Homemade Laundry Detergent

This homemade laundry detergent has lasted my family of 4 as long as 8 months. It’s a very cost-effective means to save money every month.

When I was first figuring out a way to budget for my family, I was researching alternatives to household supplies that could easily be made at home. Because to buy something pre-made, you’re basically paying for someone else’s work. Work that you could easily do. One household supply I knew I could cut some dollars from our expenses was by making homemade laundry detergent.

On a normal week of my family of 4, we can do roughly 4 loads of laundry. That’s a load each for myself, my kids, and my husband (who usually breaks his up into 2 loads). So in a month, that’s roughly 10 to 12 loads if you factor in towels and sheets, etc. And those are full loads!

A family need

When we had our second child, I ventured into the world of cloth diapers. I knew what I was getting myself into when I started. But I guess what I didn’t realize was the amount of laundry I would be doing because of it. It didn’t help that everything I read kept encouraging a baby appropriate detergent with no allergens or toxins that could harm a baby’s fragile skin. That special stuff cost money for a very little amount. And when you’re washing cloth diapers, well…

So I decided to make my own. I’ve been making it now for 6 six years!

What you need to make homemade laundry detergent

• a bar of soap (castille or fels naptha)
• borax
• washing soda
• 5 gallon bucket to store detergent concentrate
• a smaller laundry detergent dispenser

Step by step process

First, grate the bar of soap into a large saucepan.

Cover with hot water and cook over medium to low heat. You’ll have to stir constantly. If left unattended, it will bubble over.

Stir until the soap is completely dissolved.

Next, put washing soda and borax into your 5 gallon bucket. Pour in hot water to dissolve.

Then stir in the melted soap mixture.

Fill the bucket to the top with hot water. Stir final mixture until completely incorporated. You should label this mixture “Detergent Concentrate”.

Let it set overnight.

When you’re ready to use it, stir the concentrate first. It’ll be clumpy so a long-handled whisk will come in handy. If not, any ladle will do.

You’ll want to fill your smaller dispenser halfway with concentrate and then dilute with water. I typically use warm to hot water to help incorporate the concentrate better. And shake your dispenser before each use to mix up your detergent. Essentially you’ve made 10 gallons of laundry detergent!

And there you have it!

Your very own homemade laundry detergent that’ll last anywhere from 6 months to a year depending on how frequently you do you laundry. As I’ve said, a 5 gallon bucket of detergent concentrate will last my family of 4 as long as 8 months!! Pretty amazing and definitely cut out a fairly consistent monthly cost from our budget. I say this recipe tip is a win!

Let me know in the comments what are some of your favorite ways to cut cost and expenditures! I’m willing to try out anything that helps pinch some pennies.

Some other money saving recipes

Easy Crockpot Yogurt Recipe

Homemade Ketchup in 20 Minutes