Young's Hardware

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Making your own laundry detergent has become popular now on Pinterest, and we have everything you need to make your own! 

Homemade Powder Laundry Detergent (best for top loader washing machine):

• 12 cups Borax
• 8 cups baking soda
• 8 cups washing soda
• 4 bars of Ivory bar soap, grated
• 2 bars of Fels-Naptha laundry bar soap, grated
• Optional:  add about 20 drops of essential oil made specifically for soap to make the detergent smell good

Mix all ingredients well in a large bucket or container.  Store in a sealed tub.  Use only 2 Tbsp of powder per full load!

Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent (best for front loader washing machine):

• 4 cups hot tap water
• 1 Fels-Naptha soap bar
• 1 c washing soda
• 1/2 c Borax
• Optional:  essential oil

Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water.   Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
Fill a five-gallon bucket half full of hot tap water.   Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved.   Fill bucket to top with more hot water.   Sir, cover, and let sit overnight to thicken.
Stir and fill a used, clean laundry soap dispenser (or a gallon milk carton) half full with soap and then fill the rest of the way with water.   Shake before each use.   (It will gel)
Optional: add 10-15 drops of essential oil per each 2 gallons.
For a front load machine add 1/4 cup per load, for a top loader at 1/2 cup.