I posted a recipe for laundry detergent recently and my friend Heather wanted to update us on how it went…
I got stuff to make our own laundry detergent tonight after your post. We ran out of both laundry detergent and Downy at the same time, so once we were home we thought if we can make our own detergent, why not try to make fabric softener too. Well, we found an awesome “recipe” here and we made it out of stuff we already had, which made it even better. We poured it into our old Downy bottle, and can still use it with our Downy ball, because it says to use it like you would the regular stuff. Also, for the detergent, we have a 4 gallon beverage container with a spout that we bought for homemade iced tea and we plan on using that for the liquid detergent.
I took pics as we made it. The pictures are pretty self explanatory. It was so easy to make! It is pretty gross and thick. 24 hours after, my husband went to stir it and it was like solid. But after he stirred it, it’s just like chunky gel. It washes the clothes so well! It actually makes his work shirts (he is a cook) smell better!
And after using it for a month, I will never buy any detergent or fabric softener again. I love the way our clothes smell and I love how easy and cheap it was!
Kasee says
When you posted the recipe recently, I did a little research, shopped for ingredients, and haven’t looked back! I made a powder recipe and added powdered clorox 2 along with the extra Oxy Clean. I LOVE it! I used Ivory soap in my first batch (I do a TON of laundry and the first batch didn’t last as long as it should have because I caught my hubby adding extra “just to make sure it works”), but chose Irish Spring for my second batch. Both cleaned the same, but my kids liked the Irish Spring better and the added fragrance let me use my Downy liquid fabric softener sparingly. Now I’ll have to try the above recipe! Thanks so much!
Cathy says
Kasee,
What is your recipe and how much do you add to each load? Thanks!
mistie h says
ive been making my own as well save me a lot of money in a house hold of 7 soon to be 8. fyi you can go to micheals they sell the essental oils. i make my detergent dry less mess and its great on stains .im so glad i found this recipe 15 dollars for six months of detergent is great. i still use downy but i make it last longer by spraying it on a rag works all the same
Tanya says
Do you spray Downy liquid on a rag before putting everything in the dryer? I haven’t tried that, yet.
mistie h says
yes u can i dilute it by half in another cantainer and put a rag in and ring it out its good for at least 2 uses
ashley says
just wondering…the essential oils that are from michaels, do you just put drops in the dry detergent? does is leave a smell when the clothes are done? i like fragrance in my clothes…
Jennifer G says
I have been making my own since January. We have a family of 6, so it only lasts about 3 months in our family. My first batch was lumpy and kinda gross too. Then the past 2 times I have made it, I have added some Purex fabric softner crystals in the mix, and it stops it from clumping, makes it smell great, and adds some fabric softner to your laundry at the same time. I will never buy detergent again. Everyone laughs at me for doing this (we live in So. Calif, and everyones pays the $$ for Tide, since they can’t be bothered to make their own), but I have saved a lot of money and it seems to work fine. I got the recipe off the Duggar site.
Darrelyn says
How much of the purex crystals do you add to one batch?
Renee says
I have been making my own for over a year now. I started making the liquid but it was messy and alot of trouble. I switched to the powder and love it! I use 1 bar of ivory soap, 1 cup of borax, and 1 cup of washing soda. The ivory soap makes it have a light fragrance. We have had fewer skin problems since I’ve switched and I’ve spent less than $20 in the last 14 months on supplies.
Heather says
My son has eczema and we have to use dye free/fragrance free detergent.
Would this be considered the same? I’ve read about the fresh smell and was wondering if anyone with sensitive skin has tried and had any problems.
Renee says
My daughter has eczema also and it has improved since I started using this made with ivory bar soap, borax, and washing soda. 1 bar:1cup borax:1 cup washing soda. Finely shred the soap and mix all together for at least 5 minutes. Use 1 ounce of powder per wash load.
Sara says
On a total aside, my daughter has eczema also. I am convinced it is diet related. She has a feeding tube due to some health problems at birth. This last year as we started getting her off the feeding tube and on to “normal” food she broke out with it. Our dr kept giving us creams for it and of course nothing got rid of it. We just changed dr’s to a dr that uses more wholistic approaches. She is doing allergy testing and we are taking dairy and wheat out of her diet. Guess what-the eczema is almost gone and we are not putting anything on it. Just something to think about. It is hard to find a dr that thinks along these lines. Ours is from europe, I have heard of a few from Germany that also think along these lines, but for the comfort and health of our children it might be worth looking in to.
Heather says
His is actually a food allergy issue. We found out when he was 2 1/2 that he was allergic to eggs. He was also on different creams, steroids, and oils. Taking the eggs out of his diet make the break outs go away. Last year he was retested and the allergy is gone. They did an egg test in the doctor’s office and he didn’t have any problems at all. He does still have extremely dry skin that we have to treat like eczema. We still use dye/fragrance free everything so I wanted to make sure this would be okay to use for him. I am definitely going to try making the powder.
Geri's Super Saving Tips says
My whole family is allergic to most detergents. When I first made it I tried it on only my clothes, then I tried it on mine and my husband’s. After we were using it for a while with no reaction, that is when I tried it on the kids clothing. We had no problems at all with it but I totally understand your concern.
ginger says
We have been making ours for 6 months and we have very hard water and a child with sensitive skin- and we love this and wont go back to store bought! My husband works in landscaping and I have yet to find a stain I can’t get out.
Tracey says
I have seen this as an option before, and a friend of mine has briefly talked with me about making her own laundry soap. As a surprise and a gift, the last time she made hers, she made a batch for me! When she delivered it, she also provided me with the ingredients and recipe to make it myself! My girls are so excited to try it, but I am still working on the large container she gave me. I am using it in my 5.2 capacity HE LG washer, no problems. I am adding it to my basin rather than the soap dispenser because it is very thick and disburses better if I add it prior to my clothes. There is no residue and no clumping. The scent of the soap is just fresh, and the scent left afterwards is basically none. I am using such a large washer that I am adding about 8 oz, even though the recipe says to use 1/2 cup, but my load is about 1 1/2 the size of my previous washer. What an awesome gift and thoughtful thing to do, to not only make it for me, but to provide me with all that I need to get started myself! The recipe above looks like the things she gave me as well. I have a laundry soap kit to get started!!!
cara says
just a question about the laundry soap i saw where it said use arm & hammer washing soap but I am allergic to the arm & hammer laundry detergent is there another kind out there? I would love to make my own thanks
Megan Russell says
Ashley- You can buy essential oils (lavendar, etc) and put a few drops in when you make it. Not a lot- that stuff is potent- but it makes it smell nice.
ashley says
i searched for it online…it seems by the time i pay for it to be shipped, i could just buy regular detergent…
OcalaMom says
I’ve been using the powdered version for the last couple of years and LOVE it! I use Fels-Naptha instead of Zote and like that it deodorizes my husband’s work clothes. I do have hard water (but with a water softener), so to keep the laundry from looking dingy I toss in 1/2 cup of dollar store oxy-clean in the recipe. Works wonderfully!
Lisa C says
Does anyone know if this works well in hard water? Thanks!
Erin J says
I have and HE washer and have used this recipe with no problems. I researched before hand and even asked a washing machine repair man. All said I should have no problem. I use 1/4 c. per load and my clothes come out wonderful. We use plain white vinegar in place of fabric softener and the clothes come out soft (with no vinegar smell)
Whitney says
I, also use this in my HE washer with no problems. I just dont use as much as a normal washing machine would use. Ive had no problems, and I love it. Never used the vinegar, but hey whatever works right? :)
Sarah says
We’ve been making our own since Nov. and haven’t looked back! It’s GREAT and saves us A LOT of $! We even took some with us to Disney on our last trip, LOTS cheaper than the detergent they sell there. I do keep some Oxy Clean in the laundry room to add when we have tough stains, but for normal loads it works great and my kiddos like to make it – win! win!
Sarah says
Does anyone know of a recipe that can be used with HE washers? Can the Fabric softner be used with an HE washer?
ashley says
i have made 2 batches of the powdered laundry detergent…i love the way it cleans…i HATE the way it smells in my clothes…or lack of smell…or maybe what i used before covered up bad smells?? LOL…it gets out stains and the clothes look clean but they just don’t smell very good…i use fabric sheets also…that doesn’t even help
Margarita says
You could try adding some oils to it , like lavender or some scent that you like. I was told that this helps a lot.
lindsay says
nevermind, lol
lindsay says
can you use it in a HE washer?
Amie Dalbec says
Just remember if you have a High Efficancy Washer you can not use this. My Mother In Law destroyed hers using this recipie. Other wise it is great used it for yrs.
Geri's Super Saving Tips says
I make my laundry soap with the Fels-Naptha soap bar instead of the Zote and you can use it in HE washers because it has NO BUBBLES whatsoever. (not sure about the Zote bar) In fact when I first started using it I thought it didn’t work because I am use to Tide making bubbles so you “know” it works. Well apparently that is what they want us to think.
I got my recipe from http://www.duggarfamily.com.
Britney Koger says
I’m using mine in HE washer….I will run vinegar through it maybe once a week or more to help clean up any buildup. That is what I was told to do anyway :/
Britney Koger says
I love mine too! :) I’ve had mine for almost 6 mths now and wash ALOT of clothes! I can’t believe how much I’ve saved on detergent! Also, I wonder if i could just add the homemade fabric softener mixture to my detergent in the same container?? ( I could try a few loads and see)
Kristin from Couponing to Disney says
Off the first batch you made??
ginger says
One batch can last the average household 4 months!
Britney Koger says
Still using my first batch… made it before Christmas and I’ve still got alot left! My batch was supposed to have made 10 gallons, but I use mine a little stronger and don’t dilute it to a full 10 gallons. Don’t know if its same recipe? I used 1 Cup Arm and Hammer super washing soda, 1/2 cup borax, and 1 Fels Naptha bar…