How to Make Homemade Laundry Soap (DIY)

✨ Stop Buying Overpriced Suds! My Crazy-Easy DIY Laundry Soap That Costs 4¢ a Load

Confession time: I used to think homemade laundry soap was for crunchy hippies and extreme couponers. 🙈 Then I saw my store-bought “eco-friendly” detergent’s ingredient list – “fragrance,” “optical brighteners,” and 20 unpronounceable chemicals. Worse? That $24 bottle lasted three weeks. My wallet screamed.

Turns out, commercial detergents are 80% water and fillers. But get this: With three dirt-cheap ingredients, you can make a YEAR’S supply of powerful soap for under $20. After testing 12 recipes (and one hilarious soap blob disaster), here’s the foolproof formula.

🧼 Why DIY Laundry Soap Smokes Store-Bought

Let’s get real: Big brands spend billions convincing us we need 17 specialized products. Spoiler: You don’t. Check this showdown:

(Sources: EPA on detergent pollutants, Plastic Oceans report)

My “aha!” moment? When I tested DIY soap on my kid’s mud-stained soccer jersey. Store-bought left ghostly residues. My DIY mix? Stain vanished. Science backs this: Washing soda (sodium carbonate) breaks down oils and grease better than many surfactants (University of Washington study).

🧺 Your 10-Minute, 3-Ingredient Magic Potion

You’ll need:

• 1 bar pure soap (like Zote or Fels-Naptha – avoid “moisturizing” bars!)

• 1 cup washing soda (NOT baking soda!)

• 1 cup borax (yes, it’s safe – EPA confirms)

• 5-gallon bucket (or a large pot)

• (Optional) 20 drops essential oil (lavender/tea tree for antimicrobial boost)

🔥 Step-by-Step: Watch That Bar Soap Disappear!

1. Grate that bar like vengeful cheese 🧀 (Pro tip: Use food processor = 30 seconds).
   *”First time, I hand-grated. My arm still twitches.” – Me, 2022*

2. Add 12 cups water to a pot + grated soap. Heat on medium until fully melted (NO boiling!).

3. Pour into bucket + add 3 gallons HOT water + washing soda + borax. Stir like you mean it.

4. Let it sit overnight → it’ll gel into a glossy pudding. Stir in essential oils if using.

5. Use ½ cup per load (⅓ cup for HE machines). Shake well before each use!

✨ Bonus Hack: For powdered soap, spread mixture on baking sheets to dry, then blend!

🌿 Why This Works (The Nerdy Science I Love)

• Washing soda softens water, letting soap lift stains effectively (Ohio State study).

• Borax disinfects, whitens, and kills odor-causing bacteria (National Library of Medicine).

• Pure soap (sodium tallowate/coconut oil) cuts grease without synthetic junk.

Real talk: Avoid castile soap (like Dr. Bronner’s) – it creates soap scum. Stick with laundry-specific bars!

🚫 3 “Oops!” Moments I Had (Save Yourself!)

1. Soap Didn’t Fully Melt? → Gritty clothes. Fix: Simmer longer (low heat!) and strain.

2. Mixture Too Thick? → Add warm water + stir. It thickens as it cools!

3. HE Machine Worries? → I’ve used this in my Samsung HE for 2 years. Zero issues.

💰 The Math That’ll Make You Furious

My last batch:

• Zote soap ($1.50)

• Arm & Hammer Washing Soda ($4.50)

• 20 Mule Team Borax ($4.99)
  = $10.99 total → 256 loads → 4¢/load!

Compare to Tide ($0.33/load): You save $74/year!

🌍 More Than Savings: Planet & Health Wins

• No microplastics (most liquid detergents contain them – University of Plymouth)

• Gentler on skin (no methylisothiazolinone preservatives linked to rashes)

• Biodegradable ingredients that won’t choke rivers

🌈 Your DIY Journey Starts Now

Grab those three ingredients tonight. Whack that soap bar like it owes you money. Your clothes (and planet) will thank you.

“Switching to DIY soap felt like cheating capitalism. My clothes smell like actual CLEAN – not ‘fake alpine meadow.’” – Me, now a smug soap evangelist