If you’re looking for a way to save money on laundry detergent, making your own is worth a try. Homemade liquid laundry detergent is surprisingly simple to put together, and you don’t need a long list of ingredients or expensive supplies.

This recipe uses just three basic ingredients: washing soda, borax, and liquid castile soap. Combine them with water, mix well, and store the detergent in a container you can shake before each use.

I’ve included two versions of this homemade laundry detergent recipe: a small batch if you want to try it out first and a larger batch if you’d rather make enough to last a while.

Liquid Laundry Detergent (Small Batch)

This makes around 20 ounces.

Ingredients

¼ cup washing soda
1/4 cup borax
¼ cup liquid castile soap
3 ¼ cups water
30 drops essential oils (optional)
Mason Jar Soap Dispenser

Instructions

Heat up the water. You need it to be hot.
Add the essential oils to the castile soap.
Mix castile soap, washing soda, and borax together.
Then add the hot water and stir until fully mixed. Make sure there are no clumps; it should be a smooth liquid.

Wait 24 hours. It will slowly get thicker, like a gel.

Guide to Making Liquid Laundry Detergent (Large Batch)

Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, it’s time to make some detergent! This recipe makes about 2.5 gallons of detergent (about 40 cups), enough for up to 80 loads of laundry!

Ingredients:

½ cup Washing Soda (option I) OR ¼ cup Borax (option II)
½ bar Fels Naptha Soap, grated
¼ cup baking soda
Essential oil (if desired)
Cheese Grater
Large pot
Whisk
Large wooden spoon
Measuring Cup
Bucket or large stockpot with lid (for letting the detergent rest)
Container with cover for storage (I like to split my detergent into two smaller buckets that are easier to handle)

Instructions:

Grate your Fels Naptha Soap using a cheese grater.

grated fels naptha for liquid laundry detergent

Add 4 cups of hot water to a medium to large pot.
Add the grated Fels Naptha soap to the water and set the pot on the stove over medium-high heat. Stir until the soap fully melts (about 10 minutes).

melting fels naptha into water for homemade liquid laundry detergent

Fill your five-gallon bucket 1/4 full with hot water or a 2.5-gallon bucket halfway (about 20 cups of water).
Pour in the soap mixture and stir until fully incorporated.
Add Washing soda (or borax) and baking soda; stir until they dissolve.

pouring powdered ingredients into liquid laundry detergent blend

Add essential oil if desired (1/4 ounce or less).
Add more warm water until the 5-gallon bucket is half full or the 2.5-gallon bucket is almost full (another 20 cups). Stir again, then secure the lid and let the mixture sit for 24 hours.

stirring homemade liquid laundry detergent

After 24 hours, stir again (there may be some gloppy separation, but that’s fine).
If you want, separate a small amount to keep next to your washing machine and keep the rest in the bucket.

How to Use Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

Use 1/2 cup of homemade liquid laundry detergent per load for high-efficiency washers. For regular washers, you can use up to 1 cup, especially for larger loads or particularly dirty clothes.

Cold water is best for all loads, especially when using washing soda (cold water is a great way to save energy!).

You can also pre-treat stains by soaking them in a tablespoon of homemade detergent for about 30 minutes before washing or rubbing them with a bar of Fels Naptha soap and letting them sit for a few minutes or up to a few days.

Why make your own liquid laundry detergent?

There are a few reasons to make your own laundry detergent. For one, it’s cheaper than store-bought detergents. This recipe makes 2.5 gallons of laundry detergent (up to 80 loads) for less than $2.00! You’ll spend about $10 on supplies, but they’ll last for multiple batches.

Second, homemade liquid laundry detergent is better for the environment. Many store-bought detergents contain harsh chemicals and artificial fragrances that can harm the environment.

Lastly, laundry detergent is often sold in large plastic containers that end up in the landfill. These containers are unnecessary because much of what they contain is just water!

By making your own laundry detergent, you can avoid these toxins and help protect our planet by reducing your plastic use.

About the Ingredients

We chose three ingredients for our liquid based on two criteria: they had to be natural and non-toxic, and they had to come in non-plastic packaging.

Washing soda is a household cleaner and laundry booster that has existed since the early 1800s. It’s a natural mineral that helps remove grease and dirt and neutralizes odors. You can use it as a standalone laundry detergent if you want powder only, or as a pre-soak treatment for stains. Bonus: It comes in a cardboard box!
Borax (option 2): Borax is another natural mineral that helps to clean and deodorize clothes. It also acts as a fabric softener, helping prevent static cling and keeping clothes smooth and soft. Borax also comes in a recyclable cardboard box.
Fels Naptha is a traditional laundry bar and stain remover used for over 100 years. Made with natural ingredients, it contains no phosphates, chlorine, or optical brighteners. In addition to removing stains, it also helps soften clothes and remove odors. Fels Naptha comes in a simple paper cover that is easy to recycle.
Baking soda is a natural deodorizer that neutralizes tough smells in both laundry and the kitchen. It also helps remove grease and dirt, making it a great cleaning choice. Baking soda comes in a recyclable cardboard box.

Enjoy fresh, clean clothes, without all the harsh chemicals!

Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent – All Natural Recipe

Making your own homemade liquid laundry detergent is a simple process that can save you a lot of money. Not only is it cheaper than store-bought detergents, but it’s also better for the environment!