Making your own liquid homemade laundry detergent is an inexpensive way to get your clothes clean. I have been using this recipe for several years now, and I love it. Store-bought pre-made laundry detergent is so expensive, the savings is significant. Plus, it gets our clothes just as clean!
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Ingredients for Homemade Laundry Detergent:
1/3 bar Fels Naptha Laundry Bar and Stain Remover
1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
1 small bucket, about 2 gallon size
Instructions for Homemade Laundry Detergent:
Grate the Fels Naptha Laundry Bar and put it in a saucepan. I use a box grater or if I am doing a larger quantity, a food processor to do this.
Next, add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts.
Then add the washing soda and the borax; stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat.
Pour 4 cups hot water into your bucket.
Now, add your soap mixture and stir.
Then, add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir.
Allow the soap cool for about 24 hours and it will make a gel surrounded by a liquid.
Use ½ cup per load.
Note: This is low sudsing, so don’t worry that your clothes aren’t getting clean if you don’t see lots of bubbles…trust me, they are.
Mama’s Little Helper
- 1/3 bar Fels Naptha or you can use a whole bar of Ivory or your favorite homemade soap
- 1/2 cup washing soda
- 1/2 cup borax powder
- 1 small bucket, about 2 gallon size
- Grate the Fels Naptha Soap and put it in a saucepan. I use a box grater or if I am doing a larger quantity, a food processor.
- Next, add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts.
- Then add the washing soda and the borax; stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat.
- Pour 4 cups hot water into your bucket.
- Now, add your soap mixture and stir.
- Then, add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir.
- Allow the soap cool for about 24 hours and it will make a gel surrounded by a liquid.
- Use ½ cup per load.
- This is low sudsing, so don't worry that your clothes aren't getting clean if you don't see lots of bubbles...trust me, they are.
what is washing soda, I’ve never heard of it???
Washing Soda is made by Arm and Hammer. It is a natural laundry detergent booster that helps to remove dirt and stains plus, neutralize and eliminate odors. It is found in the laundry aisle at the grocery store, close to the Borax. It has many other uses around the house.
Do you have a recipe for stain/spot remover?
Can you use this in high efficiency washers?
Yes! We have an high efficiency washer and use it all the time with no problem. It is a very low sudsing detergent, which seems to be the concern for HE machines.