If you are looking for Homemade Powdered Laundry Soap, you have come to the right place! Easy to make with easily obtained ingredients, with a simple straightforward process, plus you will love how clean your clothes get. From the DIY Homemade Household side of the blog!
If your family is like my family and wants fewer artificial fragrance chemicals in your cleaning products, you have come to the right place. Because this recipe for Homemade Powdered Laundry Soap just might be what you are looking for! It is easy on your clothes, and for those out in the country, it also plays nice with your septic system.
I know that current laundry guidelines call for cold water washing, but to be honest, I have never thought a cold water wash was sufficient for getting your clothes clean, and of course, powdered laundry soap does not melt/dissolve completely in cold water. Homemade or otherwise. This reality has led to more and more strong commercially made liquid laundry soaps on the market (and lots of plastic in the trash!). And since we all get to hold an opinion, the energy spent on warming some water for cleaner laundry is the better trade-off...in my book.
Which makes me a warm water laundress...but we do rinse in cold water! And so far, this has worked out splendidly.
We have used this for years, and it seems to do the trick!
Our recipe for Homemade Powdered Laundry Soap has a long track record of getting our clothes clean and when hung out on the line to dry, everything just smells wonderful, naturally, with no fragrance needed! And speaking of line drying, now that is where to save on electricity costs. For me, there is something special about hanging clothes out on the line and hearing the birds sing to me as I work...
When my original food processor bowl became scratched and worn, I turned it into the laundry soap processing bowl. I have the recipe taped right on the side. This way I do not have to be concerned about soap flavor getting into the food processor bowl, that I use to cook with. This "soap processing bowl" just goes back on the storage shelf in the garage, ready to use again. However, it is fine to use a box grater for soap making, and grating soap is a good task for any helpers you might have working with you on soap-making day...
Yes, it is also safe for septic tanks.
For those living in a home with a septic tank, I offer this link to information regarding safe cleaning products and/or alternative ingredients that are safe for septic tanks. I started making this soap so many years ago, we were within the city limits of a sizable metropolitan area, and the ingredients and how they may or may not work well in a septic system never crossed my mind. But once we moved to a smaller community and are now the proud owners of a septic system, I was pleased when I researched and found the ingredients in my Homemade Powdered Laundry Soap were also safe for my septic tank!
I hope this recipe works as well for your family as it does for ours.
Some thoughts on this homemade household product:
If you wish to have a fragrance, simply add a few drops of your favorite essential oil when combining the ingredients, and mix thoroughly to distribute it completely through the mix.
You may also use a naturally fragrant soap such as Dr. Bonners castile soap with essential oils.
One of my favorite tricks is to make a double batch and use one plain bar and one with fragrance. The clothes smell fresh and yet they do not have a strong fragrance with dried.
Ingredients needed for this project:
- Castile Soap or Fels Naptha Soap
- borax
- washing soda
- baking soda
- Oxyclean or Oxygen laundry additive
You will also need the following:
- wire mesh sieve
- measuring cup
- heavy duty whisk
- large kitchen spoon
- box grater or food processor
- covered storage container
Now we are ready to begin!
 |
| Homemade Powdered Laundry Soap. |
Homemade Powdered Laundry Soap
by the seat of my pants!
by the seat of my pants!
UPDATED 07.12.2022
1 bar Fels Naptha Soap or 2 bars castile soap
2 c borax
2 c washing soda
1/2 c baking soda
1 c Oxyclean or oxygen laundry additive
If using a food processor, cut the soap in half, and grate using a grater attachment. Empty into a large mixing bowl, and change to the chopping blade in the processor. Return the grated soap to the work bowl.
Pulse the mixture until the volume is reduced by half, making small pebbles of chopped soap. Note: If you are making soap using a box grater, this is not a necessary step. It is nice for consistency, but truly not necessary.
Please note, that you may need to press the baking soda and washing soda through a sieve to remove any lumps.
Return the grated soap to the mixing bowl, and add the remaining ingredients. Stirring together until completely mixed. Package into a sealed container, for storage. We use empty coffee cans with tight-fitting plastic lids.
To use: I use a coffee measuring spoon (2T), 1 slightly rounded scoop for a small load, and 2 scoops for a large load. If you are washing really dirty/soiled clothes, add up to 1/2 extra scoop.
Because we all have different water, washing machines, and dirty clothes, use the amount of Homemade Powdered Laundry Soap needed to get the laundry just right for your family.
UPDATE:
For your convenience, a "copy and paste" version of Homemade Powdered Laundry Soap has
been included below.
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Printable "copy and paste" version:
Homemade Powdered Laundry Soap
by the seat of my pants!
1 bar Fels Naptha Soap or castile soap
2 c borax
2 c washing soda
1/2 c baking soda
1 c Oxyclean or oxygen laundry additive
If using a food processor, cut the soap in half, and grate using a grater attachment, or a box grater. Empty into a large mixing bowl, and change to the chopping blade. Return the grated soap to the work bowl.
Pulse the mixture until the volume is reduced by half, making small pebbles of chopped soap. Note: If you are making soap using a box grater, this is not a necessary step. It is nice for consistency, but truly not necessary.
Please note, that you may need to press the baking soda and washing soda through a sieve to remove any lumps.
Return the grated soap to the mixing bowl, and add the remaining ingredients. Stirring together until completely mixed. Package into a sealed container, we use empty coffee cans.
To use: I use a coffee measuring spoon (2T), 1 slightly rounded scoop for a small load, and 2 scoops for a large load. If you are washing really dirty/soiled clothes, add up to 1/2 extra scoop.
Because we all have different water, washing machines, and dirty clothes, use the amount of Homemade Powdered Laundry Soap needed to get the laundry "just right" for your family.
~~~~
I've never tried to make my own laundry detergent but this seems easy! You say it's ok for septic systems, what about HE washing machines? Thanks so much for linking up with me at #AThemedLinkup 39 for Cleaning and Organizing, open until January 17.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, I completed an update with information regarding safe septic tank ingredients, not even sure why I had not thought of that before! We too are on a septic tank and are very cautious about what we put down our drains! As far as a HE washer, my guess is, this would work great, there are virtually no suds! Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it!
DeleteThanks, Melynda for your reply!
ReplyDeleteAny time!
DeleteCONGRATS! Your post is FEATURED at #AThemedLinkup 40 for Soup Recipes from my previous linkup for Cleaning and Organizing, open until January 27.
ReplyDeleteThanks! I appreciate it, and thanks for stopping by!
DeleteVisiting again to say thanks so much for linking up with me at A Themed Linkup 56 for Crafts and DIY. Pinned!
ReplyDeleteDee, thanks for hosting!
DeleteSuch a great recipe - and a great way to avoid using plastic detergent bottles!!
ReplyDeleteJenna ♥
Stay in touch? Life of an Earth Muffin
Thanks Jenna!
DeleteWe get some laundry pods delivered that are biodegradable and are supposed to have lower levels of all the usual chemicals but it's always good to be looking out for a better alternative. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI have used this homemade laundry soap with a septic tank and while on city provided sewer service, and while it is always best to use ecologically friendly ingredients for the current update, I wanted to supply info that all the ingredients are friendly to the environment and especially for septic tanks. Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it!
DeleteThanks for sharing this method. I have a friend who swears by homemade laundry soap but I have yet to try it out but you make it seem so easy to make. #HomeMattersParty
ReplyDeleteIt is also good to have a back up just in case your supply line is out of stock! Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it.
Deletevery cool. good to know
ReplyDeleteThank you, it has served our family well for so many years!
DeleteVisiting again to say thanks so much for linking up at #IMadeItMondayLinkParty 13. Pinned.
ReplyDeleteAnd, now I have questions :) I just ordered the supplies to make this. It's been a very long time since I used powdered detergent but going to give it a try. What I'm wondering is why does the recipe call for borax, washing soda, and an oxygen additive? Don't those 3 things individually boost the cleaning power of the Fels Naptha? Does the powder leave white spots on your dark clothing?
Also, have you ever made liquid laundry detergent? How about a liquid fabric softener? I use vinegar to rinse my clothes as well as the towels and sheets but hubby says his clothes smell like vinegar so we use Downy on his. Any info is appreciated!!
Hi Dee, I wash in warm water and have never had white spots on our clothes. Also I put the laundry soap into the washer and let the washer fill with water as I load the dirty clothes. Currently we do not use fabric softener because I dry our clothes with woolen dryer balls and they not only keep static down but also help soften the clothes as well. I have never made a liquid laundry soap but my daughter would like to try it. We have been researching recipes to try. I hope this helps!
DeleteWe never use cold water except for hubby's work shirts as per washing instructions. Can't put them in the dryer either so have to use softener. Weird shirts, huh? Hubby swears that the dryer will shrink them!! Anyway, everything else is washed in warm or hot water and it all goes into the dryer. I'll be looking forward to your liquid detergent recipe. You can find them all over the internet but making them and them working properly is a different thing. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteDee, you are absolutely right, finding a homemade product recipe that works as needed by your family can be difficult. Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it.
DeleteMelynda, CONGRATS! Your post is FEATURED at #IMadeItMondayLinkParty 14.
ReplyDeleteDee, thank you!
Delete