I’m probably behind times with making my own laundry soap. I’ve tried it in the past, although liquid style. Truthfully, I didn’t like it all that well. My whites started looking dingy and there was no “fresh, clean” scent. But I know it has worked for some people who love it!
When I found this recipe for making your own powdered laundry soap, I decided to give homemade soap another try. This time it really intrigued me because it was powdered, not liquid. Powdered for me means less mess, and I like that!
This is all the ingredients you will need. (See below for printable recipe)
1 box Borax ( 4 lb. 12 oz.)
1 box Washing Soda (3 lb. 7 oz.)
1 big box Baking Soda (4 lb.)
1.5 lb. Oxiclean or SunOxygen Cleaner
2-3 bars FelsNaptha or Zote soap
To make this batch, I first chopped up my soap bars into small pieces.
I added a little of the oxiclean to the food chopper to help with the chopping.
The soap bars came out with a few slightly larger chunks, but they dissolve in the laundry water fine.
Someone since then gave me this tip:
Microwave your soap bars until they are doubled in size, let cool, and then they will crumble up easier. What chunks are left, you can then run through a food processor or food chopper.
Add the rest of your ingredients and mix well. Store in your laundry detergent container. Use 1-2 tablespoons per load, depending on the size of load and how dirty the clothes are.
I think this homemade version works as well as store laundry soap, dissolves well, and leaves my clothes looking fresh!
[print_this]
Homemade Powdered Laundry Detergent
1 box Borax (4lb. 12 oz.)
1 box Washing Soda ( 3 lb. 7 oz.)
1 big box Baking Soda (4 lb.)
1.5 lb. Oxiclean or SunOxygen Cleaner
2-3 bars FelsNaptha or Zote soap
Grate soap bars with a little oxiclean in your food processor. You can also microwave the bars until double in size, let them cool, and then crumble them. Grate the bigger chunks.
Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well. Use 1-2 tablespoons per load.
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Twila Henry via Facebook says
I use this same recipe, but still use liquid (Melaleuca) for my whites. I also add scent crystals to it, to make it have a stronger smell….I like good smelling clothes! 🙂
Angie Abella via Facebook says
I do the fels/borax/wash soda thing, and liquify it to heavily concentrated form. Works well for us.
Heather Hurth via Facebook says
How is this with skin allergies?
cheryl says
I make mine with a non-scented dish soap with borax and washing soda in a heavily concentrated liquid form. I have two children with eczema and this works well. If you need extra cleaning boost dump some hydrogen peroxide in the load or pre-soak with a little laundry soap and hydrogen peroxide. I use 9Tbs. borax, 9 Tbs. washing soda, dissolved in hot water in a gallon container; fill almost full of cold water and add 6 Tbs. of dish soap. I use 2 or 3 Tbs. per load.
Living In The Shoe via Facebook says
I don’t know. I’m going to keep a close eye on that, but nobody’s reacted so far! I have one child that can’t handle fabric softener sheets and heavily perfumed soaps….so we’ll see.
Mary Otto via Facebook says
tried the homemade soap and it worked great for a little while but then it literally quit working. Laundry still looked dirty.
Susan says
I switch between homemade powder and store bought liquid. Sometimes the homemade leaves little white particles on darker solid cloth and when I see that then I remember why I like liquid.
Cara Lorenz via Facebook says
Yep! I make a liquid kind that we really like…
Beth Cover via Facebook says
A well recommended liquid one did not work well for me and was sooo messy that I doubt I’ll try it again. Well, actually, I figured out that I had to use warm water and that negates my cost savings 🙁
Heather May (@frugalfitfamily) says
I have been making my own homemade detergent for some time now and LOVE IT! I was able to find an organic booster to add in that I love. I haven’t tempted the liquid yet but was going to try it so I could add some scent! BUT…I think I am rethinking it! Thanks for sharing at frugalfitfamily.com
Janine says
I’ve been doing this for 3 years now-but without the oxiclean and soda. I use a salad master to grate up the soap. Love the simplicity of it!
Cathy Compeau says
Hi there! I am co-hosting this week on Fit Frugal Family Link Party. Thanks for linking up!
I also host a TGIF Link Party over at my place — A Peek Into Paradise… http://apeekintomyparadise.blogspot.com/ Would love for you to link up, Opens on Fridays and stays open until Wednesday at midnight.
Thanks again for visiting Fit Frugal Family Link party!
Have a terrific week!
Hugs, Cathy
Sharon says
I just tried a recipe similar to this except it had powdered softner , our new favorite! Love the clean smell. ….