How to Make Homemade Laundry Soap (Liquid or Powder)

The Best Homemade Laundry Soap Recipes

Do you want to know how to save BIG money on laundry soap? Well, it’s quite easy really — all you need to do is learn how to make your own!

I originally learned how to make this liquid DIY laundry detergent from a friend, but it’s originally based on the Duggar laundry soap recipe, which is one of the most popular homemade laundry soap recipes around.

And if you prefer powder, it is even easier to make and one of my other friends uses it all the time! She got her recipe from The Paleo Mama.

Homemade laundry soap is super easy to make, will make your clothes smell great, and will save you lots of money!

DIY Laundry Detergent Recipe (Powder Version)

Homemade Laundry Soap Ingredients (Powder)

• 3 cups borax
• 3 cups washing soda (NOT baking soda)
• 3 cups baking soda
• 2 bars castile soap
• Optional: essential oil for scent (see tips below)

How to Make Powder Laundry Detergent

Step 1:

Start by using a cheese grater to grate or shred the bar soap. Then, in a large bowl, mix together the borax, washing soda, and baking soda.

Step 2:

Add the grated soap and 1 cup of the borax powder mixture to a food processor or high power blender. Adding the powder mixture helps keep the soap from sticking to the blades. Blend it together until powder consistency.

Step 3:

While the blender or food processor is running, add essential oil drops (optional) and allow it to blend into the mixture.

Add the soap mixture to the large bowl with the powder mixture and stir or whisk until combined.

• Yield: Powder soap recipe makes about 10 1/4 cups (about 164 tablespoons).
• Top Load Machine: 1-2 tablespoons per load (Approx. 82-164 loads)
• Front Load Machines: 1-2 tablespoons per load (Approx. 82-164 loads)

Step 4 (Optional): Adding Essential Oils to Your Homemade Laundry Soap

If you want scent, start small and adjust after you’ve used a few loads. Many people like a citrus combo (lemon + orange) or a fresh option like lavender or eucalyptus.

• Lemon essential oil
• Orange essential oil
• Lavender essential oil
• Eucalyptus essential oil

HE Washer Tips (Read This If You Have an HE Machine)

Important note: We have not personally done long-term testing of this recipe in every brand/model of high-efficiency (HE) washer. That said, we can share the most practical, real-world tips we’ve learned from how HE machines work and what readers commonly report.

Here’s the key difference: HE washers use less water and rely on low-sudsing formulas. This DIY recipe is a soap-based cleaner (not a commercial synthetic detergent), so the most important thing is making sure it dissolves fully and that you don’t overuse it.

If you want to try this in an HE washer, do it this way:

• Start smaller than you think: begin with 1 tablespoon (or less) for powder. If clothes come out clean, don’t increase it.
• Do not put powder in the dispenser drawer: add it directly into the drum (or pre-dissolve first).
• Grate the soap ultra-fine: big shreds are the #1 reason people see “crumbs” or residue.
• Cold-water tip: if you wash mostly cold, pre-dissolve the powder in a cup of warm/hot water first, then add to the drum.
• Hard water matters: hard water can increase residue risk with soap-based recipes. If you have hard water, use the smallest dose and consider running a washer-cleaning cycle regularly.
• Use “extra rinse” if needed: if you ever see residue, reduce the amount and add an extra rinse until it clears.
• Watch your washer: if you notice buildup, odor, or residue, stop using the DIY mix and switch back to a detergent made for HE machines.

Bottom line: Many readers do use similar DIY recipes in HE washers successfully, but correct dosing + fully dissolving the soap makes all the difference. If you want a zero-experiment option, stick with an HE-labeled detergent.

DIY Liquid Laundry Soap Recipe

Homemade Laundry Soap Ingredients (Liquid)

• 1 bar Fels-Naptha Soap (or Ivory for sensitive skin, Pink Zote, or castile soap)
• 1/2 cup Borax
• 1 cup washing soda (NOT baking soda)
• 5-gallon bucket and lid

How to Make DIY Liquid Laundry Detergent

Start again by grating your bar of soap. Then, add your grated soap to a saucepan with 4 cups of water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.

Next, fill a 5-gallon bucket half full of hot tap water and add your melted soap, washing soda, and borax. Stir well until all the powder is dissolved. Then fill the bucket to the top with more hot water, stir, cover, and let sit overnight to thicken.

After it has thickened overnight you can put it in the dispenser of your choice. It is very thick and gel-like, so use a big spoon to stir it. I use a measuring cup and funnel to put equal parts of soap and hot water into the old detergent bottle, and then just shake it up and you’re are ready to go!

You can also try adding essential oils to the soap after it is cooled (optional).

• Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 5 gallons.
• Top Load Machine: 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)
• Front Load Machines: ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)

One batch of this liquid laundry soap lasts a whole year which adds up to almost $200 in savings for my family (we go through a lot of laundry detergent).

Questions Readers Ask (HE, Vinegar, Concentrate + More)

Will this gum up spray jets or damage an HE washer over time?

It’s a smart concern. Because HE machines use less water, the biggest risk is residue/buildup from using too much or from soap that isn’t finely grated and fully dissolved. If you try it in an HE washer, start with 1 tablespoon or less, add it to the drum (not the dispenser), and reduce immediately if you see residue.

My friend said this left crumbs or residue. What causes that?

That usually happens when soap doesn’t dissolve completely — especially in cold water, quick cycles, or when the soap shreds are too large. Grate the soap very fine, use less detergent, and consider pre-dissolving the powder in warm water.

Can I add vinegar to the rinse? How much?

Many readers like adding vinegar to the rinse cycle, especially if they’re trying to reduce residue. A common range is 3/4 cup to 1 cup in the fabric softener dispenser. Start small and adjust based on your machine and laundry needs.

Cathy previously shared this helpful resource about using vinegar for washing machine cleaning. See it here: How to Clean Your Washing Machine with Vinegar.

Can I make the liquid version more concentrated?

You can experiment with less water, but you’ll want to keep your dosing consistent (less water usually means using less per load). Because water hardness and washers vary, start small and adjust.

My liquid batch didn’t thicken. What should I do?

That can happen! Let it sit another 12–24 hours and stir again. Some readers also blend it briefly (an immersion blender works great) before transferring to containers. Temperature can affect thickening too.

How does this make “10 gallons” if you used a 5-gallon bucket?

You’re not dumb — that’s confusing. Some people treat the 5-gallon batch as a “concentrate,” then dilute into additional containers later (for example, mixing equal parts concentrate + water when refilling a jug). If you keep it as-is, you still have a usable 5-gallon batch — just stir before using.

“These tools are really practical for me—how can I get them?”

For the powder version, the most helpful tools are a cheese grater (or food processor/blender), a large mixing bowl, and an airtight container for storage. We linked a few options above in the powder steps.

Where to Buy Homemade Laundry Soap Ingredients

I can usually find all of the ingredients needed for either of these DIY laundry soap recipes at my local Kroger Store or Walmart, in the laundry aisle.

All in all, these ingredients + bucket should cost you less than $20, and will make you multiple batches of laundry soap. For convenience sake, you can find all these ingredients on Amazon, but they are cheaper at your local store.

Try making your own laundry soap and you’ll love it! It smells really good but doesn’t leave a harsh scent on your clothes. I hope you enjoy saving money with this homemade laundry soap!

No time or desire to make homemade laundry detergent?

I love a good non-toxic laundry detergent option for busy seasons. If you have an HE washer (or you just want a no-fuss option), look for detergents labeled HE and follow your machine’s dosing guidance.

• Seventh Generation Free & Clear
• Molly’s Suds laundry powder
• Dropps laundry detergent pods

More DIY Laundry Projects:

Now that you have your own DIY laundry detergent, you can try out these other DIY ideas:

• 5 Cool DIY Laundry Hamper Ideas
• How to Clean Your Front Load Washer
• Homemade Stain Remover Using Strong and Gentle Dawn Dish Soap
• Homemade Fabric Softener {Picture Tutorial}