It’s Easy to Make Your Own Natural Laundry Detergent

Here are two options for safe, affordable, and easy natural laundry detergent recipes that are easy to make at home and save you a lot of money! They are also hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, preservative, dye-free, eco-friendly, and biodegradable! They use ingredients like Castile Soap, Sal Suds, Super Washing Soda, and Baking Soda.

Easy Natural Laundry Detergent Recipe- Easy, Eco-friendly and NonToxic!

Over the years, I've tried many different laundry detergents to have something that's affordable, safe, natural, and effective. I've had store-bought natural ones and made several of my own recipes, which I've shared here on the blog! I've finally come around to find one that I LOVE that's homemade. I'll share the one I used to use here on the blog if you'd like another option.

Top 10 Natural Cleaning and Laundry Recipes

This recipe is part of a 10-part series of natural cleaning and laundry recipes. You can find a list of all of the recipes here. This natural fabric stain remover recipe is also found in my book, Detox Your Home, which you can find on Amazon. It includes more than 80+ recipes, research and lists for natural products you can purchase all to help you go natural in your home!

Why Make Your Own Easy Natural Laundry Detergent Recipe?

It Saves Money

When you buy a cleaning product, especially laundry detergent, you're mostly paying for WATER. $18 for a gallon of mostly water if you buy Tide. Here's a way to save those dollars and make it yourself at home in just five minutes!

You'll Know That It's Truly Nontoxic

Also, you can know for sure what ingredients are in your detergent when you make it at home. Many companies make products that they claim are natural and non-toxic but actually aren't when you go look up the product on the EWG.org. This is called “greenwashing,” and it's very common in cleaning and laundry products. Why? Because there are very few regulations in the United States on those products so companies can make all kinds of claims without backing them up. You really have to do your research to know if something is actually safe!

Toxins Found in Most Laundry Detergents

Sulfates

Specifically – Sodium Lauryl Sulfate & Sodium Laureth Sulfate/ Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate (SLS/ SLES). Sulfates are harsh detergents that are also toxic to aquatic life. The water that is drained from our homes is eventually cleaned in sewage processing facilities, but on its way to the facilities, it comes in contact with our environment and can harm wildlife and pollute our water.

Phosphates

Phosphates help balance the detergents' pH and chelate minerals found in hard water like lime and magnesium. They make laundry detergents more effective, BUT they are very harmful to humans and wildlife. Exposure to phosphates in humans is linked to cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and even death!

In the 1970’s, the US government recognized the problem with phosphorous pollution. It was found that residues from fertilizers and cleaners were causing excessive growth of algae in fresh water lakes and streams. This nutritional enrichment is referred to as eutrophication. Phosphates have the ability to enter back into the environment unchanged through sewage from both detergents and human waste and could cause oxygen depletion in waterways. When growth of aquatic plants is over stimulated they seasonally die and rot, using up the oxygen dissolved in the water. Fish die of oxygen deficiency and are for a time replaced by scavengers. (source)

Formaldehyde

The same preservative used to preserve dead bodies is found in SO many cleaning, laundry, bath, body and beauty products. It's everywhere because it's cheap to make and effective. However, it is quite toxic for us. Exposures to it even in small amounts can lead to cancer, yes, cancer, and that's according to the CDC. The EPA has labeled it a Class B1 probable carcinogen and can cause acute toxicity when exposed to the skin.

Other Toxins

  • 1, 4 Dioxane/Dioxane – carcinogen, causes skin, eye and lung inflammation
  • Optical Brighteners/ UV Brighteners – eye, skin and lung irritant and extremely toxic to aquatic life
  • Ammonium Quaternary Sanitizers (Quats/ Synthesized Cationic Surfactants) – eye, skin and lung irritation and prolonged exposure can even cause death
  • Artificial Fragrances – contain phthalates and formaldehyde and cause endocrine disruption and irritate the respiratory system
  • Dyes – endocrine disruption, skin irritant
  • Dichlorobenzene (P-Dichlorobenzene/ Benzene) – carcinogen and fatal for aquatic life

Watch My Tutorial on YouTube!

My Favorite Easy Recipe with Sal Suds

I have been so happy with this recipe and have been using it for nine months. I have found that it cleans better than my original recipe (which is included below this recipe) and even cleans better than store-bought natural and non-natural detergents!

I have a front-loading washer, and I used to have to clean it every few weeks or it would get so gross and mildewy – even though I leave the door open every time. (Don't get me started on how much I can't stand front loaders!) Since I've been using this detergent, I have had NO MILDEW problems at all! It's like it keeps my washer clean, too!

A Note About Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds

In the natural world, we have vilified Sodium Laureth Sulfate. We say it's a carcinogen and highly toxic to aquatic life. In most cases, this is true. But did you know that not all SLS is created equal? It depends on how it's processed.

Check out Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds rating on the EWG.org – it gets a perfect score! Totally nontoxic and safe.

According to this article,

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) is a surfactant that cuts grease and dirt, generates copious suds, and biodegrades quickly and completely. SLS is made by combining a sulfate group with lauryl alcohol from coconut oil, then attaching sodium. If improperly formulated, SLS can irritate skin, but our superb formula uses coco-betaine and lauryl glucoside to counter this.

Also, note that SLS is not a body care product. I would not use it in my homemade body washes or hand soaps unless you're actually washing car grease or motor oil off of your hands! And definitely don't use it in your hair – most shampoos in the stores contain SLS, and they really dry out and then damage the hair.

It is meant to clean objects – like clothes, the kitchen, bathrooms, cars, etc.

Cost Comparison Between the Two Recipes

Now, this recipe is a lot more expensive than the second recipe, which is why I'm providing both of them for you. But it cleans better, so you can decide what's best for you! This recipe is about $8.20 for 2 liters, and you get 34 loads per 2 liters. So that's $0.24 cents a load, which is equal to the Tide Ultra Concentrated detergent.

Compared to my second recipe, you get 96 loads from two gallons, which is $0.04 an ounce!

Cost Difference Per Load:

  • Sal Suds recipe – $0.24 an ounce
  • Castile Soap recipe – $0.04 an ounce
Easy Natural Laundry Detergent Recipe with Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds - Totally Safe, Nontoxic and Easy
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Easy Natural Laundry Detergent Recipe – Sal Suds

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A DIY natural laundry detergent recipe using Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds, water and kosher salt.

  • Author: Sara McFall
  • Yield: 67 oz. or 2 liters 1x

Ingredients

Scale

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl or your pitcher, add the warm water and salt. Stir until the salt is well dissolved.
  2. Add the Sal Suds and stir until it thickens.
  3. For HE washers, use 1/4 cup. For non-HE washers, use 1/2 cup.

Original Recipe with Castile Soap

This is the original recipe that I shared on my blog back in 2012. It is still one of my most popular posts and many readers have written to me to say they love it! It's cheaper to make than the second recipe that uses Dr. Bronner's Sal Suds, but I have found it doesn't clean as well as the second recipe and it takes a little more effort to make. But I wanted to share it with you so that you can decide for yourself which one you like better!

Homemade Laundry Detergent with Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap

Back in 2012, I came across this recipe from the Backwoods Home magazine website, and used it for many years with success! It even worked well when we lived in Pennsylvania, where there is very hard water.

According to their article, this homemade recipe costs a tenth of the cost of store-bought laundry detergent. I'm too skeptical to believe things like that without checking it out for myself, so I set out to see if they are correct!

Homemade Laundry Detergent Ingredients and Supplies

How Cheap is this Easy Natural Laundry Detergent?

Let's break it down (prices do fluctuate on Amazon, so this is an approximate cost).

  • Super Washing Soda (where to buy) (55 oz.) = $4.12 (on Amazon, cheaper in local grocery stores) $0.07 an oz.
  • Baking Soda (where to buy) = (80 oz.) $3.08 (on Amazon) $0.04 an oz.
  • 1 gallon of Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap (128 oz.) = $57.59 (on Amazon) $0.44 an oz.

To make two gallons of the detergent you use:

  • Super Washing Soda (you need 4 oz.) = $.28 a batch
  • Baking Soda (you need 4 oz.) = $0.16 a batch
  • Dr. Bronner's Castile Soap (you need 6 oz.) = $2.64 a batch

Add it all up, that's a mere $3.08 for two gallons, or 96 loads if you use the suggested 1/3 cup a load. That's $0.03 for one load.

In 2012 when I first wrote this post, it cost $2.88, so prices have not risen much!

WOW!

Compare that to Tide 2x Ultra Concentrated: 1 container of 200 oz. (or 146 loads) of Tide costs = $34.99. That's $0.23 a load – 7.5 times more expensive than my homemade recipe!

And Tide is not green or safe for the environment or people. It's loaded with toxic fragrances that contribute to asthma, allergies and skin conditions like eczema, psoriases and other rashes. Not only can you help the environment and wash clothes that are safe for your little ones (i.e., hypoallergenic and gentle), you save $0.16 a load, or $15.36!

You save even more if you compare it to a green (eco-friendly) laundry detergent like Seventh Generation.

The Secret? Mix with a Hand Mixer or Immersion Blender!

I have experimented with how to keep clumps from forming for years with this recipe and I finally figured it! I used to boil it down on the stove, make the powders dissolve with hot water (doesn't work at all!), and stir like crazy. I finally got smart and decided to try my immersion blender. Perfect!

Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe - with Castile Soap

Dr. Bronner's Castile soap is the BEST – it is organic, pure, contains no SLS (sodium laureth sulfate) or any other sulfates so it does not dry out the skin and is gentle on both skin and clothes. I love the company – they are uber crunchy and fight for things like the environment and animal rights!

Homemade Natural Laundry Detergent using Castile Soap
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Easy Natural Laundry Detergent with Castile Soap

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  • Author: Sara – My Merry Messy Life
  • Prep Time: 5 mins.
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: 2 gallons 1x
  • Category: Laundry Detergent

Ingredients

Scale

Instructions

  1. Take your two gallon bucket and pour lukewarm to cold water in the bottom of it, about an inch high of water
  2. Add the dry powders (baking soda, super washing soda)
  3. Add more water if necessary to cover the powders then take your hand mixer or immersion blender and blend the powders for a few minutes, or until it is fully blended and there are no clumps.
  4. Fill your two-gallon bucket up almost all the way with tap water (the temperature doesn't matter).
  5. Add the castile soap (this helps it not to bubble up), and stir with a long-handled spoon.
  6. Using the funnel, pour into your containers.
  7. Use 1/3 cup per load for HE washers, or 1/2 cup for non HE washers.

Notes

Other Supplies Needed:

  • 2 one-gallon containers in which to store the detergent (I recycled an old laundry detergent container and a vinegar jug)
  • A measuring cup or two
  • A two-gallon bucket or larger (I used my old mop bucket)
  • Funnel to pour the detergent from the bucket into the containers (not necessary but certainly helpful!)
  • 1 hand blender or immersion blender

Would You Rather Buy than Make?

Here is a list of safe laundry detergents to purchase on Amazon. Just click on the link to purchase on Amazon.

28 Comments

  1. Hi Sara, happened to stumble on your website on Google looking for a solution on doing my laundry the natural way. Does the laundry mixture also help with removing chalk built up in the washing machine as I lived in an area with hard water. Thank u, and stay safe.

        1. Yes, but in this case, that’s okay! I explain in the post how the reason Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is toxic is because of how it’s processed. Most companies do it in a way that produces a toxic byproduct. Dr. Bronner’s does not – they have an in-depth article on it. Seventh Generation also processes it in a healthy way, as they have SLS in their cleaning products but they do not have toxic safety ratings.

  2. Hi Susan,
    I made a laundry recipe with Bronner Castile soap ,washing soda , baking soda and Celtic salt. It has clumped soooo much . i did bing water to a boil and then added soda’s to the mix. Wondering how can I go back and fix a very clumpy settling of the product. Seems like water absorbed almost completely. I shook it too, (probably not smart). I dried a separate container of my vita mix blender but I blew a fuse and did not successfully mix the soap. Gratitude Kelly

    1. Hi Kelly! So the salt in that recipe would soak up all of the water from the soap and cause that clumping. The salt is most likely the culprit. Also, was there any water in that recipe?

  3. Hi there! I am looking for a recipe for cloth diapers. I have been buying Tide free and gentle powder and I want to start making my detergent. Any advice?

    1. Hi Ashley! Yes, both of these recipes will work for cloth diapers! Make sure to wash them on the hot water cycle, or sanitize cycle. For extra whitening and germ fighting power, add some hydrogen peroxide to the bleach compartment of your washing machine.

  4. I recently made a batch of the Sal-Suds laundry detergent. The first few loads of laundry were great but then the detergent clumped with just a little liquid at the bottom of the container. Is there a solution? The container is stored in the garage and it’s cold with overnight low at or just below freezing. Thank you.

  5. Hello Sarah,
    I have been told that making your own laundry detergent can void the warranty on a washer. Do you know if this is true at all? It’s honestly the only reason why I haven’t made any yet

  6. I made laundry liquid with Sal suds, the first time it was perfect but the second time it separated thick at the bottom and watery at the top. What did I do wrong

  7. I love the Sal Suds laundry soap. It has the same consistency as store bought.

    However, The Sal Suds is more expensive. I also use Sal Suds in my liquid dish soap (this recipe is amazing).

    I just made the Castile soap laundry soap. It looks more economical.

    Will it thicken up over time? Currently it’s watery.

    Can I do anything to thicken?

  8. Hello! I am excited to try the sal suds laundry detergent recipe but wanted to ask about the Kosher salt.
    I recently i moved to Spain and cannot locate Kosher salt anywhere.
    Is the Kosher salt being used only as a thickening agent in this recipe? If so, I was considering using Xanthum gum.

    If i were to replace the thickening agent would i still need the same amount of water asked for in the recipe?

    Thanks!

  9. I never grate soap. A week before I make Laundry soap I throw a good amount of the leftover pieces of my home made lye soap into a gallon container with water. When I proceed with the laundry soap I emulsify the soap with a stick blender. I then proceed to add the remaining ingredients and keep adding water until I have a 5 gallon bucket full. it creates a laundry soap that requires a shake before use but it has worked excellent and is naturally low sudsing.Time invested is minimal by letting the soap melt over a week.

  10. Hi, thank you for the recipes. I have a question is there a way to mix the castile soap with sal’s suds to make a gallon of detergent? I’m asking because I’d like to use the castile as the scent factor in the detergent. Also do I keep the recipe exactly the same and just dispense less for HE washers?

  11. Hi Sara, Thank your for all your videos and teaching us how to save our environment! I use most of your recipes and find them to be a great value. I use the Dr. Bronners Sal Suds for the laundry detergent and wondering how I can get the clothes to smell fresh and clean. Guess I am spoiled by all those chemically treated detergents from the store shelf that offer that clean smell. The clothes don’t smell bad, but looking for a fresh scent. Thanx so much!

  12. I make my own castile soap,and add the detergents,my clothes come up lovely and clean,I just follow the recipe for castile liquid soap and that acts as my base,it not only washes well but it’s as kind to my pocket at it is to my hands 😉

  13. Im having an issue with this mixture 😞
    I’m liking the ease and price of it but it separates after a day and I don’t understand why and what to do about it?? Please help

  14. So I didn’t have a 2 gallon container so I had to split the recipe to make 2 gallons. So my question is,what does the castile soap look like after making it? Mine has came out ss a trues liquid.I am hoping that’s correct.I absolutely love liquid versus the more gel type .

  15. The recipe calls for baking soda, but your photo shows borax. I have made it with borax before but not baking soda. Which is correct? Baking soda or borax? Thanks!

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