It only takes four simple ingredients to make homemade laundry powder that is cost effective and works great at cleaning laundry.

Years ago, I started experimenting with better laundry detergents that fit within my budget. At that time, that meant unscented laundry detergent. And that was a great start because it made me feel a lot better in terms of lessening the “toxic load” for my family. And while unscented laundry detergents are great and I still fall back on them from time to time, they can be expensive. And they’re even more expensive when you use actual natural detergents, which definitely aren’t in my budget, even now.

Now growing up, my mom made her own homemade laundry detergent and it always seemed to work pretty well. So, I did some research and found some different recipes, gave them a try and loved them! I’ve tried both homemade liquid laundry detergent and homemade laundry powder and they both seem to work just as good. I love making my own laundry detergent, especially this when I run out of my liquid detergent and don’t have the time to make another batch (even though it’s not that hard). This DIY laundry detergent comes together super quick and easy, and it only costs about $2.88 to make for around 64 loads of laundry.

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FAQs

Is it cheaper to make your own laundry powder?

100% yes, it is cheaper to make your own laundry powder. In comparison to name brand powder laundry detergents that costs around 9 cents a load, this recipe is around 4 cents a load. Initially the upfront cost of buying the various ingredients will be higher, but they will last a long time.

Can I use laundry powder in my HE washing machine?

You can absolutely use laundry powder in your HE washing machine because it does not contain a foaming agent. For top-loading washers, I recommend using 1-2 tablespoons of powder per load and for front loading HE washers, I recommend using 1/2-1 tablespoons per load.

Is borax safe?

Borax is a controversial ingredient that is often used in homemade laundry recipes. Some say that it is toxic and can cause endocrine disruption, while others say it’s perfectly fine to use. From my research, borax, not boric acid, can be harmful if ingested, which is why the FDA banned it as a food additive. However, it’s my understanding that used in things like homemade laundry powder or detergent isn’t harmful because it doesn’t cross the skin barrier. This is something you’ll have to research on your own and make a decision for yourself and your family. Here’s an article that might be helpful.

Is homemade laundry powder actually laundry detergent?

While you may hear the laundry soap and laundry detergent used interchangeably, they’re actually different. Laundry soap is often made with fewer ingredients, less oil and more naturally, while laundry detergent is made from synthetic materials, has more oil, which means it can hold fragrance better, which then means your clothes smell “good.” In general, laundry soap rinses out from your clothes better than laundry detergent, while on the flip side, detergent is better at cleaning clothes when used with hard water. This recipe is a laundry soap, not detergent, but is still effective when used with any water temperature, including cold water.

Ingredients

Washing soda: Washing soda, also known as sodium carbonate, is an ingredient that is found in many DIY homemade laundry powder detergents. It helps remove oils, stains and other debris from clothing. It also helps soften hard water, which helps detergent be more effective.

Baking soda: Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, helps boost the effectiveness of this DIY laundry detergent, helps to whiten whites and works at removing odors from clothing.

Borax: Borax is similar to washing soda in that it helps absorb dirt, boost the effectiveness of laundry detergent, break down stains and so much more.

Laundry soap bar: Laundry soap bars like Fels Naptha, Zote and even Castile soap are general used for removing stains from clothing, as well as cleaning clothes.

Essential oil (options): If you’re using soap bars, they typically have a scent, but if you want to add your own combination or enhance the scent of the detergent, you can ad 50-60 drops of your favorite essential oil(s) to the powder detergent. I personally don’t add essential oils to this recipe, but you absolutely can.

Tips for Making and Using DIY Laundry Powder

Different laundry soap bars have different scents, so play around with the one you like best. If you want and unscented option, Castile bar soap might work the best for you. You can also add in extra scents like essential oils or even scent beads if that’s something you enjoy using.
The finer you can grate the soap, the better it will dissolve in the wash. I like to use a zester for the finest shred, but you can use a box grater too.
If you have a top loading washing machine, add the powder in first, start the water and allow the powder to dissolve slightly, then add in the laundry.
This laundry detergent recipe works well for any water temperature.
Although the ingredients in this laundry powder help to soften laundry, if you feel you need a little extra, add distilled white vinegar to the load once all the laundry is added.