Homemade Laundry Soap

Colleen Anderson
by Colleen Anderson
Easy
I'm a DIY kinda girl by nature. I love the satisfaction and savings I get from making things on my own, at home. So for a while I've been trying to tackle the task of DIY-ing all my cleaning products.
To that end.... here's my recipe for homemade laundry soap:
http://www.littlehomesteaders.com/2013/08/natural-homemaking-homemade-laundry-soap.html
Ingredients
1 cup Borax
1 cup Washing Soda
1 bar soap (Dr. Bronner's and Fels Naptha are popular options)
Essential oil of your choosing

Directions
1. Grate your bar of soap.
2. Combine your borax and washing soda
3. Add the grated soap and mix well.
4. Add 20 or so drops of essential oil. (I like a citrus or lavender oil.)
5. Mix and stir for several minutes.
6. Use 1-2 tbsps per load of laundry.
To read the rest of the post.... click the link below.
Ingredients for your homemade soap. It truly is simple!
Colleen Anderson
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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Frequently asked questions
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3 of 5 questions
  • Karen Daniels Karen Daniels on Nov 04, 2018

    Has anyone checked with their manufacturer about using DIY laundry soap? Mine said it would pretty much void my warranty. I have a newer high efficiency washing machine. Based on a study done by the laundry experts at Consumer Reports Tide “he” is the absolute best at cleaning your clothes. The best cheaper alternative would be Kirklands version of Tide. I do use vinegar as a fabric softener with no warranty concerns.

  • Chris Chris on Aug 27, 2019

    What is washing soap & is that the actual name?

  • Saw Saw on Jun 05, 2020

    FYI—- My daughter is a big make -it-yourself person! She has made her soap for years. If this is not her same recipe... it’s darn close to it!!! Bottom line.... Using HOMEMADE SOAPS like this recipe is NOT advisable!!! Using homemade soaps cost her 2 new HE washing machines in 10 years! The powder will eventually clog your machine & it will simply lock up full of water & clothes! NO REPAIR MAN could even open the doors to get to her clothes! Running the machine empty to clean it does NOT unplug those drains with the soap scum in them! Yes!! This happened to her twice!! She will never do homemade Laundry soap again.

    It may be great for hand washing items... but my fear is if it clogs up machine drains, what’s it going to your plumbing pipes???

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  • Kathy Milam Kathy Milam on Jun 03, 2014
    The ''Recipe That Launched Pinterest"! This was how I got into making my own cleaners and soaps, but I've since discovered several new idea by reading http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/. One of the things you learn is Borax is only needed in a Liquid laundry product. In a dry one ALL it does is weaken your washing soda. You can read a great summary here. http://littlehouseinthesuburbs.com/2012/05/ten-things-laundry.html
  • Diana R Diana R on Jan 05, 2015
    I have gotten a bad rash from a 1x use of Purex Fab. Softner w/ Fresh Micro Beads. Spent hundreds of dollars for doctor treatments. Was wondering if this is like Free and Clear laundry det.??? I now have to be careful with detergents. I use vinegar for fabric softening.
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