Homemade Dry Laundry Soap
Here's the recipe I'm using for homemade laundry soap. I made the liquid soap and stored it in a 5 gallon bucket. My husband added a spigot to the bottom of the pail so I can easily refill my jug for the laundry room. We only do about 5 loads a wash here a week so by my calculation this 2 recipe will last me about two and a half years! Wow! I just washed my first load with the new detergent this morning and it came out very clean and smelling great. My sister makes the dry version of this soap and it lasts her several months. It's a bit smaller in volume and easier to store if you don't want to wrangle a five gallon pail, but it doesn't make as many loads for the same cost. Still a great deal if you ask me! TIPS: We use Fels-Naptha bar soap in the homemade soap recipes, but you can use Ivory, Sunlight, Kirk's Hardwater Castile or Zote bars. Don't use heavily perfumed soaps. We buy Fels-Naptha by the case from our local grocer or online. Washing Soda and Borax can normally be found on the laundry or cleaning aisle. Recipe cost approx. $2
Here's the recipe I'm using for homemade laundry soap. I made the liquid soap and stored it in a 5 gallon bucket. My husband added a spigot to the bottom of the pail so I can easily refill my jug for the laundry room. We only do about 5 loads a wash here a week so by my calculation this 2 recipe will last me about two and a half years! Wow! I just washed my first load with the new detergent this morning and it came out very clean and smelling great. My sister makes the dry version of this soap and it lasts her several months. It's a bit smaller in volume and easier to store if you don't want to wrangle a five gallon pail, but it doesn't make as many loads for the same cost. Still a great deal if you ask me! TIPS: We use Fels-Naptha bar soap in the homemade soap recipes, but you can use Ivory, Sunlight, Kirk's Hardwater Castile or Zote bars. Don't use heavily perfumed soaps. We buy Fels-Naptha by the case from our local grocer or online. Washing Soda and Borax can normally be found on the laundry or cleaning aisle. Recipe cost approx. $2
- Carbohydrate 0 g
- Cholesterol 0 mg
- Fat 0 g
- Fiber 0 g
- Protein 0 g
- Saturated Fat 0 g
- Serving Size 1 1 Serving (284g)
- Sodium 46539.36 mg
- Sugar 0 g
- Trans Fat 0 g
- Calories 0 calories
Step-by-step
- Grate soap or break into pieces and process in a food processor until powdered.
- Mix all ingredients.
- For light load, use 1 Tablespoon.
- For heavy or heavily soiled load, use 2 Tablespoons.
Washing soda provides the high alkalinity necessary to break down grease and lift stains from fabric fibers effectively. Grating the bar soap into manageable chunks before pulsing it in a food processor ensures the mixture achieves a uniform, powdery texture. Smaller particles dissolve much faster in cold water than large flakes do.
Batch sizes can be easily adjusted by doubling or tripling the quantities while maintaining the exact two-to-one ratio of washing soda to borax. Storing the finished powder in an airtight glass jar prevents moisture absorption and clumping over a storage window of several months. Keep the container sealed tightly in a dry utility room cabinet.
Alternative soap bars such as Zote or Ivory substitute directly for Fels-Naptha if different scent profiles or formulations are preferred. Avoid heavily scented products to prevent residue buildup on sensitive fabrics. Using too much detergent leaves a soapy film, so strictly adhere to the one tablespoon measurement for standard loads.
Old laundry residues sometimes trap odors within natural fibers over multiple wash cycles. Running empty rinse cycles with white vinegar strips accumulated buildup before switching to homemade formulations. Proper water temperature during the wash cycle guarantees complete dissolution of the powdered ingredients.
