Learn how to make your very own liquid laundry detergent! This recipe is easy and quick to make and sure to save you money. Add this liquid laundry detergent recipe to your clean-living home rotations.
We’ve also created FREE printable labels for your laundry detergent that you’ll find at the bottom of this post!
With it being the start of 2025, I am sure lots of us have goals, dreams, and big ideas we want to achieve this year. I am usually not a big fan New Years resolution; I like to simply live a steadfast like. I desire to be consistent, not to always have big goals I feel I need to accomplish.
Although, this year, my husband and I did sit down together to do some planning of the year ahead and write down things we would like to see happen this year. We had a few categories of goals we set. One of those categories being finances. I know, it can be a messy subject, right?
Well, we have goals of how much money we would like to save this year, as well as make. Now, being the one in the family who does the grocery shopping, I take that as a challenge to see how much I can save in that department.
Homemade Saves Money
One way to save when it comes to groceries is by making as many things at home as possible. Whether that is making food at home that I would normally buy like tortillas or granola. Or even further than that and making your own cleaning supplies like this homemade cleaner.
Something everyone spends lots of time doing, whether it is just you and your husband, or you have a bunch of kiddos running around is laundry. It seems to be a task that always needs to be done. I seem to have laundry detergent on my grocery list often.
When it comes to buying laundry detergent, I get so tired of constantly trying to sift through all the options to find one with clean ingredients.
This homemade liquid laundry detergent will help with saving money and by offering cleaner ingredients to your loads of laundry.
Why You Will Love This Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent
This homemade liquid laundry detergent makes a lot! It is not one of those homemade recipes that won’t last you a long time. You can be sure that this recipe will last you just as long, if not longer, than store-bought laundry detergent.
This recipe also doubles well! If you desire to make it in bulk even more than it already is, it is easy to double or even triple the recipe.
Most importantly, this liquid laundry detergent is cheap to make. It requires only 4 simple ingredients (5 counting essential oils if using). Among those 4 ingredients, two can be bought in bulk and used over and over again to make lots of batches of this recipe. Another one of those ingredients is free – water!
This recipe is clean ingredients only! Say goodbye to harsh chemicals in your laundry detergent. You can be sure that your clothes will be washed very clean without any harsh chemicals present. No harsh chemicals mean no skin irritation, no disruption of hormones, and no raspatory issues. Honestly, the list goes on and on. Although just those three say a lot!
Why Did My Liquid Laundry Detergent Turn into A Gel?
If your home is cooler, it can cause the liquid laundry detergent to turn into a gel or gummy like consistency. Now, sometimes this just happens, it may be unavoidable. Although, there are a few things you can do to prevent this from happening.
Be sure to note that if the laundry detergent does gel, it is still completely usable and will work well!
- Try adding more water to the laundry detergent in the thickening process so it isn’t too thick.
- Make sure the water you add into the mixture is hot enough. Cold water can cause clumps and hardening.
- Try using hot distilled water. Not distilled water can have bad molecules in it that could cause clumps.
- When heating all the ingredients, make sure all the ingredients get dissolved.
- Keep the detergent at a consistent room temperature.
If this ends up happening, don’t throw it away! It is still effective and usable. You could cut into cubes and that be your measure of detergent per load!
Ingredients
Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda – NOT BAKING SODA, the two are very different! Your local grocery store should have this in the laundry isle.
20 Mule Team Borax – Again, this can be found in the laundry isle at your local grocery store.
Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Bar Soap – Using a box grater, grate the bars on the smallest setting.
Essential Oils – Optional
Tools You May Need
Box Grater
Large Pot
Measuring Cups
Large Mixing Spoon
Plate/Cutting Board
Large Mason Jar(s)/Bucket
How to Make Liquid Laundry Detergent Step-by-Step
To start, using a box grater, grate the two bars of Dr. Bronner’s Castile Bar Soap. Grate the soap on the smallest possible grating section on the box grater.
Once grated, add the soap to a large pot along with 6 cups of water. Heat the mixture on low until the soap is fully dissolved into the water. Stirring here and there to help with the dissolving process.
Next, add the super washing soda and borax into the water and melted soap mixture. Stir until everything has dissolved and the mixture is thick.
Remove from the heat and add 4 more cups of hot water. Stirring to combine.
If the mixture is still pretty thick, continue to add more water, a cup at a time, until you have reached the desired consistency.
Let cool for about 10 minutes, then pour into heat safe jars.
If you desire to add essential oils, add into the jars now and stir to distribute.
Store in your laundry room at room temperature.
Add your own labels with these FREE printable labels we’ve created for you! Download them HERE.
*Use 2 tablespoons per load, 2 1/2 tablespoons for large loads and 1 1/2 tablespoons for small loads.
Again, if it gels after a few days, it is still completely usable!
Download and print your own labels!
Don’t forget to make your laundry detergent mason jar beautiful and organized with a cute label! You can download our liquid laundry detergent labels as well as the ingredients label to add to your jar! Download them HERE!
Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent
This homemade liquid laundry detergent will save you money and is made with only 4 simple ingredients! These 4 ingredients are clean and will ensure no harsh chemicals in your laundry detergent. Learn how to make this simple but effective recipe.
Materials
- 1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
- 2 Cups Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda
- 2 bars Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile Bar Soap
- 10 Cups Hot Water, plus more if needed
- Essential Oils (optional)
Tools
- Box Grater
- Large Pot/Dutch Oven
- Large Mixing Spoon
- Measuring Cups
- Plate/Cutting Board
Instructions
- To start, using a box grater on the smallest grate possible, shred the 2 bars of pure castile soap.
- Once grated, add the soap into a large pot or Dutch oven along with 6 cups of hot water.
- Heat the mixture on low heat until the soap is dissolved. Stirring occasionally to help promote dissolving.
- Once the soap is dissolved into the water, add the 1 cup of Mule Team Borax to the water as well as the 2 cups of Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda.
- Heat and Stir until the powders are fully dissolved into the water and the mixture is thick.
- Remove from the heat and add in 4 more cups of hot water and stir well.
- If the mixture still seems very thick, add a cup of hot water at a time, stirring until you get desired consistency.
- Let cool for about 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, pour the mixture into heat safe jars, like mason jars.
- If using essential oils, add into the jars and stir well.
- Store in your laundry room at room temperature.
- Use 2 tablespoons for regular loads use 2 1/2 tablespoons for large loads and 1 1/2 tablespoons for small loads.
Notes
If after a few days the detergent gels, this is completely normal, and the detergent is still usable and effective! Just spoon into the loads.
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