DIY Laundry Detergent Powder is easier to make than you think! With just a few simple ingredients like borax, washing soda, and bar soap, you’ll have a budget-friendly, effective way to clean your clothes.
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One of my favorite splurges is to buy powder laundry detergent at the candle/fragrance boutiques that have been so popular lately. It's such a nice little "life upgrade" to have fabulous smelling laundry!
One problem: it's not cheap. With most higher-end laundry detergents (think Tyler Candle Diva Laundry Detergent, which I do love), you're paying upwards of $0.75-$1.00 per load.
Not in this economy, friends.
Today, I thought I'd show you an incredibly easy way to make this laundry detergent at home at a fraction of the price. I've been doing this for almost a year now and don't miss the boutique detergent at all!
Why You'll Love Homemade Laundry Detergent
- Get that boutique laundry detergent, without the boutique price tag. We're going to make a dupe that costs about a quarter of the price of those higher-end boutique detergents.
- Works just as well (maybe better?) than the original. I still get complements on how our clothes smell all the time!
- Makes a ton of detergent. I got over 6 months of use out of the last batch of this I made. It takes maybe 10 minutes to mix and lasts so long.
Ingredients
- 2 bars fels naptha soap - This is the only ingredient that requires any pre-prep. Using a cheese grater or a food processor, you'll want to grate this into fine shreds. (I have a Kitchenaid Cheese Grater Attachment that makes this part really easy!)
- 1 box washing soda - Look for the Arm & Hammer brand in the yellow box.
- ½ box Oxi-Clean - This is not an ingredient you'll find in most other recipes and is honestly optional, but I've found it adds a lot of stain-fighting power to your detergent.
- 1 box borax
- 4 oz fragrance oil - This is also another optional ingredient, but this is what's going to add that boutique fragrance. I use a lot in my detergent because I like a really strong smell, but I recommend starting at around 4oz (½ cup) and working your way up from there. You can always add more, but you can't take it out!
Where to Buy Fragrance Oil
There are two main places online that I would recommend buying your fragrance oil: Nature's Garden Candles and Lone Star Candle Supply. You can find fragrance oils almost anywhere - Amazon, Walmart, you name it - but if you want high-quality, skin-safe options, these two websites are your best bet.
You can find a lot of really popular dupe scents at these sites, too. Check out the name-brand imitations at Lone Star and the comparable fragrances at Nature's Garden for those dupes...there are hundreds! My personal favorite is Diva from Lone Star (that's what I'm using today), and I know Narcissist from Nature's Garden is a really popular scent as well.
What does each ingredient do?
Each of these ingredients serves a different purpose in the cleaning process...
- fels naptha soap - This is a great ingredient for removing stains & grease from clothing. Tip: keep a bar of fels naptha by the washer for quick stain removal; just rub it into the stain!
- washing soda - This will make your soap work more effectively. It raises the PH of the water (which we desperately need in our area), allowing the grime to stay in the water after washing. This is also great for knocking out smells in dirty clothing.
- Oxi-Clean - The best stain fighter out there! If my load of laundry is especially dirty, I'll add another half scoop of just Oxi-Clean - but typically all a regular load needs is what's in this recipe.
- borax - Similar to washing soda, this is going to soften that hard water, allowing the detergent to neutralize stains and reduce odor in your laundry.
How to Make DIY Laundry Detergent Powder
- Use a cheese grater or food processor to shred your 2 fels naptha bars into very fine shreds. Get the pieces as close to a powder consistency as possible.
- In a large container, mix together all ingredients besides the fragrance oil. I like using a big, shallow plastic container for this - all you need to do is cover and shake it to blend everything.
- After the powder elements are mixed, slowly (an ounce or two at a time) pour the fragrance oil over the powder and kind of mash it in using a spoon until the clumps are broken up. I pour this in slowly, mix well, and make sure it's blended before adding any more.
How to Use This Detergent
Amounts: Most sources recommend using 1–2 tablespoons of this detergent per load (for high efficiency machines) and 2-3 tablespoons per load (for regular machines). Personally, I’ve found that just under ¼ cup (about 3 tablespoons) works best for my laundry load size.
I suggest starting with a couple of tablespoons and adjusting as needed to find the right amount for your machine and soil level.
To Use: Add about half of your laundry to the washer drum, sprinkle the detergent evenly over it, then add the rest of the load. Wash on a regular cycle with warm water.
To Pre-Soak Stubborn Stains: Add ¼-1/2 cup of powder detergent to 4-6 cups warm water and dissolve. Add any stained laundry and soak for an hour before washing.
Want to simplify laundry for your whole household? Learn how to create a family laundry routine that saves time and keeps everyone on track!
Helpful Tips & Tricks
- This detergent should be stored (covered) in a cool, dry place. I recommend a countertop or cabinet, not on top of your dryer - the heat from the dryer can degrade it.
- You'll need roughly a 2-gallon storage container to store this amount of detergent. I have this jar from Walmart - pretty and inexpensive! You can also just store it in the plastic container you used to mix it.
- If it sits for awhile (especially in humid areas), it tends to clump. Just stir it occasionally with a wooden spoon to prevent this.
- As of publish date, I've calculated the cost of this recipe to around $31. That includes the $10 price of 4oz of fragrance oil - without it, you're looking at a significantly cheaper project.
- All in all, you'll get roughly 12 pounds of laundry detergent from this recipe. That translates (very loosely) to about 168 loads if you use ¼ cup increments, or about 20 cents per load!
- Just as with any other detergent, grime can build up in your washing machine over time. I suggest occasionally cleaning your washing machine to combat this.
- I like to scent my wool dryer balls with the same fragrance oil I use in the detergent. Just add a few drops to the dryer ball with a dropper, let the ball sit overnight to absorb the oil, then run it in an empty dryer for 20-30 minutes. (Always check that your fragrance oil is heat-safe - some aren’t made to handle dryer temperatures and could pose a fire risk.)
I hope you love this money-saving home hack! If you give it a try, I'd love for you to rate and review the recipe below. And make sure to follow along for the newest recipes (edible and non-edible 😉) from the blog!
How to Make DIY Laundry Detergent Powder
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Equipment
- 1 large plastic or glass container
- 1 cheese grater
Ingredients
- 10 oz fels naptha bar soap (2 bars)
- 55 oz washing soda (1 box)
- 3.6 lbs oxi-clean (½ a box)
- 65 oz borax (1 box)
- 4 oz fragrance oil (optional)
Instructions
- Using a cheese grater, grate the Fels Naptha bars into fine bits.
- In a large plastic or glass container, mix together all dry ingredients. Once mixed, sprinkle fragrance oil over mixture and use a large spoon to mash the oil into the powder, until there are no larger chunks.
- Store powder detergent in a cool, dry place. Use approximately ¼ cup per load of laundry.
Notes
- Store your detergent in a cool, dry place. If it begins to clump, simple stir with a wooden spoon.
- Amount: Use 1-2 tbsp for HE machines, 2-3 tbsp for standard machines.
- To Use: dd half the laundry, sprinkle detergent, add the rest, and wash on warm, regular cycle.
- Recipe costs about $31 with fragrance oil, about half of that without fragrance oil.
- Makes 12 lbs, or roughly 168 loads at ¼ cup per load.
- Clean your washer occasionally to prevent buildup.
- To scent dryer balls: add a few drops of fragrance oil to wool dryer balls, let sit overnight, then tumble in empty dryer 20-30 minutes (check that oil is heat-safe).
Leslie Lambert is a lifestyle writer and content creator specializing in home organization, family recipes, and intentional living. With 16 years of experience in blogging and digital storytelling, she helps busy women create calm, purposeful homes they love.
