Looking for a simple, affordable, and eco-friendly way to keep your clothes fresh and clean? Ever wondered how to make homemade laundry detergent? This homemade laundry detergent powder recipe is easy to make, budget-friendly, and free from harsh chemicals. With just a few natural ingredients, you’ll create a powerful detergent that works in standard and HE washers. Say goodbye to store-bought detergents and hello to cleaner, greener laundry!
Recommended Equipment for Homemade Laundry Detergent Powder
- Large glass Jar with a lid
- Scoop with a handle OR a measuring cup
- Large mixing bowl
- Whisk
- Funnel – optional but helpful for pouring powder into the large glass jar
Products Needed to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent Powder
- Borax – 20 Mule Team All Natural
- Washing Soda – Arm & Hammer
- Baking Soda- Arm & Hammer
Instructions for How to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent Powder
1. Add 3 cups of Borax, Washing Soda, and Baking Soda to a large mixing bowl.
2. Mix until they’re well combined.
3. Pour the mixture into a large glass jar secured with a lid.
It really is as simple as that to make your own homemade laundry detergent powder!
Benefits of Homemade Laundry Detergent
It’s non-toxic. There are no harsh chemicals or artificial fragrances, and you know exactly what’s in it!
It’s more eco-friendly because it reduces plastic waste from commercial detergents. No more paying for jugs mostly full of water! Plus, all three ingredients can be found and bought in biodegradable cardboard containers.
It’s cost-effective! A little bit of homemade laundry powder goes a long way. And you can buy the ingredients in bulk, which will save you money over time.
Why Use Borax?
Borax, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate, or disodium tetraborate, is a natural alkaline mineral compound of boron, sodium, and oxygen. It can be found in many different evaporite deposits (sedimentary rocks formed by chemical sediments) locations on Earth. These deposits are formed over time by the repeated evaporation of seasonal lakes. Pretty cool, right?!
Due to its relatively high PH level, it works well as a stain-fighting agent in homemade laundry detergent. It can also be used to pre-treat stains and help to brighten whites.
Why Use Washing Soda?
Washing soda, also known as soda ash and soda crystals, is the inorganic compound Sodium Carbonate. Historically, it was extracted from the ashes of plants grown in sodium-rich soils. Hence the nickname, Soda Ash.
It has a pretty significant PH level and performs as a lifting agent in laundry detergent. It works by binding the lifted dirt and grime to the water and not your clothing. Just the thing we want for those tough-to-lift stains! I’m talking about YOU coffee, oil, and grease. It is believed to help soften hard water also, which allows the detergent to work more effectively in washing your clothing.
Why Use Baking Soda?
Baking Soda, also known as Sodium bicarbonate, bicarbonate of soda, bread soda, cooking soda, and brewing soda, is essentially a salt. I think most of us know that Baking Soda is used in baking or as a household deodorizer. And that’s why it makes such a beneficial addition to homemade laundry detergent! It helps to neutralize odors in dirty laundry and balance the PH of the water, which helps the detergent work more effectively at cleaning your laundry by removing dirt, grime, and stains.
How Much Powder To Use Per Load
For a small-sized load – use 2 Tablespoons – 1/4 cup of the laundry detergent powder
For a medium-sized load – use 1/4 – 1/3 cup of the laundry detergent powder
For a large-sized or heavily soiled load (cloth diapers, sweaty clothes, washable rugs) – use 1/3 – 1/2 cup of the laundry detergent powder
Storage Recommendations for Homemade Laundry Detergent Powder
Keep your homemade laundry detergent powder in a fairly cool and dry place. Keeping it stored in your laundry room on a shelf or on top of your dryer is perfectly acceptable. You just want to be sure that it’s not getting wet or humid inside of the jar as this will cause the powder to clump a bit.
Common Questions
Is homemade detergent safe for sensitive skin?
In my family’s experience, this homemade laundry detergent has been! If you’re concerned it might be an irritant, then I recommend starting with 2 tablespoons in a small load of laundry to test it out before continuing to use it.
Can it be used for cloth diapers?
Yes! In fact, this homemade laundry powder has been the most effective at removing stains and smell from our cloth diapers. I was honestly shocked at just how well it worked and was instantly hooked! I love how fresh and clean our laundry smells without the use of added fragrances.
How long does this detergent last?
This will vary depending on how much laundry detergent powder you use per load, but this recipe makes 9 cups. There are 16 tablespoons in a cup. So, multiply that by 9, and it equals 144. If you used 2 tablespoons per load, the 9 cups would last 72 loads. And keep in mind, this recipe doesn’t use all of the product in the containers you bought them in. It uses just three cups of each, leaving more for another batch of homemade laundry detergent!
Tried and liked this recipe? Give it a rating and leave a comment below! Then snap a photo and tag us over on IG @ _jchandelle
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Homemade Laundry Detergent: 3 Ingredient Laundry Powder
Equipment
- 1 Large mixing bowl For mixing products
- 1 whisk For mixing products
- 1 measuring cup
- 1 Large glass Jar with a lid For storing detergent
- 1 Funnel Optional – for pouring mixture into glass Jar
Ingredients
- 3 Cups Borax 20 Mule Team All Natural
- 3 Cups Washing Soda Arm & Hammer
- 3 Cups Baking Soda Arm & Hammer
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Instructions
- Add 3 cups of Borax, Washing Soda, and Baking Soda to a large mixing bowl.3 Cups Borax, 3 Cups Washing Soda, 3 Cups Baking Soda
- Mix until they're well combined.
- Pour the mixture into a large glass jar secured with a lid.
STORING THE LAUNDRY DETERGENT POWDER
- Keep your homemade laundry detergent powder in a fairly cool and dry place. Keeping it stored in your laundry room on a shelf or on top of your dryer is perfectly acceptable. You just want to be sure that it's not getting wet or humid inside of the jar as this will cause the powder to clump a bit.
This has been the best detergent to use on our cloth diapers! A little goes a long way which I really appreciate. And no more lingering smells makes me one happy mama!