3-Ingredient Powdered Laundry Detergent (Less Than 5 Cents Per Load)
There’s something incredibly satisfying about making your own household staples, especially when they’re simple, affordable, and genuinely effective. Homemade powdered laundry detergent has been around for generations for good reason. It works beautifully on everyday laundry, heavily soiled clothes, towels, and linens without the high price tag of many store-bought detergents.
This easy recipe uses three powerful ingredients that each play an important role in getting clothes clean and fresh.
- Fels Naptha soap helps break down grease, sweat, dirt, and stains trapped deep in fabric fibers.
- Borax works to soften hard water, deodorize fabrics, and boost the cleaning power of the detergent.
- Washing soda helps lift dirt and odors from clothing while preventing dingy buildup over time.
One of the biggest perks of homemade laundry detergent is how budget-friendly it is. A single batch lasts a surprisingly long time and costs less than five cents per load, making it a practical option for families, busy households, or anyone trying to cut back on grocery expenses without sacrificing clean laundry.
Whether you’re looking to simplify your cleaning routine, avoid heavily fragranced detergents, or save money around the house, this homemade powdered laundry detergent recipe is an easy place to start.
3-Ingredient Powdered Laundry Detergent
Materials
- 1 5 oz. bar Fels-Naptha soap (You can also substitute ZOTE, Ivory, or Dr. Bronner’s Castile Bar Soap.)
- 2 cups Borax (Twenty Mule Team Borax)
- 1¾ cups washing soda (Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda)
Instructions
- Using the fine side of a cheese grater (or a food processor), grate the entire bar of soap into fine shreds.
- Add the grated soap, Borax, and washing soda to a large mixing bowl.
- Stir thoroughly until everything is evenly combined.
- Transfer the detergent to an airtight container and label it clearly. I store it in a mason jar by my washer and put the rest in a large bag that I use to refill my jar.
Homemade laundry detergent is one of those simple DIY swaps that can make a surprisingly big difference over time. It’s inexpensive, effective, easy to make, and uses straightforward ingredients that have been trusted for years.
Once you see how long a batch lasts and how well it cleans, you may never want to go back to expensive store-bought detergent again.
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Hi, my name is Kate.
I love food. Real food. We eat all of the things that nursing school taught me were bad for you: butter, eggs, bacon, and raw milk.
I am a Nurse, a Mom, and a Real Food loving blogger. Just trying to save the world.