Make Your Own Laundry Detergent: Save Money and Stay Ahead of Rising Costs
With tariffs now impacting household essentials, the cost of store-bought laundry detergent is likely to rise. Why not take control of your budget by learning how to make your own laundry detergent? Not only is DIY laundry detergent budget-friendly, but it’s also eco-friendly and customizable to your preferences. Plus, the shelf life of these homemade options is over a year when stored properly!
In this post, we’ll guide you step-by-step through making both liquid and dry versions of laundry detergent.
Why Make Your Own Laundry Detergent?
- Cost Savings: Making detergent at home costs a fraction of store-bought alternatives.
- Customizable Ingredients: You control the scents and additives, avoiding unnecessary chemicals.
- Environmentally Friendly: DIY options reduce plastic waste and use biodegradable ingredients.
- Long Shelf Life: Homemade detergents can last over a year when stored correctly.
Ingredients and Supplies You’ll Need
For Both Liquid and Dry Detergents
- Borax (found in the laundry aisle)
Luonix Borax in a resealable bucket.Acts as a natural multipurpose cleaner & laundry additive. Use for deodorizing fridges, toilets & more. Products that bring results.Packaged in the USA
- Washing Soda (not baking soda – found in the laundry aisle)
One 55 oz box of ARM & HAMMER Super Washing Soda Household Cleaner and Laundry Booster100% fragrance-free and phosphate-free washing soda neutralizes and eliminates odors naturally without the use of heavy fragrances, leaving a long-lasting fresh and neutral clean scent
- Bar Soap (like Fels-Naptha, Zote, or a natural castile soap like Dr. Bronner’s)
Fels Naptha Laundry Soap Bar is a trusted and powerful stain remover that effectively removes tough grime and dirt from your laundry. It’s gentle on fabrics and safe for all washing machines. The 5.0 oz bar comes in a convenient 2 pack, making it perfect for families and those who do a lot of laundry. For generations, Fels Naptha has been a go-to choice for tackling stubborn stains and keeping clothes looking their best. Try it today and experience the difference for yourself!
For a delicate wash.Pink laundry soap with a minimum fatty acid content of (66%).7.0 ounces bars
NOW SOURCING REGENERATIVE ORGANIC CERTIFIED COCONUT, PALM, AND OLIVE OIL: Grown by fairly-paid farmers to ensure sustainable harvesting through intercropping, biodiversity, & reforestation—providing the smooth & creamy lather of our soaps while benefiting farmers, the planet & you.
- Essential Oils (optional, for fragrance)
High Quality Glass Bottle with Free Droppe: The fragrance oils come in high-quality glass bottles and are infused with a UV coating to protect the fragrance oils from sunlight and degradation. It also comes with a dropper for easy use.
A safe recipe to make your life easier and toxin-free. ARVIDSSON Laundry Fragrance Oils Set include six naturally fresh scents: Fresh Linen, Citrus Clean, Laundry Day, Chamomile Bliss, Crisp Breeze, Meet Minty. These oils are formulated to freshen and scent laundry, making them a safe choice for the whole family.
- Distilled Water (for liquid detergent)
- A Large Mixing Bowl
Great For Restaurants, Hotels, Catering House, Bar And All Kitchens: Always have the perfect bowl handy.Light Weight and Easy Use: Features a flat base and curved lip
- A Cheese Grater or Food Processor
STACK AND SNAP TECHNOLOGY FOR EASY ASSEMBLY: With this well-designed food processor, you can skip frustrating, awkward assembly. Stack & Snap technology provides easy assembly and removes the need for difficult twist-locking.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
[Multiple Sizes of 20]: Including 7 stainless steel measuring cups (1 cup, 3/4 cup, 2/3 cup, 1/2 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/4 cup, 1/8 cup), 6 measuring spoons (1tbsp, 1/2 tbsp, 1 tsp, 1/2 tsp, 1/4 tsp, 1/8 tsp), 3 liquid plastic measuring cups (4 cup, 2 cup, 1 cup), 1 leveler, 1 measuring conversion chart, and 2 metal rings, all designed to meet all your cooking and baking needs.
Arm & Hammer 55 Oz. Super Washing Soda Laundry Booster. Pack of 1. Detergent booster and household cleaner. Improves liquid laundry detergent performance up to 40%. 100% fragrance and phosphate-free. 55 oz. 20 Mule-Teama 65 Oz. Borax Laundry Booster. Pack of 1. Natural laundry booster. 20 Mule-Team Borax has a multitude of household uses to help families clean and deodorize their homes for over 100 years.
Additional Supplies for Liquid Detergent
- A Large Pot
Large capacity: holds up to 8 quarts–great for large batches of soups, stews, and more Sturdy and fast heating: made of heavy-gauge stainless steel for reliable strength; aluminum-encapsulated base distributes heat quickly and evenly
- A 5-Gallon Bucket with a Lid
MULTI-USE: Make storage a breeze with these multi-purpose 5-gallon buckets.
- Storage Containers (old detergent bottles or mason jars work well)
2 Airtight Half Gallon Glass jars, 1 Dryer Sheet Holder, 16 White Label with Text, 8 Blank white label, 2 Spoon, Store everything you want to organize, a very practical combination set
Additional Supplies for Dry Detergent
- An Airtight Container (for storage)
Includes 2 Extra Large 9.5L/321 Oz flour sugar storage containers with airtight lids. Each rice container (7.1 x 9.3 x 12.5 inches) provides ample space for flour, sugar, rice, grains, beans, cereal, pasta, coffee and more. This set comes with 2 measuring cups. Great for pantry storage containers.
How to Make Liquid Laundry Detergent
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Borax
- 1 cup Washing Soda
- 1 bar soap (grated)
- 4 gallons of distilled water
- Optional: 20-30 drops of essential oil
Instructions:
Grate the Bar Soap
Use a cheese grater or food processor to finely grate the soap. Smaller pieces dissolve more easily.Melt the Soap
In a large pot, combine the grated soap and 1 gallon of distilled water. Heat on medium, stirring constantly until the soap is completely dissolved.Mix Borax and Washing Soda
Add 1 cup of Borax and 1 cup of Washing Soda to the pot. Stir until fully dissolved.Transfer to a Bucket
Pour the mixture into a 5-gallon bucket. Add 3 more gallons of distilled water and stir thoroughly.Optional: Add Essential Oils
If desired, add 20-30 drops of essential oil for fragrance. Popular options include lavender, lemon, or eucalyptus.Let it Sit
Cover the bucket and let the detergent sit for 24 hours. It will thicken into a gel-like consistency.Store and Use
Transfer the detergent into smaller containers for daily use. Shake or stir before each use.
Use: Add ½ to 1 cup per load.
How to Make Dry Laundry Detergent
Ingredients:
- 1 cup Borax
- 1 cup Washing Soda
- 1 bar soap (grated)
- Optional: 20-30 drops of essential oil
Instructions:
Grate the Bar Soap
Use a cheese grater or food processor to finely grate the soap.Mix Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, combine the grated soap, Borax, and Washing Soda. Mix well.Optional: Add Essential Oils
If desired, add essential oil drops to the mixture and stir thoroughly.Store in an Airtight Container
Transfer the mixture to an airtight container.Use: Add 1-2 tablespoons per load of laundry.
Storage Tips for Long Shelf Life
- Keep the detergent in a cool, dry place.
- For liquid detergent, make sure the storage containers are sealed tightly to prevent drying out.
- For dry detergent, use an airtight container to avoid clumping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does DIY detergent work as well as store-bought?
Yes! The ingredients—Borax, Washing Soda, and soap—are effective at cleaning and deodorizing.
Can I use homemade detergent in HE washers?
Absolutely. Homemade detergents are low-sudsing, making them perfect for high-efficiency machines.
Are there alternatives to Borax?
If you prefer not to use Borax, you can replace it with baking soda for a gentler alternative.
Final Thoughts
In the face of rising tariffs and escalating prices, making your own laundry detergent is an empowering way to save money and reduce household waste. Whether you prefer the convenience of liquid detergent or the simplicity of the dry version, these DIY recipes will keep your clothes fresh and clean for over a year. I have a post showing more money-saving tips if you need more ways to survive the upcoming tariffs.
Start your DIY journey today, and don’t forget to share your results with us at Talent The Muse!
DIY laundry detergent, how to make laundry detergent, homemade liquid detergent, homemade dry detergent, cost-saving laundry tips, eco-friendly detergent recipes, long shelf life detergent.
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