Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe

This homemade laundry detergent recipe is a thick, concentrated laundry sauce made with Fels Naptha, 20 Mule Team Borax, Arm & Hammer Washing Soda, and water to help clean everyday laundry while stretching the household budget.

It makes 2 quarts of homemade laundry soap, uses just 1 tablespoon per load, and is a practical DIY laundry recipe for families who feel like the washing machine never stops running.

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Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe

If you are searching for a homemade laundry detergent recipe that uses simple laundry aisle ingredients, this is the one I have made in big batches for our family. It is sometimes called laundry sauce because it whips into a thick, creamy detergent instead of staying thin like a liquid laundry soap.

The recipe uses one bar of Fels Naptha, Borax, washing soda, and hot water. The soap helps lift grime, the washing soda helps boost cleaning power, and the Borax helps soften water and support the wash. The final mixture is concentrated, so you only need 1 tablespoon added directly with the dirty clothes.

This is for the household that has towels in the hamper, jeans on the laundry room floor, and someone asking, “Is my favorite shirt clean?” five minutes before leaving the house. In other words, it is for real-life laundry.

When I first made this, part of my New Year’s resolution was to stretch our budget further. We were already making our own dishwasher detergent cubes, and with the amount of laundry at my house, I decided I was tired of washing my money down the drain.

After a little trial and error, the kiddos and I ended up making 16 quarts of laundry sauce. Each quart washed about 64 loads. At the time, I had less than $2.00 invested in each quart jar. Prices change, of course, but the old-fashioned satisfaction of seeing those jars lined up on the shelf still feels like a Grandma-approved victory.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This homemade clothes detergent is budget-friendly, concentrated, and made with easy-to-find ingredients from the laundry aisle.

It stores beautifully in mason jars, which makes it feel tidy and manageable instead of like one more giant jug taking over the laundry room.

It is also a good project if you like practical DIY home hacks that actually earn their keep. There is stirring involved, and yes, your arm will know it, but the reward is a shelf full of laundry sauce ready for load after load.

Ingredients

You only need four ingredients for this laundry sauce recipe.

• 1 bar Fels Naptha
• 1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
• 1 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda, not baking soda
• 4 cups water, plus additional boiling water for filling the jars

I found these ingredients at Walmart on the laundry detergent and fabric softener aisle. Most grocery stores, big box stores, and hardware stores with a laundry section carry them too.

Ingredient Notes

Fels Naptha: This is the bar soap that gets grated and dissolved. Cutting it into small cubes before grating or processing makes the job easier.

Borax: Use 20 Mule Team Borax. It helps support cleaning and works especially well in this old-fashioned laundry soap recipe.

Washing soda: Use Arm & Hammer Washing Soda, not baking soda. They are not the same product, and the recipe depends on washing soda.

Water: You will start with 4 cups of water in the saucepan, then use additional boiling water to bring each jar up to the shoulder.

How to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent

Follow this homemade laundry detergent recipe closely. If the powders are not fully dissolved or the jar size is changed, the sauce may not set correctly or it may turn grainy.

Place 4 cups of water in a large saucepan and bring it to a boil over high heat.

While the water heats, combine the Borax and washing soda in a separate bowl until well mixed. Set it aside.

Grate the Fels Naptha. I found the easiest way to do this was to slice the bar into small cubes and pulse it in my food processor until the pieces were about pea-size. You can also grate it with a cheese grater if you are feeling ambitious.

Once the water is at a heavy boil, reduce the heat from high to medium-high. Add the grated Fels Naptha to the pan, stirring constantly.

Set a timer for 15 minutes and keep stirring while the mixture stays at a rolling boil. The Fels Naptha should completely dissolve. You do not want the mixture to rise in the pan or foam heavily, so adjust the heat as needed.

When the Fels Naptha is fully dissolved, remove the pan from the heat. Add the Borax and washing soda mixture, stirring constantly until the powders are completely dissolved. This took us about 7 minutes. Stir until you cannot feel a grainy texture at the bottom of the pan.

Pour the liquid equally into two 1-quart mason jars. Do not vary the jar size because the mixture may not set the same way.

Add enough boiling water to bring the contents of each mason jar up to the rounded shoulder of the jar. Leave about 1 1/2 inches of empty space at the top.

Place the lids on the jars, turn them upside down, and let them sit for 4 to 5 hours. The soap will separate into layers, and small crystals may form. Keeping the jar upside down helps keep you from scraping crystals off the bottom later.

After the jars have rested, blend the contents until fluffy and combined. If you have a blender that works with a regular-mouth mason jar, that makes it easy. I did not, so I dumped the jar contents into my blender, scraped the jar well, and whipped the mixture until it was smooth and fluffy.

Pour the laundry sauce back into the jar, add the lid, and store it on the shelf.

Use 1 tablespoon per load. Do not add any other detergent. Do not put this laundry sauce in the detergent compartment. Add it directly in with the dirty clothes.

How Much Homemade Laundry Detergent to Use

Use 1 tablespoon of laundry sauce per regular load of laundry.

This homemade laundry detergent is concentrated. More is not better. Adding too much can leave residue on clothes, especially if you have a high-efficiency washer, hard water, or you are washing in cold water.

Add the tablespoon directly into the washer drum with the dirty clothes. Do not put it in the detergent dispenser.

Tips for Success

Stir until everything is fully dissolved. This is the step that makes the biggest difference between a smooth laundry sauce and a grainy one.

Use the right jar size. This recipe is written for two 1-quart mason jars. The setting and whipping process works best when the jar size stays consistent.

Let the jars rest upside down. It looks a little odd sitting on the counter, but it saves you from scraping crystals from the bottom of the jar.

Blend the soap after it sets. This is what gives the homemade laundry detergent its fluffy, sauce-like texture.

Troubleshooting Homemade Laundry Sauce

Why is my homemade laundry detergent grainy?

Grainy laundry sauce usually means the Borax and washing soda did not fully dissolve. Stir longer next time and make sure you cannot feel powder on the bottom of the pan before pouring the mixture into jars.

Why did my laundry sauce separate?

Some separation is normal while the jars rest. That is why the mixture gets blended after it sets. Once whipped, it should become creamy and spoonable.

Why did my laundry detergent not set?

The most common reasons are changing the jar size, adding too much water, not dissolving the ingredients fully, or not letting the jars rest long enough.

Can I use baking soda instead of washing soda?

No. Use washing soda for this recipe. Baking soda and washing soda are different products, and swapping them can change the way the detergent works and sets.

Safety Notes for Homemade Laundry Soap

Keep Borax, washing soda, Fels Naptha, and finished laundry sauce away from children and pets. Label the jars clearly so no one mistakes them for food.

Use a dedicated grater or food processor bowl if you prefer not to use kitchen tools for soap. If you use regular kitchen tools, wash them thoroughly afterward.

Do not mix this homemade laundry detergent with bleach, ammonia, or other cleaning products.

If your washer manufacturer gives specific detergent instructions, follow your machine’s care guide first.

Can I Use This Homemade Laundry Detergent in an HE Washer?

Many readers use homemade laundry sauce in high-efficiency washers because it is low-sudsing, but always check your washer manual first.

If you try it in an HE washer, use only 1 tablespoon and add it directly to the drum with the clothes, not the detergent compartment.

Variations and Creative Ideas

This recipe is best made as written, especially the first time. Once you know how the texture should look and feel, you can make small adjustments to how you store and label it.

For a tidy laundry shelf, pour the finished laundry sauce into clean mason jars and add simple labels with the date and “1 tablespoon per load.”

You can also keep a tablespoon scoop tied to the jar with twine so no one has to guess the amount. Around here, guessing usually means someone uses enough soap for a small village.

Perfect With…

This homemade laundry detergent is perfect with a simple laundry reset day. Wash towels, refresh sheets, fold everything while it is still warm, and make the laundry room feel like you have your life together for at least seven whole minutes.

For a fuller DIY cleaning shelf, pair it with homemade fabric softener, DIY dryer sheets, and homemade dishwasher detergent cubes.

You can also find more budget-friendly household ideas in my DIY Home Hacks and DIY Cleaning Recipes categories.

Storage

Store homemade laundry detergent in clean, labeled quart jars with tight-fitting lids.

Keep the jars in a cool, dry place away from children and pets. A laundry room shelf, utility closet, or cabinet works well.

If the laundry sauce thickens more over time, stir it before using. If it separates slightly, give it a good mix with a spoon.

Make-Ahead Tips

This is a great make-ahead laundry recipe because it stores well and uses only 1 tablespoon per load.

The recipe makes 2 quarts, but you can make multiple batches if you have the counter space, jars, and stirring stamina. When the kiddos and I made our big batch, we made 16 quarts and had enough laundry sauce for about 1,024 loads.

That kind of shelf stockpile makes a laundry mountain feel a little less bossy.

Pinterest-Friendly Laundry Room Ideas

Homemade laundry detergent looks charming stored in mason jars with simple handwritten labels. If you are taking photos for a laundry room organization board, style the jars with folded white towels, a faded gingham cloth, a wooden scoop, and a little basket of clothespins.

This recipe is practical first, but there is no rule that saving money cannot look pretty on the shelf.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is laundry sauce?

Laundry sauce is a thick, concentrated homemade laundry detergent. This version is made with Fels Naptha, Borax, washing soda, and water, then blended until creamy.

How do you make your own laundry detergent?

To make your own laundry detergent, dissolve grated Fels Naptha in boiling water, stir in Borax and washing soda until smooth, pour into quart jars, let it set, then blend until fluffy.

How much homemade laundry detergent should I use per load?

Use 1 tablespoon per load. Add it directly into the washer drum with the dirty clothes.

Can I put homemade laundry detergent in the detergent dispenser?

No. This laundry sauce is thick, so add it directly with the clothes instead of using the detergent compartment.

Is homemade laundry detergent the same as homemade clothes detergent?

Yes, readers often search for homemade clothes detergent when they mean homemade laundry detergent. This recipe is made for washing everyday clothing, towels, and linens.

Can I make this laundry detergent without Borax?

This recipe was tested with Borax, so I do not recommend leaving it out. Changing the ingredients can affect the cleaning power and the way the laundry sauce sets.

Does homemade laundry detergent save money?

It can. When I made a large batch, I had less than $2.00 invested in each quart jar, and each quart washed about 64 loads. Current savings will depend on ingredient prices in your area.

Why do I need to blend the laundry sauce?

Blending turns the set mixture into a fluffy, creamy detergent that is easier to scoop and use.

Related Posts

If you like this homemade laundry detergent recipe, you may also like these practical DIY cleaning and laundry posts:

• Homemade Fabric Softener
• DIY Dryer Sheets
• DIY Dishwasher Detergent Cubes
• Mason Jar Homespun Soap Dispenser

Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe Card

Use the recipe card below for the exact measurements, step-by-step directions, and printable homemade laundry detergent instructions.

Final Thoughts

This homemade laundry detergent recipe is one of those old-fashioned home hacks that feels both practical and satisfying. It takes a little time, a sturdy stirring arm, and a few simple ingredients, but the reward is a shelf full of laundry sauce ready for real family laundry.

And if your house is anything like mine, there will be another load waiting before you even put the spoon away.

Next Recipe to Try

Next, make homemade fabric softener to go with your laundry sauce, or browse more ideas in DIY Cleaning Recipes.