Laundry

Homemade Laundry Soap

Homemade Laundry Soap

What’s in your laundry detergent? Know exactly what’s inside by using Borax to make your own laundry soap.

How Should I Use Laundry Soap?

For the most part, laundry soap is used in a very similar way to laundry detergent, but with a few small differences.

  • Warm Water
    Be sure to always use warm water with laundry soap. This helps the soap dissolve more easily in the water and helps your clothes get a better clean.
  • Grease Stains
    Laundry soap is generally best at getting out grease, oils and other fatty, high-protein types of stains.

What You’ll Need

There are just a few, simple ingredients in laundry soap that help it to be extremely effective sans the complex chemicals. Make sure to read and follow all safety warnings of individual components.

Tools (Do not use for food prep)

  • Measuring cup (1 cup)
  • Grater (plastic)
  • Container with lid
  • 1 tablespoon measuring spoon to dose

Ingredients

  • 1 box Borax
    The main additive in laundry soap, 20 Mule Team Borax™, helps control hard water, cleans clothes more thoroughly, and prevents damage.
  • 1 box Washing Soda
    This ingredient is highly alkaline and helps the soap be more effective at cleaning clothes and loosening up stubborn stains.
  • 1 Bar of Soap
    A concentrated soap bar will help to keep your clothes looking fresh . This soap is very effective in the fight against tough stains.
  • 1 bottle Purex Crystals (any scent)
    This ingredient is entirely to help your soap smell great. Pick whatever fragrance you like-- this one’s up to you!

How to Make Your Own Laundry Soap

1. Finely grate the 1 Bar of Soap into container.
Make sure that it is ground finely so that it doesn’t clump in the wash. It’s okay to leave the last bit of Fels-Naptha ungrated and dispose. Be sure to clean the container thoroughly after use.

2. Pour ingredients slowly and in a well-ventilated area

a. Add 1 cup of Borax to container (using measuring cup)

b. Add 1 cup of Washing Soda to container (using measuring cup)

c. Add Finely grated Soap bar into container

d. Add 1/2 cup of Purex Crystals to container (using measuring cup)

3. Use measuring cup to gently stir powder mixture, then close container tightly and gently shake to ensure well mixed.
Wait several minutes before opening container for any potential dust to settle.

4. Store in closed container
Use a dedicated, closed container to store your laundry soap in a cool, dry environment that is kept out of reach of children and pets. Properly label your DIY laundry soap so that there is no confusion as to what is in the container.

5. Add to Laundry
Use a dedicated measuring spoon for your laundry soap. Add in 2 tablespoons of laundry soap per medium load and enjoy fresh, clean clothes. Use 2 tablespoons (using dedicated measuring spoon) per medium load.

Related Uses

  • Pre-Soak for Tough Stains

    Sometimes, the toughest stains just won’t budge no matter how many times you try to wash them. 

  • Laundry Detergent Effectiveness

    Life can be messy. And sometimes the normal detergent just won’t cut it for those especially stubborn sta... 

  • Laundry Stripping with Borax

    There’s nothing like the feeling of clean laundry. Clean clothes. Fresh sheets. Sparkling linen. We’ll ta... 

Even More Uses

Our fans are always finding more uses for 20 Mule Team Borax™. Check them out on Pinterest.