If you are looking to save money and reduce toxins in your home, this natural laundry detergent recipe is going to be your new fave. This recipe is so simple to make and is scented with essential oils. It is cost effective and it works! You have to try this all-natural laundry detergent!

Over the past several years, I have worked on reducing the amount of toxins we bring into our home. When I learned I was pregnant with our first baby over 4 years ago, I started thinking through all the things we had in our home and whether or not they could have a negative effect on this precious baby boy growing inside of me.

I guess it took being completely responsible for another human – a very special human, my own little baby boy – that pushed me to really evaluate what products I was using on a daily basis.

Slowly, I began swapping products that were not so good for cleaner products. I also began making some of my own household items, like my foaming hand soap and all-purpose cleaning spray.

Swapping out things that had harmful ingredients became a new hobby of mine! It was fun to search for things to replace my usual home items that were non-toxic, made with natural ingredients and just as effective.

Finding a non-toxic laundry detergent that I love has been an ongoing hunt, though. It took me quite a while to figure out what worked best. Finally, I have found it, and I can make it in less than 10 minutes! I have tried several name-brand non-toxic laundry detergents that are $$$, and this detergent works just as well – if not better.

I am excited to share this recipe with you and hope you love it as much as I do!

FAQ:

How do you make natural laundry detergent?

Making natural laundry detergent is very simple. You simply combine the three main ingredients in a jar, equal parts borax, washing soda, and grated bar soap, and mix to combine. Adding essential oils will give the natural laundry detergent a wonderful scent while adding cleansing properties to the detergent.

Is Homemade laundry detergent effective?

Natural homemade laundry detergent is extremely effective. It does an excellent job cleaning clothes without using harsh chemicals, is safe for the whole family and for anyone with sensitive skin. It is even suitable for newborns. No need to buy special laundry detergent for your baby!

Is borax safe?

Borax used for this natural laundry detergent recipe is in the form of sodium tetraborate, or sodium borate, which is a naturally occuring mineral. It is recommended to avoid ingesting it, allowing it to come into eye contact, or prolonged skin exposure.

For this laundry recipe, the borax goes through the laundry cycle and is rinsed out of the laundry at the end of the cycle. Since I am not ingesting it, leaving it on my skin or rubbing it in my eyes, I feel comfortable using it in this homemade laundry recipe. This is a great article breaking down the safety of borax even further. As with anything, it is good to do your own research and come to a conclusion you feel good about!

What can I use instead of borax for laundry detergent?

If you wish to exclude borax for your laundry detergent, you can replace it with equal amounts of baking soda.

ingredients for laundry powder castile soap bar borax and washing powder

Materials Needed for this Natural Laundry Detergent Recipe:

2 Cups Borax
2 Cups Washing Soda
5 oz Bar of unscented Castile soap, grated – this is what I have and this is another great option!

Tools for making Natural Laundry Detergent Recipe:

Glass Jar Container for storage
Funnel
Measuring Cup
Grater – or Grating attachment for Kitchenaid, my favorite!

How to make this Natural Laundry Detergent Recipe:

To make this recipe, you will need to have a container that will hold 6 cups of powdered detergent. I use these glass airtight jars which are 3 Liters. The 2 liter containers would works as well and there would not be as much extra space in the jar.

You will add all of the ingredients directly to the jar when you make it, so no extra bowls are needed – just a measuring cup and a funnel if you wish to avoid potential spills.

Add the borax, washing soda, and grated unscented castile soap to the jar. If you would like to use essential oils, drop about 40 drops of whichever essential oils you would like directly to the powder in the jar. Now comes the fun part! Close the lid and shake the jar to combine! Go ahead and put some music on while you do this for added fun 😉

Use this in your laundry as you would with other laundry powder. 2 Tablespoons is all you need for a regular sized load. Sprinkle the detergent on the bottom of the washer and add the clothes on top.

Laundry Extras:

Oxygen whitener

If you have an especially dirty load or would like to brighten your whites, you can add an oxygen whitener. This is my favorite oxygen whitener. I keep a second airtight glass jar next to my homemade laundry powder with this oxygen whitener in it for occasional use. It lasts me forever!

Non-Toxic Laundry Softener

Instead of using laundry softener, I add about 1/4 Cup of white distilled vinegar to each load of laundry. The vinegar helps to remove any unpleasant odors and it softens the laundry! Don’t worry, the smell of vinegar washes out completely and you are left with fresh, clean and soft laundry that is completely free of toxins!

Wool Dryer Balls

Wool dryer balls are another laundry favorite of mine. Adding a few dryer balls to the dryer helps to keep the static down, dries the clothes faster, and keeps them soft and fluffy! I like to add 5 or so drops of essential oils to each dryer ball and it makes my laundry smell so good!!

Essential Oils

Elevate this recipe by adding essential oils to it. Essential oils have anti-microbial and cleansing properties, so when added to your laundry detergent and dryer balls, it is just boosting your detergent to another level! Plus, they smell amazing.

My favorite combos to add to laundry detergent & wool dryer balls:

geranium + lemon – *this is my actual favorite, floral and fresh!

lavender + eucalyptus – calming and sweet

tea tree + peppermint – clean and crisp

cedarwood + orange – a bit more manly smelling, but not overpowering

roman chamomile + lavender – great for baby blend

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If you try this laundry recipe and love it, I would love to know!! Come back here and leave a review or tag me on instagram @oursimplegraces!

Natural Laundry Detergent Recipe

Yield: 48 Loads

Prep Time: 1 minute

Active Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 1 minute

Difficulty: Simple

Materials

Tools

Glass Jar Storage Container
Funnel
Grater
Measuring Cup

Instructions

Add the borax, washing soda, and grated unscented castile soap to the jar.
If you would like to use essential oils, drop about 40 drops of whichever essential oils you would like directly to the powder in the jar.
Close the lid and shake the jar to combine or mix with mixing spoon.
Use this in your laundry as you would with other laundry powder. 2 Tablespoons is all you need for a regular sized load. Sprinkle the detergent on the bottom of the washer and add the clothes on top.