3 Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipes To Lighten All Your Loads

By making your own DIY laundry detergent (or switching to an eco-friendly laundry detergent from select brands), you can skip the synthetic chemicals found in conventional options and protect both your health and the environment—all while keeping your clothes clean and fresh.

We’ve got three recipes for you to try (and all work well for HE top loaders and front loaders): a powder detergent for simplicity (the quickest to put together), a liquid version for those who want something fairly gentle, and easy-to-make PVA-free laundry pods (or tablets) for added convenience on the go (no measuring required!).

If you’re looking for a simple and effective option, you can’t go wrong with a laundry detergent powder recipe. While it is the most expensive option in the list it’s also the easiest to make. It has a long shelf life and is very concentrated—meaning one batch should last several months, depending on how often you do laundry.

Here’s what you’ll need.

Ingredients:

• 1 bar Castile soap: This acts as the primary cleaning agent, helping to break down oils, dirt, and stains on fabrics. Castile soap is especially gentle, making it suitable for all fabrics and sensitive skin.
• 1 cup Washing Soda: A highly effective stain remover and water softener, washing soda helps tackle tough grease and grime while boosting the effectiveness of the soap. It’s ideal for deep cleaning and breaking down oily stains.
• 1 cup Baking Soda: A natural deodorizer that eliminates odors while enhancing the cleaning power of the other ingredients. It also softens clothes and helps prevent any build-up from hard water, keeping laundry fresh and clean.
• 1/4 cup Borax (optional): An optional yet powerful addition that boosts stain removal, deodorizing, and cleaning power. It helps break down stubborn stains and enhance the detergent’s performance, though the recipe still works well without it.
• 10-15 drops Essential Oils (optional): For a fresh, natural scent, essential oils like lavender, lemon, or tea tree can be added. If using for sensitive skin or for babies, it’s recommended to skip this ingredient and use unscented detergent instead.

Instructions:

1. Grate your entire bar of castile soap. Note that liquid castile soap is not a suitable substitution in this particular recipe, as the soap shavings will stay in a solid state until run through a wash cycle.
2. In a large bowl, combine the grated or liquid soap with washing soda, baking soda, and borax (if using).
3. Transfer the mixture to an airtight container. Keep it in a cool, dry place.

When you’re ready to use it, add 1 tablespoon of the detergent to your washing machine per large load, and ½ tablespoon for small loads.

DIY laundry detergent tablets are an excellent alternative to commercial options that often contain polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). While marketed as “biodegradable,” PVA can break down into microplastics, which persist in the environment and harm ecosystems. By learning how to make laundry detergent pods, you can enjoy all the convenience of pre-measured detergent without contributing to plastic pollution.

These PVA-free pods are simple to prepare using ingredients like washing soda, baking soda, and castile soap, and they dissolve easily in both hot and cold water cycles. They eliminate the need for measuring detergent while being truly zero-waste, as they use no single-use plastics or unnecessary packaging.

Did we mention these are the cheapest DIY detergent on this list?

Ingredients:

• • 1/2 cup washing soda: Acts as a powerful stain remover and water softener, breaking down grease, dirt, and oils to enhance cleaning power. Essential for tackling tough laundry stains.
  • 1/2 cup Baking Soda: Neutralizes odors and boosts the cleaning effectiveness of other ingredients. It’s also gentle on fabrics and helps maintain the pH balance of your laundry.
  • 2 tbsp. Borax (optional): Adds an extra boost for stain removal and deodorizing, especially for heavily soiled clothes. If you prefer to avoid Borax, the recipe still works effectively without it.
  • 1/4 cup Liquid Castile Soap: Provides a natural, biodegradable cleaning base that lifts dirt and oils without relying on synthetic detergents. Gentle yet effective, it’s safe for sensitive skin and eco-friendly.
  • 5-10 drops Essential Oils (optional): As mentioned above, we love a fresh, natural scent, and our favorite essential oils are lavender, lemon, or tea tree. Skip if you have sensitive skin or a baby.
  • Silicone mold or ice cube tray: We recommend mini ice cube molds, as these create an ample-sized pod while a full-sized ice cube is a little larger than needed.
  • 1/4 cup Water: Combines with the other ingredients to create a moldable paste, making it possible to form the mixture into convenient pod shapes.

Instructions:

1. Combine your dry ingredients first. In a large bowl, mix washing soda, baking soda, and Borax (if using).
2. Gradually add the castile soap and water, stirring until the mixture reaches a paste-like consistency. You can gradually add more water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if you find the mixture is still not paste-like. It should not be liquid-like; it should still be somewhat shaggy and powdery, as it will pack together once put in the mold.
3. Press the mixture into a silicone mold or ice cube tray, ensuring there are no air pockets.
4. Leave the molds out to dry for 24-48 hours, or until the pods are hard.
5. Pop the pods out of the mold and store them in an airtight container, using one pod per load when you need.

If you prefer liquid detergents, this recipe is gentle enough on clothes and still effective on stubborn dirt. It’s especially ideal for families with babies and those with sensitive skin. Even though it contains baking soda, which can irritate sensitive skin when applied directly, the baking soda is fully washed out after a full cycle so no residue should remain on clean clothes.

Ingredients:

• • Castile soap (½ bar or ½ cup of liquid): Acts as the primary cleansing agent, breaking down dirt, oils, and grime on clothes. Castile soap is gentle and free of synthetic chemicals, making it safe for sensitive skin and eco-friendly.
  • 1/2 cup Washing Soda: A powerful stain-fighting agent that helps lift dirt and oil from fabrics while softening water. It enhances the overall cleaning power of the soap and is especially effective on tough stains.
  • 1/2 cup Baking Soda: Naturally deodorizes and softens fabrics, ensuring your laundry is both clean and fresh-smelling. It also improves the effectiveness of other cleaning agents by balancing the pH levels in the wash.
  • 5-10 drops Essential Oils (optional)
  • 14 cups of Water: Acts as the liquid base for dissolving and mixing the ingredients.

Instructions:

1. If using a solid bar of castile soap, begin by grating up the bar. If using liquid soap, skip to step 2.
2. In a large pot, heat 8 cups of water until warm to boilding. Add the soap and stir until it’s fully dissolved, then add the washing soda and baking soda.
3. Dilute by pouring the soap mixture into a large container or bucket. Add the remaining 6 cups of water and stir well.
4. Let the mixture cool and thicken over 24 hours, then transfer it to a reusable bottle or container.

Before use, make sure to shake up the DIY liquid laundry detergent solution, then add 1/4 to 1/2 cup per load, depending on the size of the load and how dirty your clothes are.

Making your own laundry detergent will save you a ton of money over the long term. We’ve compared the average costs of our DIY laundry detergent recipes (and their ingredients) against the average price of typical store-bought options. The results highlight just how much you can save per load while also choosing a more eco-friendly and customizable solution for your laundry cleaning needs.

1. DIY Natural Laundry Detergent Powder Recipe (Ingredients and Costs):

• Castile Soap (Bar): $4.50 per bar
• Washing Soda: $4.79 for 55 oz (1 cup = 8 oz) → $4.79 / 55 oz * 8 oz = $0.70 per cup
• Baking Soda: $2.24 for 32 oz (1 cup = 8 oz) → $2.24 / 32 oz * 8 oz = $0.56 per cup
• Borax (Optional): $4.49 for 65 oz (1/4 cup = 2 oz) → $4.49 / 65 oz * 2 oz = $0.14 per 1/4 cup
• Essential Oils (Optional): $10.00 for 300 drops → 10-15 drops = approx. $0.50

Cost per Batch:

• 1 Bar Castile Soap: $4.50
• 1 Cup Washing Soda: $0.70
• 1 Cup Baking Soda: $0.56
• 1/4 Cup Borax (Optional): $0.14
• Essential Oils (Optional): $0.50

Total Cost per Batch (about 50 loads): $4.50 + $0.70 + $0.56 + $0.14 + $0.50 = $6.40 per batch
Cost per Load: $6.40 / 50 loads = $0.13 per load

2. DIY Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe (Ingredients and Costs):

• Castile Soap (Liquid): $16.99 for 32 oz (1/2 cup = 4 oz) → $16.99 / 32 oz * 4 oz = $2.12
• Washing Soda: $4.79 for 55 oz (1/2 cup = 4 oz) → $4.79 / 55 oz * 4 oz = $0.35
• Baking Soda: $2.24 for 32 oz (1/2 cup = 4 oz) → $2.24 / 32 oz * 4 oz = $0.28
• Water: Negligible cost (~$0.01 per gallon)
• Essential Oils (Optional): $0.50

Cost per Batch:

• 1/2 Cup Castile Soap (Liquid): $2.12
• 1/2 Cup Washing Soda: $0.35
• 1/2 Cup Baking Soda: $0.28
• Water (5 cups): $0.01
• Essential Oils (Optional): $0.50

Total Cost per Batch (about 30 loads): $2.12 + $0.35 + $0.28 + $0.01 + $0.50 = $3.26 per batch
Cost per Load: $3.26 / 30 loads = $0.11 per load

3. DIY Laundry Detergent Pods Recipe (Ingredients and Costs):

• Castile Soap (Liquid): $16.99 for 32 oz (1/4 cup = 2 oz) → $16.99 / 32 oz * 2 oz = $1.06
• Washing Soda: $4.79 for 55 oz (1/2 cup = 4 oz) → $4.79 / 55 oz * 4 oz = $0.35
• Baking Soda: $2.24 for 32 oz (1/2 cup = 4 oz) → $2.24 / 32 oz * 4 oz = $0.28
• Borax (Optional): $0.14 (as calculated above)
• Water: Negligible cost (~$0.01 per gallon)
• Essential Oils (Optional): $0.50

Cost per Batch:

• 1/4 Cup Castile Soap (Liquid): $1.06
• 1/2 Cup Washing Soda: $0.35
• 1/2 Cup Baking Soda: $0.28
• Borax (Optional): $0.14
• Water (1/4 cup): Negligible
• Essential Oils (Optional): $0.50

Total Cost per Batch (about 24 pods): $1.06 + $0.35 + $0.28 + $0.14 + $0.50 = $2.33 per batch
Cost per Load: $2.33 / 24 pods = $0.10 per load

4. Store-Bought Laundry Detergents

• Conventional Detergent: $10.00 for 48 loads → $0.21 per load
• Eco-Friendly Detergent: $15.00 for 50 loads → $0.30 per load

Average Cost per Load for Store-Bought Detergents: ($0.21 + $0.30) / 2 = $0.26 per load

As you can see, conventional laundry detergents are at least twice as expensive as these homemade options. The average annual cost of conventional detergent for 300 loads is approximately $78, while our DIY powder detergent is just $38.40 per year, saving nearly 50%.

Liquid detergent and laundry pods are even more cost-effective, (at $20.56 and $20.32 per annum), which is savings of over 70% compared to store-bought brands!

Conventional laundry detergents are packed with harsh chemicals that can irritate skin, harm respiratory health, or even disrupt hormones. By going DIY, you eliminate exposure to these common culprits:

• Phosphates: While they help remove stains, phosphates can irritate skin and respiratory systems.
• Fragrances: Artificial fragrances often contain phthalates, which are linked to hormone disruption.
• Optical Brighteners: These chemicals don’t clean your clothes but coat them to make them appear brighter. They can irritate skin and are not biodegradable.
• Chlorine Bleach: Common in stain removers, bleach can release harmful fumes and irritate skin.
• SLS/SLES: Short for Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate, these are foaming agents that can cause skin irritation and are potentially contaminated with carcinogens.

The phosphates in conventional detergents are also a major environmental concern. When released into waterways, they cause eutrophication, a process where nutrient overload leads to rapid algae growth. This can:

• Block sunlight from reaching aquatic plants.
• Deplete oxygen levels as algae decompose, creating “dead zones” where aquatic life cannot survive.
• Disrupt ecosystems and harm fish populations, ultimately affecting water quality for humans too.

This is all to say that if you switch to one of these homemade laundry detergent recipes (or a non-toxic laundry detergent from a vetted brand), you reduce harmful chemical runoff and contribute to healthier ecosystems.