I've officially gone into full homesteader mode. Next week, I'll be churning butter in a bonnet. 😂 But seriously, I wanted to try making homemade powder laundry detergent soap because of all the hype. Spoiler alert: it was a fail - unlike my homemade baking powder recipe!
If grating a bar of soap in your kitchen sounds like something your great-grandmother did before electricity and Target existed-same! And yet, here we are! I officially decided to make homemade powder laundry detergent soap partly because I'm trying to live more sustainably, and partly because I was curious if homemade detergent actually works.
It turns out you can make homemade laundry detergent soap from scratch in about 5 minutes using just 3 ingredients, but the results were less than impressive.
Despite following best practices for front-loading washers, this soap-based homemade detergent did not clean effectively in my Electrolux machine. The clothes retained odor and visible soil, requiring a second wash with commercial detergent.
I believe one of the main reasons for this failure is that I have a front-loading washing machine, which comes with a warning to only add liquid detergent in the detergent compartment. For this reason, I added the powdered detergent to a small cloth bag and tossed it in with the laundry.
I don't believe that alone was the reason why my laundry did not come out clean. The other contributing factor is that the presets on my washer only allow washing with warm water when using the delicate cycle, which is only 30 minutes long.
I had a friend with a top-loading machine try the detergent, and she had a good experience. She said it cleaned her clothes just as well as her regular detergent. So again, I think the results will depend on the type of washer you have.
Takeaway: This recipe was not effective in my HE front-loading washer on a delicate warm cycle. However, it did the job in a top-loading washer. Results may vary depending on washer type, cycle length, and soil level!
Jump to:
Why Make Homemade Laundry Powder Detergent?
Even though it didn't work in my washer, there are real reasons people are drawn to homemade laundry soap, and for some setups, it can still make sense!
- It Saves Money
Homemade laundry powder detergent costs about 5 cents per load, compared to 20-40 cents per load for most commercial brands. - Cleaner Ingredients
No artificial dyes, fragrances, optical brighteners, or mystery "fresh meadow breeze" chemicals. - Fits a Homestead Lifestyle
If you grow your own food, raise chickens, and spend weekends freeze-drying or preserving food, why not wash clothes with your own laundry soap, too? - Less Plastic Waste
No more bulky detergent jugs.
Even so, this recipe is NOT ideal if you have:
- An HE front-loading washer
- Short or delicate cycles
- Cold or low-water washes
Ingredients & Substitutions
To make homemade laundry powder detergent, you need just 3 ingredients, plus optional add-ins.
- 1 cup shredded soap: Fels-Naptha (recommended) or Castile. The soap lifts grease and soil from fabrics. I tested this recipe using Fels-Naptha, which is specifically formulated for laundry and generally considered more effective than Castile or Zote. Zote is better suited for spot treatment rather than regular washing, as it's a heavier soap that can leave residue and has a strong fragrance that tends to linger in the washer drum. A full bar of shredded soap yields about 2 ½ cups. Because I have an HE washer, I used 1 cup for testing.
- 1 cup washing soda: Must be sodium carbonate, not baking soda. This boosts cleaning and softens water.
- 1 cup borax: Boosts stain removal. Leave out for sensitive skin or septic-safe version. For the borax-free version, skip the borax and add ½ cup more of washing soda or baking soda (gentler, but slightly less effective).
- Essential Oils (optional): 20-30 drops. Adds a mild scent and can be mixed into the detergent, added to the washing machine separately, or sprinkled on a dryer ball.
Equipment Needed
- Cheese grater or food processor (I recommend a food processor)
- Mixing bowl or bucket
- Measuring cup
- Airtight container or jar
Homemade Laundry Detergent Soap Recipe I Tested
- Grate the Soap: Use a box grater or the cheese grater attachment on your food processor (preferably) to grate the soap.
- Combine Ingredients: Add equal amounts of grated soap, washing soda, and borax to the food processor and blend until you have a fine powder. Work in batches, if necessary.
Pro Tip: Although I only used one cup of shredded soap, you can add an entire Fels-Naptha grated bar of soap, or about 21/2 cups in total.
How to Use (Top-Loading Washers Only)
This recipe is not recommended for HE front-loading washers. For standard top-loading washers, use 2 to 4 tablespoons per load. If desired, add essential oils to a dryer ball rather than directly to the washer.
Storage/Shelf Life
Store your homemade laundry detergent in an airtight container. I like this cute laundry container that comes with a scoop. Shelf life is 6-12 months. If it clumps, stir or add a silica packet.
Pro Tip: For tough stains, pre-treat with Zote or Spray and Wash or add a whitening-booster (oxygen bleach or 1 tablespoon hydrogen peroxide).
Variations & Customization
| Variation | Adjustment | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Borax-Free | Skip borax, add more washing soda | Sensitive skin |
| Extra Whitening | Add ¼ cup oxygen bleach | White loads |
| Septic Friendly | Castile soap + no borax | Well systems |
| Scented | Add oils to dryer ball | Longer-lasting smell |
Troubleshooting Tips
- Clothes look dingy: Add an oxygen booster or vinegar in the rinse.
- Towels feel stiff: Add ½ cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle.
- Soap residue: Use less detergent (for top-loading washers only).
If using an HE front loader, residue issues are more likely due to low water volume. - Humid climate clumping: Add a silica packet to the jar. Store in a dry place away from moisture to prevent premature clumping.
- Sensitive skin: Use unscented soap and go borax-free.
FAQ
Most homemade laundry detergent recipes are soap-based (using ingredients like Castile soap or Zote). HE front-loading washers use very little water and shorter, gentler cycles, which makes it difficult for soap-based detergents to dissolve and rinse properly. When I tested this recipe using Fels-Naptha in my Electrolux front-loading washer, the clothes did not come out as clean as I'd hoped, and had to be rewashed using commercial detergent. These recipes may work better in traditional top-loading washers with longer cycles and more water.
Soap and detergent are not the same. Soap-based recipes can struggle to rinse properly in modern HE washers, especially front-loaders, and may lead to residue buildup over time.
Not usually. Add approximately 5 drops of essential oils to a wool dryer ball for a light scent.
Pro Tips
- Washer type matters more than the recipe. Soap-based homemade laundry detergents are far more likely to work in traditional top-loading washers with longer cycles and higher water levels.
- Delicate or quick cycles often don't provide enough agitation or rinse time for powdered soap-based detergents to clean effectively.
- Even finely grated soap can struggle to dissolve fully in low-water HE washers, which can lead to residue, odor retention, or dingy fabrics over time.
- Bars like Zote or Castile are often more effective when used directly on stains rather than as a full-load detergent.
- Washing soda and borax can improve cleaning, but they work best as boosters alongside a proper HE detergent, not as a replacement.
- Fels-Naptha is formulated for laundry and generally works better than Castile or Zote, but it can still struggle to dissolve and rinse properly in HE front-loading washers.
- Water hardness, washer type, cycle length, and soil level all play a role in results!
Final Thoughts
Homemade laundry powder detergent is often presented as a one-size-fits-all solution. In my experience, that simply isn't true - especially for modern front-loading washers. However, if you have an older, top-loading washer, you need to give homemade laundry detergent a try!
If you try this, I'd love to hear how it worked for you!
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