I’m not sure what the cost difference would be from in-store to online.
you can actually use any kind of soap mixed with the washing soda and borax. Ivory soap works great. i use whatever i find on sale or with coupons. have you tried walmart or your local supermarket? ask them if they dont and they may order it for you which will save you on shipping.