How to Make DIY Laundry Detergent (Plus 8 Homemade Laundry Products)

DIY laundry detergent hacks that work help you save money and avoid last-minute trips to the store when you run out. Plus, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing exactly which ingredients are being used to wash your laundry.

Learn how to make simple and cost-effective DIY laundry detergent—including powdered or liquid detergent, pods, fabric softener, and more.

DIY Powdered Laundry Detergent

Making a simple DIY laundry detergent with borax, baking soda, washing soda, and pure soap flakes will cost you around 30 cents per load. Plus, homemade laundry detergent is safe to use in both standard and high-efficiency washers because the formula is low-sudsing. Make washing soda from baking soda if necessary. To boost the cleaning power of your homemade detergent, you can slightly increase the amount of borax in the formula.

What You Need

• 1 5.5-ounce bar of pure soap or 1 cup of soap flakes 
• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 cup washing soda (sodium carbonate)
• 1/2 cup borax 
• Cheese grater
• Measuring cup
• Resealable container

1. Grate the Soap

   Using a regular cheese grater, grate the bar of pure soap (or use 1 cup of soap flakes).

2. Combine the Ingredients

   In a large, resealable container, combine the soap flakes, baking soda, washing soda, and borax. Mix the ingredients well. Washing soda (sodium hydroxide) is caustic to the skin, so wear rubber gloves.

3. Use as Directed

   Keep the detergent in the container dry. Use 1/2 cup of the mixture per load of laundry in a standard top-load washer. Use only 2 tablespoons in a high-efficiency top- or front-load washer.

DIY Liquid Laundry Detergent

If you have extremely cold water, liquid laundry detergent is a better choice because powders can sometimes be difficult to dissolve. This formula is particularly good for anyone with sensitive skin because it contains no irritating dyes or fragrances. This homemade detergent is appropriate for both high-efficiency washers and standard top-load washers.

What You Need

• 1 5.5-ounce bar of pure soap or 1 cup of soap flakes
• 4 cups water
• 1 cup baking soda
• 1 cup washing soda (sodium carbonate)
• 1/2 cup borax
• Cheese grater
• Measuring cup
• Saucepan
• Resealable 3-gallon container

1. Grate the Soap

   Using a regular cheese grater, grate the bar of pure soap (or use 1 cup of soap flakes).

2. Melt the Soap

   Add the grated soap to a large saucepan with the water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until the soap dissolves and is melted.

3. Combine the Ingredients

   In a large, resealable container, combine the melted soap flakes, baking soda, washing soda, borax, and hot water. Washing soda is caustic to the skin, so you should wear rubber gloves.

4. Allow the Detergent to Thicken

   Stir the detergent mixture until everything is dissolved. Cover and allow it to sit overnight to thicken.

5. Use as Directed

   Use 2 tablespoons of your homemade liquid detergent per load. Shake well before each use.

6. Properly Store Detergent

   Store the detergent in an airtight glass or plastic container or jar and place it in a cool, dry area. It may separate or clump over time so you will need to blend before using. It can safely be stored for about six months before losing its potency.

DIY Single-Dose Laundry Detergent Pods

DIY single-dose laundry detergent tablets, pods, or packs prevent overuse of detergent, which saves money and keeps high-efficiency washers from breaking down from excess suds. Each homemade detergent pod washes an average-size laundry load in either a standard or high-efficiency washer. If you have a large load, add two pods. Place a pod in the drum before adding water and loading clothes to dissolve thoroughly. Follow this recipe:

• Grate a bar of pure soap with a hand grater until you have 1/2 cup of grated soap or you can purchase soap flakes.
• Combine the soap flakes, 1 1/2 cups of washing soda, and 2 tablespoons of Epsom salts into a bowl and stir.
• Add 3 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide (3.5 percent pharmaceutical grade), 1/4 cup of distilled white vinegar, and 15 to 20 drops of essential oil (optional), and blend until it has the consistency of wet sand.
• Shape into pods by measuring out a heaping tablespoon of the mixture and place them on waxed paper or a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. This recipe makes around 24 single-dose pods.
• Spritz the pods with a bit of plain water to set the shape, and allow them to dry overnight (or longer if you live in a humid environment).
• Store completely dry pods in an airtight container.

DIY Gentle Wool Wash

For wool to look its best, it should not be treated with high heat or harsh detergents. Mistreatment can cause wool to lose its natural oils and luster, change shape, or develop wear and tear prematurely. There are commercial detergents formulated for delicate garments, such as wool sweaters, but you can also make your own with this recipe:

• Melt 4 cups of pure soap flakes in 4 cups of boiling water that has been poured into a large mixing bowl. Mix well with the stick blender or whisk, or use an electric blender.
• Add 1 cup of denatured alcohol (and 1 tablespoon of essential oil, though optional) and mix well.
• Pour the mixture into the resealable container. Leave the container overnight for the mixture to set to a firm jelly.
• Rub a small amount into a stain. Or dissolve 1 tablespoon of wool wash in lukewarm water. Swish or soak the garment in warm water, and then rinse well.
  

DIY Laundry Bleach Pen

A laundry bleach pen helps you precisely aim chlorine bleach on stains in white or light-colored portions of multicolored garments. You can purchase a commercially made bleach pen or make your own stored in a small, plastic squirt bottle with a pointed tip. Make the mixture in small batches because it will lose potency after three months. This bleach solution can also be used to create designs on colored fabrics. Take these steps for a homemade bleach pen:

• Dissolve 3 tablespoons of cornstarch (thickener) in a small saucepan filled with 3/4 cup water.
• Boil the mixture, stirring continuously until it becomes translucent and pudding-like. Then, let it cool completely.
• Add 4 to 7 tablespoons of chlorine bleach slowly until you have the desired consistency and strength. The gel will thin a bit.
• Fill a clean, empty squirt bottle with the mixture and clearly label the bottle.
  

DIY Laundry Fragrance Enhancer

Control the fragrance of your laundry without the expense or the added chemicals of commercial brands by making laundry fragrance enhancers. The mix is safe for standard and high-efficiency washers. As with any cleaning product, label and store it away from children. Make it with these steps:

• Add roughly 10 drops of essential oil to 1 cup of Epsom salt. You can add more or less essential oil, depending on the level of fragrance you want.
• Stir the oil into the salt well.
• Add 1/4 cup of the scented salt directly to the washer drum with your laundry detergent.
• Store the mixture in an airtight plastic storage container that's clearly labeled.
  

DIY Laundry Fabric Softener

Homemade fabric softener is inexpensive and easy to make. It's a great choice for those with chemical sensitivity to perfumes and dyes, it's safe to use on all fabrics, and it can be used in standard or high-efficiency washers. Make it like this:

• Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into a gallon or larger plastic jug.
• Add 1 cup water to the jug, and stir to dissolve the baking soda. Then, add the remaining 3 cups of water.
• Slowly add the 3 cups of distilled white vinegar. Do not pour quickly or the baking soda and vinegar can react and fizz out of the bottle.
• Add 5 to 10 drops of your favorite essential oil, if desired.
• Add 1/2 cup of the mixture (for one load) directly to the washer's fabric softener dispenser. Or add it manually to the final rinse cycle.
  

DIY Laundry Starch and Sizing

Using starch or sizing on a freshly ironed shirt gives it a smooth, crisp, and polished look. Starch also adds more body to a garment. Laundry sizing is simply a lighter version of starch that makes ironing easier. It is simple to make and use in just minutes:

• Pour 2 cups of cold water into a spray bottle, then add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch. Shake well until the cornstarch is dissolved. Add 1 teaspoon more cornstarch to the water if you like heavier starch for shirt collars and cuffs.
• Shake the bottle before each use. After spraying, let the starch absorb into the fabric for at least 30 seconds before ironing with the steam feature.
• Clean the bottom of your iron after each use.
• Store the DIY starch in the refrigerator between ironing sessions.
  

DIY Fabric Refresher

Commercial fabric refreshers can help to revive musty fabrics. If you like the convenience but not the price or chemicals of these sprays, you can make them at home. Use this quick and simple recipe:

• Pour 1 cup of baking soda into a 24-ounce plastic spray bottle, and add hot water to fill. Shake the bottle well to dissolve the baking soda.
• Add 10 to 12 drops of your favorite essential oil and shake again.
  
• Shake the bottle before use. Spray lightly in sweeping motions about 8 to 12 inches away from the fabric. Do not saturate the fabric (this can leave residue on the fabric).
• Let the fabric dry thoroughly before using or storing it to prevent mold and mildew. Hang it in a spot with good airflow away from direct sunlight.

DIY Dryer Balls

Dryer balls are added to wet laundry in the dryer to fluff clothes, speed drying time, and keep clothes free of static. Buy commercially made wool or PVC dryer balls or make them yourself out of natural material, which holds together and controls static better. You will make ball "cores" that you will wrap again for larger balls. These balls should last for several years. Here are the steps to make dryer balls:

• Make ball cores by winding any color of 100 percent wool yarn or 100 percent wool fabric strips into 2 1/2 inch balls. Tuck the end of the yarn or fabric under other strands to finish.
• Place the balls into an old sock or pantyhose leg. Use cotton string to tie off the space between each ball in the leg.
• Add the sock or pantyhose to a pan of water and bring to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat source and allow the balls to soak in the hot water to shrink and become matted until the water cools. (Dye transfer from colored wool is fine since the balls are for dryer use.)
• Squeeze excess water from the balls and put the sock or pantyhose in the dryer on high heat. Once everything is dry, cut the strings between the balls and remove them from the sock or pantyhose. The balls will be smaller, fuzzy, and matted.
• Wrap more wool yarn or fabric strips around these ball cores until they reach 3 1/2 inches in diameter. Repeat the hot water soak and drying process above to get the finished product.
• Add two or three dryer balls to each load of wet laundry.