This natural homemade laundry detergent uses just four simple ingredients and is easy and cheap to whip up, even if you are short on time.
![natural homemade laundry detergent in a glass jar](https://homelifeonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Make-Natural-Homemade-Laundry-Detergent-Powder-featured-image.png)
Laundry detergent is actually a relatively easy thing that you can make.
Not to mention the amount of money that you can save by making your own laundry detergent!
When you make your own homemade cleaning products, you have the flexibility to know exactly what is going into them.
And another great reason to make your own homemade laundry detergent is that it is really hard to mess up!
Even if you don’t add the right ratios of everything, it will most likely still clean your clothing just as effectively.
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![homemade laundry detergent in a jar](https://homelifeonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Make-Natural-Homemade-Laundry-Detergent-Powder-10-768x1024.jpg)
The ingredients
This recipe uses only four ingredients! I love how easy it is to whip up, especially because I always put off making laundry soap until I am all the way out.
You will need washing soda (not the same thing as baking soda), borax, epsom salt, and one bar of soap to make one batch of this natural laundry detergent.
I recommend making more than one batch of this detergent so that you only have to do it once in awhile.
I included a big batch recipe towards the end of this post so you don’t have to do the math.
![ingredients for laundry detergent](https://homelifeonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Make-Natural-Homemade-Laundry-Detergent-Powder-2-1024x768.jpg)
washing soda
Washing soda helps soften water as well as fight grease and stains in clothes.
It is different from baking soda, so don’t swap it out for that.
You’ll need one and one half cups of washing soda.
borax
This stuff has been used for years on laundry to get rid of odors, brighten and whiten clothes as well as soften water and fabric.
It is a great laundry detergent enhancer, making the detergent work better.
You will need one cup of borax.
epsom salt
Epsom salt also helps soften clothes, as well as, reduce static and helps to get rid of stains.
It can also help rinse out any soap scum and residue out of your washing machine. This will help your washing machine clean more efficiently.
Use one half cup of epsom salt.
![grated soap on a cutting board](https://homelifeonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Make-Natural-Homemade-Laundry-Detergent-Powder-5-768x1024.jpg)
bar soap
For this recipe, you can use basically any type of bar soap that you have.
You can use a bar soap that is made for laundry, such as fels naptha laundry bar, or you can just use your favorite natural bar soap.
Just make sure that the soap bar you use is around 4 ounces.
Also, if you are trying to stay away from fragrances, make sure the soap bar you use does not contain any!
How to make natural laundry detergent
Grab a jar or container that you will use for storing your laundry detergent in.
Add to the jar the following:
- 1 and 1/2 cups of washing soda
- 1 cup of borax
- 1/2 cup of epsom salt
Next, using a box grater, grate one bar of soap, using the side with the smallest holes.
![grating a bar of soap](https://homelifeonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Make-Natural-Homemade-Laundry-Detergent-Powder-4-1024x768.jpg)
Pour the grated soap bar into the jar with the other ingredients.
Mix everything together and you are ready to do laundry!
![mixing the laundry soap together](https://homelifeonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Make-Natural-Homemade-Laundry-Detergent-Powder-7-1024x768.jpg)
Big batch laundry detergent recipe
Use the same process as above to make this laundry detergent, just use these amounts of ingredients. This larger batch makes is 4x the original recipe size.
- 6 cups washing soda
- 4 cups borax
- 2 cups epsom salt
- 4 bars soap
How much laundry detergent should I use per load?
This is a highly concentrated laundry detergent so you will only need to use a little bit of it.
For a regular sized load of laundry, add 2 tablespoons of your homemade laundry detergent powder.
If you have a particularly large load, or it is extra dirty, you can add up to 1/4 of a cup of laundry detergent.
![natural homemade laundry detergent in a glass jar](https://harmonymeadowhomestead.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/How-to-Make-Natural-Homemade-Laundry-Detergent-Powder-featured-image-300x300.png)
Natural Laundry Detergent
Equipment
- box grater
- container, such as a jar
- wooden spoon
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups washing soda
- 1 cup borax
- 1/2 cup epsom salt
- 1 bar soap
Instructions
- To your jar or container, add washing soda, borax, and epsom salt.
- Next, using a box grater, grate the bar of soap using the side with the smallest holes.
- Add the grated soap bar to the other ingredients and stir it all together.
Notes
pin it for later
![4 ingredient homemade laundry detergent](https://homelifeonadime.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/NaturalHomemade-Laundry-Detergent-pin-image-576x1024.png)
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