DIY Laundry Detergent that works

I've used it daily for a month to test it before writing this - I am happy to report it works!

Short points you'll find in this article

1. This is really easy to make. One batch makes a lot & will last 6 months or more.

2. This is a major cost saving DIY! I'll show you our savings.

3. It works - on all sorts of items and I intend to use it for cloth diapering (I'm 35 weeks pregnant at the time of writing this).

4. It is truly pure - won't damage your clothes, your washer, and it doesn't contain anything irritating for your skin.

Natural Laundry Detergents I was using

It feels like I tried all the different natural laundry detergents available - to find what works for my husband's eczema prone skin and also for cloth diapering.

In the past we've used:

1. Rockin' Green Baby Laundry Detergent

2. Molly Subs for Sensitive Skin

3. Nellies All Natural Baby Laundry Detergent

4. Eco Max

5. Molly Suds Original

6. Unscented Company

We ended up using Molly Suds for sensitive skin the most. It works and it has pure ingredients. My only issue is - I do laundry at least once a day, sometimes more. We go through a lot of detergent, and it ends up being quite expensive, especially given that ingredients in Molly Suds are ones you can easily purchase.

Cost Saving from making our own

I bought detergent on average every 2 months - that is 6 times a year (at a minimum). Bringing our cost of detergent up to around $170.04.

The estimate for the DIY detergent for a years' worth is around $22.

Which means a saving of around $148 per year on laundry detergent. Which is awesome, since it is really easy to make and based off my experience so far - I think better than the one I was buying.

What you'll need

1. A big container - I used a stainless-steel pot from IKEA for mixing it in

2. 1.5 bars of Homesteaders / Farmer's Soap - I recommend using my Traditional Tallow Soap - Unscented.

3. Borax

4. Washing Soda

I've linked the exact products I used.

How to make the laundry detergent

Inspiration for this laundry detergent and the original recipe that I adjusted goes to Hopewell Heights.

Here is how I make the laundry detergent:

Step 1:

Grate 1.5 bars of Traditional Tallow Soap.

Why this soap?

Traditional Tallow Soap is only saponified tallow (tallow that has been turned into soap using lye). No other ingredients. This is made using a cold process and it takes 4 to 6 weeks to cure. Technically the soap also never expires! It will lose moisture and get harder, but it won't go rancid or off.

This is the soap traditionally used by farmers for almost everything. I use it as a body soap for our whole family, I make a stain remover spray from it, and I also use it for laundry detergent.

You can also use traditional castile soap - saponified olive oil (so just olive oil and lye), but personally I prefer tallow (saturated fat) over olive oil (monounsaturated fat). I don't recommend using any other soap for this recipe - we want to keep it pure and traditional. The olden day farmers knew what they were doing.

Step 2:

Boil 4 cups of water and dissolve the grated soap into a pot on the stove.

Step 3:

In your large container (ideally stainless steel and it needs to be large enough to take about 6 liters of liquid) - pour VERY hot tap water. I used 5l.

Optional adaptation - I use a scoop that is 1/8 of a cup big per load or less. If you'd like your laundry detergent to be liquid, then you can use 10l of water and use 1/4 cup per load. I like it to be concentrated and use less. Remember that each batch make a lot and consider how you want to store it.

Step 4:

Add 1 x cup of borax to this very hot water.

Add 1 x cup of washing soda to this very hot water.

Add your soap mixture with all the grated soap dissolved into it.

Mix it.

Side note: If you need to strip your laundry to give it a proper refresh - here is how I strip cloth diapers (and I use the same method for other items). It uses very similar ingredients (minus the soap).

Optional adaptation: I like unscented laundry detergent for the life phase were in - we have a toddler and a baby on the way. But you can make this detergent scented. You can infuse the 4 cups of water that you add the grated soap to (leave citrus or strong-smelling leaves in the water for a few hours). Or use a scented tallow soap. Or add essential oils.

Step 5:

Cover the container and leave it overnight.

Side note: To make an amazing stain remover (I've used this for 6+ years) simply grate a few teaspoons of Traditional Tallow Soap and dissolve it in water and put it in a spray bottle.

The next morning - Your laundry detergent is ready!

As you can see mine is quite a gelatinous texture. I like it like that, but if you want yours to be a liquid that you pour - add more water and use more per load.

I use 1/8 cup scoop per load (or less depending on how full the load is).

Caution: With homemade detergents that contain soap you want to ensure the soap fully dissolves and is sufficiently diluted in the load otherwise you'll get a buildup in your machine. We all tend to use too much detergent. A little goes a long way.

It is easy for us all to fall for marketing thinking that something you buy is better than something you make. I've been natural for a long time. I have made MANY DIY things - and it is true - somethings are better left to someone else to make. In some cases, it was just too expensive to make in small batches, in other cases way too much effort to make, and in some rare cases it didn't work well. I've tried and tested (and continue to) what is better to DIY and what is better to buy - this is an amazing DIY, and I highly recommend it!

It is cheap to make (especially compared to buying natural laundry detergent), it is easy to make, and one batch lasts so long!

If you use the max per load - one batch makes 199 loads!

It is also amazingly pure but works! Again - back in the day farmers had wisdom we need to bring back.

If you try this - please let me know your experience in the comments! Check back for my experience with cloth diapering and using this detergent by signing up below. I don't send many emails.

Carmen

Disclaimers:

This article contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I personally use, trust, and believe will add genuine value. Your support helps me continue creating free resources, tutorials, and DIY guides.

General Health & Caution Disclaimer

All information shared in this article is based on my personal experience, research, and testing. It is not medical advice, nor is it a substitute for professional guidance. Always use your own judgment and consult a qualified professional if you have concerns about allergies, sensitivities, or specific health conditions.

When making or using homemade cleaning products, ensure proper dilution, follow safe handling practices, and monitor how your skin, clothing, and washing machine respond. Every home and body is different — adjust as needed.