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Home » Natural Homemade Laundry Detergent

Natural Homemade Laundry Detergent

Published January 5, 2014 441 comments >>

This easy tutorial for natural homemade laundry detergent makes 320 loads of non-toxic laundry detergent for $20.75 ($0.06 per load) and rates an A on the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Healthy Cleaning scale. It’s a win-win for natural cleaning and frugal living.

Natural Homemade Laundry Detergent Question and Answer - Natural Homemade Laundry Detergent recipe is a popular posts that raises many questions, comments, and emails. Get answers to your questions about making non-toxic all natural laundry detergent and then try this green DIY recipe.This post uses affiliate links, they don’t cost you a thing but help us bring you natural cleaning tutorials. Read more in policies and disclosures. 

Seeking  Healthier Laundry Detergent

Are you a Pinterest lover? If you do much poking around on the site you’ll soon discover that DIY laundry detergents are all the rage. (Yep, I’m at the point in my life where laundry detergent can be a rage…. but I digress.)

Homemade laundry detergent is often suggested as a way to save money, but I wanted to make my own laundry detergent for another reason -> to produce an effective all-natural detergent that eliminated dangerous chemicals and additives.

My goal was  to create a detergent recipe that scored well on the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Healthy Cleaning scale and was still cost-effective.

Not-So-Natural Laundry Detergent

For years I used Arm & Hammer Free Liquid Detergent and thought I was making a good choice for my family’s health. It did a great job, was fragrance-free, and it was cost-effective ($.10 a load).  I felt good about using it in our home UNTIL…

… I discovered the EWG Guide to Healthy Cleaning. It’s a database that analyzes household cleaners and give them a grade (A-F) based on ingredients.

Did you know that cleaning product manufacturers can use almost any ingredient and the US government doesn’t review the safety of products before they’re sold? SCARY!

I began looking up all the cleaning/household products we used and learned that my trusty detergent had scored a D for problems such as cancer and respiratory effects. BIG FAT FAIL! I no longer felt good about using it for my family!

All Natural Homemade Laundry Detergent

Store-bought laundry detergents that score an A on the EWG scale are a bit pricey. They range from $14.00 for 42 loads ($0.33 a load) to $15.00 for 70 loads ($0.21 a load). Triple my original laundry detergent cost!

It was time to develop my own all-natural homemade laundry detergent!

Natural Homemade Laundry Detergent Question and Answer - Natural Homemade Laundry Detergent recipe is a popular posts that raises many questions, comments, and emails. Get answers to your questions about making non-toxic all natural laundry detergent and then try this green DIY recipe.

Making Natural Homemade Detergent

I started with a basic cost saving detergent recipe from Happy Money Saver and replaced the ingredients that scored high in toxicity. The original laundry detergent recipe made 18 lbs (288 oz.) for $20.27 or 504 loads at $0.04 per load.

Original Recipe Laundry Detergent Recipe Cost per batch EWG Rating
Super Washing Soda $3.24 A
Borax $3.38 F
Baking Soda $2.12 A
Fels-Naptha $2.91 C
 OxiClean $3.86 F
Purex Crystals $4.76 C
Total Cost $20.27
Cost Per Load $0.04

The Natural Replacements

My natural homemade laundry detergent uses natural Castile soap instead of Fels-Naptha and eliminates Borax.

Borax use is somewhat controversial in green circles;  it is a naturally occurring mineral, but it is also toxic. Read more about the controversy at Crunchy Betty or MNN.

The new all-natural recipe makes 11.43 lbs (183 oz.) for $20.75 or 320 loads at $0.06 per load!

You can also add Epsom salt to the mix for a built-in laundry softener (the original recipe uses Purex Crystals). The Epsom salt version makes 13.19 lbs. (211 oz.) for $20.75 or 368 loads at $0.07 per load.

(Please note: I do not use the Epsom salt, instead I use Natural Homemade Fabric Softener in the dryer.

My Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent Recipe Cost per batch EWG Rating
1 box Super Washing Soda, 3 lb. 7 oz (I use this kind.) $3.24 A
Eliminated Borax – –
1 box Baking Soda, 4 lb. (I use this kind.) $2.36 A
4 bars Kirk’s Original Coco Castile Soap, Fragrance Free, 4 oz. ea. $5.16 A (or 0)
1 container OxiClean Baby or OxiClean Free, 3 lbs $9.99 A
Eliminated Purex Crystals (or use Epsom Salt, 28 oz >> I do not use) $5.25 A
Total Cost $20.75
Cost Per Load (1 Tbsp) $0.06

The Results

I have been using this detergent for nearly 4 years and there is no looking back!

  • The natural laundry detergent is significantly less expensive than the store-bought nontoxic detergents AND cheaper than my former poorly rated commercial detergent.
  • The recipe rates an “A” on the EWG scale so I feel good using it in our home.
  • This homemade natural laundry detergent cleans great! I can honestly tell no difference between my recipe and store-bought laundry detergent.

Another big plus, this laundry detergent is naturally low foaming.. This means it can be used in both standard and HE machines.

Natural Homemade Laundry Detergent Question and Answer - Natural Homemade Laundry Detergent recipe is a popular posts that raises many questions, comments, and emails. Get answers to your questions about making non-toxic all natural laundry detergent and then try this green DIY recipe.

Bonus tip: Fill the washer’s fabric softener dispenser with white vinegar for safe and effective laundry softening. If the washing machine does not have a fabric softener dispenser (or you do not want to fill it with vinegar) use a Downy Ball filled with white vinegar. It automatically releases the vinegar during the rinse cycle. (You can also make Natural Homemade Fabric Softener.)

Laundry Detergent Questions

This homemade laundry detergent recipe is so popular that I’ve written about it in two more posts:

  1. Does Homemade Laundry Detergent Really Work? Learn more about the ingredients and how they work.

Have you seen recipes for making homemade laundry detergents but wondered if they would work effectively, if they would ruin your washing machine, or if they were all a big waste of time? I have been making and using my own laundry detergent for more than 3 years and want to share my experiences with you.

  1. All-Natural  Homemade Laundry Detergent Question and Answer – Get the answers to tons of common questions.

Natural Homemade Laundry Detergent Question and Answer - Natural Homemade Laundry Detergent recipe is a popular posts that raises many questions, comments, and emails. Get answers to your questions about making non-toxic all natural laundry detergent and then try this green DIY recipe.

How to Make Natural Laundry Detergent

Ingredients

  • 4 – 4 oz bars Kirk’s Original Coco Castile Soap Fragrance Free (16 ounces total)
  • 4 lbs Baking Soda
  • 3. 7 lbs Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (1 box)
  • 3 lbs OxiClean Baby (1 container)
  • 28 oz Epsom Salt (optional, I do not use)

Instructions

  1. Grate Castile soap into very small bits. (I use my food processor to grate the soap with a grater attachment.)
  2. To turn the grated soap into smaller bits I pulse it with the food processor blade. I found that processing one bar at a time and adding 1/4-1/2 cup baking soda to soap during the pulsing stage helped the soap separate into smaller bits. *
  3. Mix all ingredients in a large container and stir. (Do not breathe in the dust.)
  4. How to use the laundry detergent: Measure 1 or 2 Tablespoons onto the laundry per load. (There are no fillers in this detergent so it takes less than commercial laundry detergent.) It can be used in regular and HE machines.

Recipe Notes
*Warning: Use your food processor at your own risk! I was willing to try because Castile soap is very pure and non-scented. The soap has not injure my food processor at all. It washes out easily and does not leave a scent. (A friend who grated Fels-Naptha in her food processor said it left a strong scent.)

*If you want to make any substitutions to the recipe look them up in the EWG guides to make sure they rate well.

More Natural Laundry Solutions

If you’re concerned about chemicals in your home check out some of my other green laundry tutorials:

  • DIY Laundry Detergent Liquid (Two borax-free liquid detergent recipes that make small batches of laundry detergent with no grating)

These two easy recipes for laundry detergent liquid makes 14 loads of non-toxic laundry detergent for about $3.oo and rates an A on the Environmental Working Group (EWG) Healthy Cleaning scale. Learn the simple way to make liquid detergent in small batches.

  • Natural Homemade Fabric Softener (it can be used in the washer or dryer)

Natural homemade fabric softener leaves your clothes soft and static free without leaving a chemical film and artificial fragrance on your laundry. It’s easy and affordable to replace your current fabric softener with a more natural alternative from BrenDid.com

  • All-Natural Stain Sauce for Laundry (It’s a great stain pre-treater)

This All-Natural Homemade Stain Remover for Laundry is a simple DIY that makes an effective stain fighter that you can feel good about using. It rates and A on the EWG healthy cleaners scale and only cost pennies to make!

  • All-Purpose Cleanser (it’s great for all-purpose household cleaning and laundry stains)

This Natural All-Purpose Cleanser is a workhorse! It is a bathtub and sink cleaner, a toilet cleaner, a glass top stove cleaner, an oven cleaner, a cutting board cleaner, a dishwasher detergent, a pot & pan cleaner, a laundry stain treater, a carpet stain remover, a tile and grout scrub and more! Plus it is an all-natural, green cleaner that is so gentle you can use it to exfoliate! Get the easy, 2-ingredient recipe on BrenDid.com!

  • How to Natural Clean Smelly Towels (Learn how to get towels clean and fresh, naturally)

Ever encountered the musty, moldy odor of a smelly towel? The less-than-fresh scent is caused by bacteria. Gross but true! Learn how to naturally eliminate laundry room bacteria and keep towels fresh with this green cleaning tutorial.

  • Fresh Lemon Dishwasher Detergent (cause dishes get dirty too!)

Fresh Lemon Homemade Dishwasher Detergent uses real lemons, salt and vinegar to make liquid dishwasher detergent. Learn more about this DIY recipe and its effectiveness.

Questions? I get hundreds of questions about making All Natural Homemade Laundry Detergent! Read this detailed Question and Answer section for TONS of additional information. Check it out or read the comments below for quick answers to your most pressing questions!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tibor

    May 9, 2020 at 6:05 pm

    Hi Bren,
    I’m impressed that you’re still answering questions on this recipe! Thank you!
    Also, thank you for the recipe! We’ve been using it 3-4 years now. The two things that I’ve replaced were soap (just used a generic soap bar – half a year ago I switched to Dove Sensitive soap bar as it is what they recommended safe for baby skin at the hospital – looking up the ingredients it’s probably a good thing that it’s not in the EWG database) and another brand of Epsom salt. The other three ingredients were even the same brands what you’ve recommended. However, I couldn’t get my hands on the A&H Super Washing soda for quite a while now, so for the most recent batch I’ve ordered Simply Clean washing soda – which also claims to be 100% sodium carbonate. I’ve made a batch (half your suggested size) and started using it – and unlike any other time, the washing powder became a brittle cake. Even when I put it in warm water to dissolve it I have to manually break up the lumps. Any idea what could be going wrong? Could this be due to the changes related to Oxiclean? My first guess was the washing soda – but on it’s own it’s dissolve fine – and, if it is 100% sodium bicarbonate it should exactly match what we get in an A&H Super Washing Soda package… All the other ingredients, as per above I have used previously with no issues/residues. Now I’m a little worried about breaking our washing machine. I’d greatly appreciate any insight you may have what could have caused the trouble and if you have any ideas how to salvage the washing powder (tried to look back on comments both here and on the FAQ page but didn’t quite found a similar case.)
    Also, somebody (I believe on the FAQ page) was asking about cloth diapers – for us, the previous batches worked perfectly, they removed stains & smell as well.
    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Bren

      May 13, 2020 at 2:34 pm

      Tibor, that a mystery! It’s had to know what the cause it exactly. It could be ingredients or moisture. If I have clumps I regrate the detergent with my food processor or hand grater then store in an airtight container with a little mesh bag of dried rice or a few packets of silica gel (unopened) from a shoebox. If you live in a particularly humid location I recommend the silica gel packets. Hope this helps! -Bren

      Reply
  2. Amanda

    May 9, 2020 at 5:29 am

    My son has SUPER sensitive skin, so I’m trying to make things myself to be safer. Can I use this on whites and colors, I saw it had bleach so I just wanted to be sure before I ruin clothes😬 thank you!!

    Reply
    • Bren

      May 13, 2020 at 2:24 pm

      Amanda, the “bleach” in this recipe is oxygen bleach which is safe on colors and whites. Be sure to separate loads!

      Reply
  3. Tessa

    April 28, 2020 at 4:00 pm

    So today I made the “sample” batch and I can’t wait to try it. I also tried out the microwave method I keep seeing online in place of grating. Well either I did it too long or it doesn’t work with Kirk’s brand. It came out brown and possibly burnt?? Eek. Do you think it will affect the end result? I started to throw it out and then hated to waste it so I made the mix with it anyways. I guess we’ll see!

    Reply
  4. Kate

    April 7, 2020 at 4:19 pm

    This looks amazing thank you for sharing! As I step towards being greener (not totally there yet) I still have a number of non-cotton fabrics in my wardrobe. I’m wondering which fabrics (wool, cotton, acrylic, nylon, etc.) this can be used on?

    Thank you again! Can’t wait to make it.

    Reply
    • Bren

      April 14, 2020 at 1:28 pm

      Kate, I use it on all my machine washables. However, if you are concerned about a particular item/fabric I would spot test to be sure.

      Reply
  5. Hubert

    April 4, 2020 at 5:19 am

    Hi Bren, love your recipes, I do the liquid detergent with Sal’s Suds (as I don’t have the appliances to make this cheaper powder detergent) and I love it ! I was wondering though, what are your favorite commercial powders/the A-graded powder you mention here at 21c/load? I would like to compare the prices with what the homemade liquid one costs (I’m in Canada, I feel like the prices of your ingredients and mine sometimes vary wildly) or just have a backup in case I didn’t have time to make homemade in advance and have urgent laundry to do. Thank you !

    Reply
    • Bren

      April 14, 2020 at 1:42 pm

      Hubert, my favorites right now are biokleen liquid, ecover zero liquid and grab green pods.

      Reply
  6. Peiting

    March 23, 2020 at 12:25 am

    Dear Bren,

    Is it ok to leave out the oxygen bleach powders but add in hydrogen peroxide instead for brightening and disinfectanting the clothes during wash? Thank you.

    Reply
    • Bren

      March 24, 2020 at 11:18 am

      I’ve never made the detergent this way. Let me know if you try!

      Reply
  7. Kasey

    March 16, 2020 at 2:55 pm

    Baby Oxiclean is no longer rated A on EWG. I’m not sure why. I just wanted to let you know case you wanted to make an update. I really loved this laundry detergent, btw!!

    Reply
    • Bren

      March 17, 2020 at 11:20 am

      Thanks Kasey! Time to start looking for alternated oxygen bleach powders!

      Reply
      • Rachel

        January 18, 2021 at 3:16 pm

        Have you found an alternarive to the Oxiclean baby? I’m curious if you have replaced or eliminated this product, or if you are still utilizing it. I’m excited to try this recipe as my first step to cleaner alternative s!

        Reply
        • Bren

          January 27, 2021 at 8:59 am

          Rachel, I have been using Molly’s Suds Oxygen Brightener in my laundry but I have not yet used it in a batch of detergent. Let me know if you try it!

          Reply
  8. Ann

    March 3, 2020 at 10:19 pm

    Hi,

    Is it possible to use Dr. Bronner’s Castile soap (or liquid castile soap) instead of grating the solid version?

    Thanks for sharing!

    Best,

    Reply
    • Bren

      March 17, 2020 at 11:13 am

      Ann, you cannot use liquid castile soap in this recipe. You can use it in my liquid detergent recipe.

      Reply
  9. Lynda

    January 21, 2020 at 3:04 pm

    Hi, I really appreciate your recipe, but in making my own detergent rather than buying a more expensive brand of natural detergent, I find there is a lot of plastic packaging involved in your ingredients.
    It may not be possible, but I would like to see you tackle the task of making natural detergent without involving a lot of plastic waste. What do you think?

    Reply
    • Bren

      January 27, 2020 at 11:31 am

      Lynda, I’m always trying to eliminate more plastics! I’ll let you know if I find new tips for this mix. My favorite tip right now: try buying your ingredients at a natural store where you can buy in bulk and refill your own containers.

      Reply
  10. Julie

    January 15, 2020 at 7:43 am

    Hi, I’m so excited to have found this recipe and can’t wait to try it. My question is this: I don’t have a scale to weigh the ingredients. Is it okay to approximate the amounts? Perhaps it’s just wishful thinking, but I think i could reasonably eyeball it based on the total weight in the package…? Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Bren

      January 17, 2020 at 2:49 pm

      Julie, I’m definately guilty of “Eyeballing” the recipe at times I don’t want to wash measuring cups! It has worked fine for me!

      Reply
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