Skip the store-bought detergent with these budget-friendly DIY laundry detergent recipes
If your grocery bill already feels high, laundry detergent is one of those sneaky household costs that quietly drains your budget week after week. Between towels, workout clothes, bedding and endless everyday loads, even “cheap” detergent can add up faster than most people realize.
That’s why more households are turning to homemade laundry detergent. With a few low-cost ingredients and about 15 minutes of prep, you can make a large batch for a fraction of the price of store-bought brands — and stretch your laundry budget a lot further without giving up clean clothes.
How to make homemade liquid laundry detergent
Before mixing any ingredients, put on gloves, safety glasses and a mask. The powdered cleaners and concentrated soaps can irritate your skin, eyes and lungs if handled directly.
A classic homemade laundry detergent recipe comes from Money Talks News founder Stacy Johnson, who shared this formula:
- 1 bar of soap, grated
- 4 cups boiling water
- 3 gallons of water
- 1 cup borax
- ½ cup washing soda
Stir the grated soap into the boiling water until it dissolves, combine with the three gallons of water in a bucket, then mix in the borax and washing soda until the batch thickens.
Utah State University Cooperative Extension publishes a similar version using two cups of grated soap, two cups of borax and two cups of washing soda, combined with two gallons of water.
A recipe for homemade clothes detergent with peroxide
Nashia Baker and Alexandra Kelly of MarthaStewart.com offer a brighter-whites variation built around hydrogen peroxide:
- 16 cups boiling water
- 2 cups baking soda
- 2 cups borax
- 1 cup 3% hydrogen peroxide diluted with 2 cups water
- 2 cups gentle dish soap
- 50 drops essential oil
Bring the water to a boil, then combine two cups of it with ⅔ cup of super washing soda and stir until fully dissolved. Slowly add the baking soda, mixing continuously until the mixture reaches a pudding-like consistency. Stir in the liquid Castile soap, followed by the remaining water. Let the detergent cool to room temperature, then mix well before using.
How to make homemade laundry detergent without borax
Borax is a naturally occurring mineral, but it’s controversial in green-cleaning circles. The National Pesticide Information Center notes that it’s corrosive to the eyes and irritating to the skin.
The Environmental Working Group goes further. “We recommend that you not use the recipes that include borax, since it may pose health risks,” the Environmental Working Group (EWG) warns.
For a borax-free batch, Bren-did.com recommends:
- ⅔ cup super washing soda
- 3 tablespoons baking soda
- ½ cup liquid Castile soap
- 5 cups water, divided
Start by bringing the water to a boil. In a large container, mix two cups of the hot water with ⅔ cup of super washing soda and stir until it dissolves completely. Slowly add the baking soda, stirring continuously until the mixture thickens to a pudding-like texture. Next, stir in the liquid Castile soap and the remaining water. Allow the detergent to cool to room temperature, then give it a good mix before using.
What to know about DIY laundry detergent
Most recipes call for ½ to 1 cup per full load. Start with ¼ to ½ cup in a high-efficiency machine, which uses less water. Store the detergent in an airtight container in a cool, dry place, shake before each use and plan to finish a batch within a few months before it separates or gels.
There’s a catch worth weighing. Sarah Armstrong, a new product brand manager at Maytag, told Better Homes & Gardens that “creating a DIY detergent may void the warranty on your appliance, as you run the potential risk of damaging your washing machine.”
Homemade formulas also lack the enzymes in commercial detergents that target heavy, greasy or protein-based stains. For everyday dirt, though, a DIY jug does the job — at a fraction of the price.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
