How many loads of laundry do you do in a week? How much money do you spend doing laundry? No need to stress anymore. Here is the homemade remedy that will save you a ton of money and this will last you about 6-12 months for an average family!!
What you need:
- 1 (4 lb 12 oz) Box of Borax- Found in the detergent aisle
- 1 (3 lb 7 oz) Box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda- Found in the detergent aisle
- 1 (3 lb) Container of OxyClean- Found in the detergent aisle. (This is optional but I highly recommend adding it as it does get the clothes much cleaner!)
- 2 (14.1 oz) Bars of Zote Soap, Ivory Soap, or Fels Naptha soap* – Found in the detergent aisle (The pink Zote has a scent, the white does not)
- 2 (2 lb) or 1 – 4 lb box (if they carry it) Boxes of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda- Found in the cooking aisle
- 1-2 (55 oz) Bottle of Purex Crystals Fabric Softener- Found in the detergent aisle (This is 100% optional, but it will make your clothes smell SIMPLY AMAZING)
The most time consuming part is grating the soap (you will do this by using a cheese grater). You can also use a food processor, but I prefer the cheese grater. The soap does dissolves just fine, even in cold water. (People often worry about this) I highly recommend using a large mixing bowl to grate into and also recommend using the fine side of the grater.
All that’s left is to mix everything together. I used a 5-gallon bucket (you can get at Home Depot, Lowes, etc or even an old 5-gallon paint bucket) It is easier to do it in small portions – take a small amount of each ingredient and layered it on top of each other, then use a large mixing spoon and mix it together. This is easier than trying to mix it all at once.
This will probably last an average family about 6-12 months, yes, really that long! You only need 1-2 tablespoons per load depending on the size.
I always get asked where to store stuff or is there a way to get a smaller bottle than use the 5-gallon bucket. I am so glad you asked, because guess what? If you used the Purex Crystals then you have an empty bottle that you can now fill up with your “homemade laundry detergent”. And it gets even better, use the cap as your measuring spoon. There are 3 lines on the side and the middle one is approximately 2 tablespoons – now is that AWESOME or what?!
**FINISHED PRODUCT**
I would absolutely love to hear your opinion after you try it. This will save you so much money and you won’t even have to worry about finding coupons and waiting for laundry detergent to go on sale anymore! Whatcha think? Try it, you truly may like it!!
If you want the liquid recipe, visit Michelle Duggar’s recipe here! I would love to have a review on both if you all want to share!
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My name is Joni Meyer-Crothers and I run this couponing/money-saving blog along with my husband, Jamie. We love to show others how to save money in a BIG way! We do all the work for you. . we do the matchups and show you where to get the coupons, many FREE printable coupons. Sit back and follow the blog and watch your savings increase! Couponing is a ministry for our family as we we love to show others how to save and share from their couponing harvest!
I just got a new washer last December, and it requires “HE” detergent. . .will this homemade soap work in it?
Thanks!
Thanks, I already use this detergent but I didn’t know about mixing in the Crystals… I like the white zote bc once clothes are washed it does have a good smell and it doesn’t irritate my husband’s skin but the Naptha works better since it removes stains too . @Kathy, it is safe for HE I know ppl that uses it.
I love my homemade laundry detergent!! Made a batch (about half of what you have instructions for) in February and we are still going strong!! Will be making a new batch soon. Much cheaper than the detergent I used to buy even WITH coupons!
I pretty much use this “recipe” for mine too. I do not use Oxyclean so that takes a chunk of money out the price as well. I also prefer Zote soap to the Fels Nepal. It costs the same, I just think it works and smells better. I love this stoic. My family always comments on how good it smells. I still stock up on store laundry soap when I find a really good sale but my homemade stuff is what I prefer to use.
I use the Michelle Duggar Recipe. I absolutely love it! I have laundry detergent for a whole year and didn’t pay that much for it at all. I didn’t add the oxyclean to mine. I use it depending on the load. Like if I m washing my 3 yr olds clothes that gets oxyclean. LOL @ Kathy I have a HE washer and I made the liquid kind that Michelle Duggar uses.
I’ve made home soap for several years now. I have only used the borax, arm & hammer washing soda and the fels naptha together in a 5 gallon bucket in the garage and use an old soap bottle to keep at the washer. They work well for me. I finally used the last of the first box of borax I purchased to make the soap 4 years ago. It has definitely paid off!!
Have been making the laundry detergent for about five years without the oxyclean. We have no complaints. We have not had any allergic reactions to the laundry detergent like we do with the commercial products. Will try it out with the oxyxclean next batch. The only place we seem to be able to find the washing soda is at a True Value Store. We grate the fels naphta on the course side of the grater, it’s easier than the fine side. Then we use a blender to make a fine powder. We use a zipper bag inside a plastic container with a coffee scoop. We’re always asked if the laundry detergent is safe on HE machines. We’ve been giving away sandwich size bags with scoops for family & friends to try out.
How much per load does this work out to be? I usually buy the 50 ounce detergent for $1.99. It says it is 28 loads but I find it stretches further so I get about 35 loads per bottle. That works out to be about 51/2cents per load. Is the homemade detergent cheaper? thanks..
It will lasts for at least 6 months (we have a family of 7 at home) and it lasted for a year for us so much less than $0.01/load. . . Hope that helps!!!
I too have used this recipe … a box of Borox, a box of Arm and Hammer washing soda and the Fels Naptha soaps. I did not put in the baking soda or the oxyclean. I ffound it did not clean well with the amount they told us to use 1 to 2 T. I decided to use the Borox, the box of Arm and Hammer Washing soda and the Fels Naptha soap but also mix with it a couple of small boxes of powdered Gain or TIde (using coupons I can get these quite cheap) and then use 1/4 to 1/2 cup for a load of laundry. This seems to clean much better and it still seems to go further than just buying the name brand detergents. I put it all in a large plastic bin and mix it together with my hands and keep it in my laundry rooms.