Making homemade laundry detergent is easy! You need a few supplies and will save lots on this simple and effective liquid laundry soap.
How to Make Liquid Laundry Detergent
You’ll need four simple ingredients to get started. One box of Borax, 1 box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda and 1 bar of Fels-Naptha Soap and water. All of these laundry products are found in the laundry detergent aisle at many local supermarkets. And make sure you got washing soda and not baking soda which is found in the baking aisle. Both are very different. If you have hard water, grab a gallon of distilled water for your detergent. You’ll also need two glass jars such as 16oz canning jars and a jar funnel will be very helpful.
Use a cheese grater to grate your soap. You’ll want 1/4 cup of soap shavings. You can grate the entire bar and place 1/4 cup soap shavings into small sandwich bags to save for making additional soap later. That’s right, this one, 5 ounce bar of soap will make more than one batch of laundry detergent!
Once you have your soap, add it to a saucepan full of 4 cups of water. If you have hard water, you’ll want to use distilled water for making detergent. Heat on medium high heat stirring almost constantly until boiling and all of the soap is dissolved.
Remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup washing soda and 1/4 cup borax and stir until completely dissolved.
Use a jar funnel to to carefully pour the detergent into 2 mason jars. Place lid and collar onto the jars and set them aside to cool completely. You may hear a pop, indicating the jars have actually sealed. Let set until cooled completely.
The detergent will turn into a gel, which is perfect for scooping out of the jars and into your washer. Use a large spoon or tablespoon to scoop the detergent into your washer.
That’s it! You’ve made the perfect and simple batch of laundry detergent!
Here’s the Printable version of the recipe if you want to print it out and try this one!
How to Make Liquid Laundry Detergent
Ingredients for Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent
- 1/4 cup Borax
- 1/4 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
- 1 bar (5 oz) Fels-Naptha Soap, divided
- 4 cups water (distilled if you have hard water)
How to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent
- Grate soap with a cheese grater. Add 1/4 cup soap to the saucepan and add water. Heat on medium high heat stirring constantly until boiling and soap is completely melted.
- Remove from heat and add washing soda and borax. Stir until completely dissolved.
- Use a jar funnel to fill two 16 oz mason jars with detergent. Seal using lid and collar. Set aside to cool completely.
To Use:
- Add 1 spoonful to your washing machine and launder clothes as usual.
We also have an Easy Homemade Laundry Detergent Powder Recipe you can check out, Personally I think I prefer the liquid, but the powder doesn’t require all the cooking so it’s easy to make!
