Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

This homemade laundry detergent works well for us. We use it with our HE washer. It is also cost effective. 

  • Some kind of bucket to mix all ingredient in (2-5 gallon)
  • 1/3 Fels Naptha Laundry soap (or Zote, Octagon, or Ivory – amounts vary)
  • 1/2 C Borax
  • 1/2 C Super Washing Soda
  • Water
1. Cut your bar of Fels Naptha soap into thirds and finely grate one third. (Save the other 2/3 for another batch).

2. Put your grated soap in a pot of 6 cups of water and heat on low until the soap melts. Don’t let the soap boil. Once all the soap is completely melted, add the washing soda and the Borax and stir until dissolved. Continue stirring until the mixture thickens (almost as thick as honey). Remove from heat.

3. Pour 4 cups of hot tap water into your bucket. Add the soap mixture and stir it. (You can add a few drops of essential oil if you want here. I don’t).

4. Now add 1 gallon + 6 more cups of hot tap water. (I use an old milk jug for the gallon measurement – if not, it is 22 Cups). Give another few minutes of stirring and then let it sit overnight.

5. In the morning your soap might look runny or like gel or separated with big clumps of slime ton top and water on the bottom. All are normal, depending on weather, type of soap used, etc.


Storage Options and Other Ideas:

1. Store in the bucket and scoop out 1/2 Cup per load of laundry (If you have an HE washer, start with 1/4 C per load).

2. Give the soap another good stir and funnel it into a well rinsed laundry soap bottle or other bottle (not a milk jug though, because it will breakdown). If stored this way, just shake before pouring.

3. If you have a Downy ball or fabric softener dispenser built in, add 1/2 Cup of distilled white vinegar for the washing cycle.

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