Cheaper AND Better! DIY Laundry Detergent
February 9, 2012 by Bobbi
Today, our sweet friend Jen, from Blissful 55 is guest posting on Dirty Laundry. No, I am not talking about the problems and dirty little secrets of our lives….we are talking legit, dirty, smelly, laundry; or more importantly, how we get that dirty laundry clean.
It took me a while to come around to the idea of making my own laundry soap. I tend to be very particular about my laundry detergent. I need it to not fade my colors, smell good, and most importantly clean well. I do not have children at home who like to get their clothes extremely dirty but I do have a husband who insist on coming home from softball games each week looking like the Dirt Monster (he enjoys sliding…and is usually always safe). I have never opted for just the cheapest, non-smelling detergent. I love my clothes and was always worried that, by paying for the cheapest detergent possible, I would “get what I paid for”. My favorite detergent was Gain’s “Liquid Apple Mango Tango” with the coordinating fabric softener.
It met my every need, with the exception of the price tag. We always bought the size that says it contains 48 loads for $10.97 (Wal-Mart price) and that was just the detergent. The fabric softener was $4.47 for 52 loads. Both lasted us around 3 months based on our 4 loads of laundry a week. That brings the total to around $60-$65 a year. I don’t know about you but I would like to have all the extra money I can get. The husbands law school expenses tend to cut down on my craft budget and that is just unacceptable! I need my crafts to keep my sanity so I started looking for ways to save money. I was seriously a huge skeptic when it came to homemade laundry soap but when I realized the price difference, I just had to try it! I did a ton of research and looked up so many varying recipes and then determined what I thought would be best. I tried one smaller batch, thought it was okay but knew there was room for improvement so I went back and did more, yup you guessed it….research! I’m thrilled to say that it was all worth it and I love our homemade laundry detergent. So what do I have to do to entice you to run to the store and get these ingredients? How about I share how much it cost….are you ready? Try approximately $28…A YEAR! That’s based on 6 loads of laundry a week (It’s just me and Mr. Awesome at home so we normally only do around 4, which means this will last around 18 months!) Now let’s get started.
You will need…
1 (4 lb 12 oz) Box of Borax- Found in the detergent aisle
1 (3 lb 7 oz) Box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda- Found in the detergent aisle
1 (3 lb) Container of OxyClean- Found in the detergent aisle. (This is optional but I highly recommend adding it)
2 (14.1 oz) Bars of Zote Soap- Found in the detergent aisle (we chose to do pink for the scent but the white would be just fine. You can also use Fels Naptha)
1 (4 lb) Box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda- Found in the cooking aisle (You could also get two 2 lb box, we couldn’t find the larger 4lb box when we went)
1-2 (55 oz) Bottle of Purex Crystals Fabric Softener- or use 3-4 bottles of Scentsy Washer Whiffs. Scentsy washer whiffs are my top choice, (they smell out-of-this-world amazing – my favorite is Quiver), but when in a hurry, I opt for the Purex, (which can be found in the detergent aisle).
The hardest most time consuming part is grating the cheese soap. The hubs thinks it looks like pink cheese….has anyone ever seen pink cheese? Ya didn’t think so! I’m not fortunate enough to have a food processor so I was stuck doing this with a typical hand grater. I did try a blender just for kicks and giggles….total fail! Stick to either a hand grater or food processor if you are blessed enough to have one. I should make it known that the soap dissolves just fine, even in cold water. I know that tends to be a concern but you need not worry. Oh and I would recommend using a large mixing bowl to grate into and using the fine side of the grater.
Another option is to microwave the soap before hand. First, cut the bar into chunks, like this:
Pop it into the microwave for about a minute. It will expand… a lot…but then it is dry and just crumbles into tiny bits!
The hardest part is now over and all that’s left is to mix everything together. I used a very large bucket that I got from my Father-in-Law and took a layering approach to mix it easier. I took a small amount of each ingredient and layered it on top of each other, then I grabbed a large mixing spoon and mixed it together. I did this probably 5 times but it was so much easier than dumping all the ingredients in at once and then trying to mix it well.
Here it is in all it’s mixed up glory.
This batch makes A TON! Now for probably the best part…you only need 1-2 Tablespoons per load depending on the size…I’ll give you some time to re-read that since I’m sure your in total disbelief…recover yet? That’s right, you only need 1-2 Tablespoons per load! Now here comes the stroke of genius, if you opted to put the Purex Crystals in your batch, you can scoop the detergent right into your bottle and use the cap as your measuring spoon. There are 3 lines on the side and the middle one is approximately 2 Tablespoons…genius right?
Just to give you an idea of how long this bottle lasts, I’ve used about half this bottle and have done around 40 loads, not to mention the huge amount still left in my bucket.
I know that I’m not the only skeptic out their so to put your mind at ease, take a look at the comments!
I thought I would answer the question that has been sent in the most by our readers. The question is how well it worked in a High Efficiency Washer. It actually works really well! This is mostly because it doesn’t create any suds. It took me some time to get used to that but it is actually better for the washer.
Hope this motivates you all to run out and make our own batch. We would love to hear from you whether it be your questions, concerns, or reviews of the soap after you have made it. And don’t forget to stop by and check out Blissful 55′s other projects!
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If you love natural products like this, make sure to snag your FREE $10 in credit over at Vitacost while their offer lasts! {I LOVE their Blue Eucalyptus and Lavender Fabric Softener, and all of their Burts Bees products}.
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BLISSFUL 55‘s HOMEMADE LAUNDRY DETERGENT RECIPE
Ingredients:
1 (4 lb 12 oz) Box of Borax- Found in the detergent aisle
1 (3 lb 7 oz) Box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda- Found in the detergent aisle
1 (3 lb) Container of OxyClean- Found in the detergent aisle. (This is optional but I highly recommend adding it)
2 (14.1 oz) Bars of Zote Soap- Found in the detergent aisle (we chose to do pink for the scent but the white would be just fine. You can also use Fels Naptha)
1 (4 lb) Box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda- Found in the cooking aisle (You could also get two 2 lb box, we couldn’t find the larger 4lb box when we went)
1-2 (55 oz) Bottle of Purex Crystals Fabric Softener- Found in the detergent aisle OR 3-4 bottles of Scentsy Washer Whiffs found HERE. (my favorite scent is Quiver)
Directions
1. Grate zote soap with cheese grater or food processor.
2. Mix all ingredients together in a large bucket.
3. Use 2 -4 Tablespoons per laundry load.
***This recipe was written by guest author Jen, from Blissful 55. Check out her fabulous blog for more inspiration and DIY tips.***
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If you’d like to share this fabulous recipe, you can here is an adorable idea on how to gift it. Perfect for birthdays, Christmas, of just because. This tutorial also includes a FREE Laundry Gift Giving printable.
CLICK ON PICTURE BELOW TO SEE HOW TO GIFT THE WORLD’S BEST LAUNDRY DETERGENT.
Other posts not to miss:
The Toilet BOmB and other all natural cleaning recipes!
DIY All Natural Lip Balm and Hard Lotion
10 Tips to Save $ Around the House
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I have a front loader washing machine. Do you have a recipe for a liquid version of this?
You can use this directly in your front load washer. Just put it in the drum instead of the pull out drawer.
I use it in the pull out drawer and it works just fine. No Worries
I find that if I put my Zote bars out for a day or two before grating, that they grate much easier.
You can also find Zote flakes in some places.
I use 1/4 cup for a load as my hubby works in the gas/oil business and our daughter loves dirt and mud. LOL It really does get hubby’s clothes clean. Even better than TIDE!!
I put vinegar to the first line in a Downy Ball. It helps stuff rinse cleaner. Don’t worry, the smell leaves in the dryer.
Thanks for sharing.
I bought the zote flakes and as I started getting my stuff together to make, I noticed the box stated not recommend for HE appliances… I was very disappointed because I was excited to cut down the time and effort of having to grate!! Has anyone tried it anyway I hate standing in return lines?!?
Just curious if this can be used with bleach?
I have used it with bleach, no problems.
Hello,
I love this! but I was wondering if this home-made detergent was considered as ‘green’ alias chemical-free?
I noticed that the ingredients used here were pretty much commercial ones, don’t they already contain chemical in them?
Commercial is not always same as brand. I’m sure everyone can find soap, baking soda etc. for making this stuff.
I live in Northern Europe, I have no idea what brands they sell in Canada or in US but I find this DIY laundry detergent easy to make.
I have learnt many ‘green’ ideas from my late mother and late grandmother. Old tricks work even today.
Thank you for sharing, can’t wait to make this stuff.
Use castile soap if chemicals are a problem. The one I use is called Kirk’s. I don’t use this particular recipe but it’s close enough.
If you use any other soap besides zote and the fels naptha it will not work as well. They are laundry soaps. Also everything can be found in the laundry detergent aisle. My Walmart does not carry zote. But Home Depot does carry zote and it is the only place that carries it in my area. I have been using various home made laundry recipes and the only thing
my local 99 cent store carries the pink zote so you may want to check there!
I found the Zote at my local Home Depot for 98 cents a bar. It was 4 or 5 times that on Amazon! My first load is in the washer now. I’m looking forward to seeing how well this soap works!
You can also ALWAYS find Zote at your local Hispanic grocery store. Zote is the #1 laundry soap in Mexico! They usually also carry it in other “flavors.”
I can always find my ZOTE at Big Lots. I have a 5 year old, an active duty Air Force SSgt and my recipe is a little different. I just use 1 Zote Bar, 1 and 1/2 cup Borax and 1 and 1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Washing Soda. I add the Purex crystals in my load separately that way I control how much goes in depending on the load. Also the recipe I make uses 3-4 tablespoons per load. Which still saves lots of money and cleans like nobody’s business!
I was a TIDE girl all day long until I found Zote and I’d never go back. Check your local Big Lots in the laundry aisle, and if it’s not there, ask your Walmart if they can order it. Sometimes, they can, they have just never had a request for it. As for the hard water question, this recipe definitely works in hard and soft water. Have fun and save money! 
At my Walmart the Zote was in the top shelve by the powder laundry soap!
I randomly saw Zote at my Walmart, as well. It was not by the Fels Naptha, but I think same aisle. I was not sure if I would see it again so I bought like 5 bars lol. I think it is important to note that Zote is considerably larger than Fels Naptha, so if using FN, you need more.
I found Zote in Walmart, across the aisle from Fels Naptha, the 14 oz bar was 78 cents as compared to Fels for 98 cents a bar. (Zote is twice as big)
My question for you is this…… Does this work with HARD water and does the soap become brick hard? I tried a DIY dishwasher soap and even with a closed lid, the mix became rock hard and I didn’t feel like it worked that well. I would love to make this to save some money but I’m concerned it won’t work with the hard water we have here and I don’t want it to become rock hard in my climate. It is really dry where I live.
Thanks so much!
no, it does not become hard as a rock! I just used up my first bucket full. we had terrible water before we added the softener, i added a little Epsom salt to the washer. i have also heard of putting vinegar in a downy ball for the rinse cycle! good luck!
Oh i forgot! look up Rain Drops! great for hard water laundry! http://www.amazon.com/Rain-Drops-Water-Softener-Ounce/dp/B005NZ4MGU
I would also like to know how it works with hard water.
I made this exact recipe only I didn’t add the purex crystals and I also ground everything to a fine powder in my blender after mixing all the ingredients together. I have really hard water where I live, but the climate is very humid. I was also afraid that the detergent would harden up in its airtight bucket like the other powder things in my house, but I’ve been using it for just about a month and it’s still as fresh as when I first made it.
I just made this and it smells wonderful. I mixed it in my nesco roaster pan. But the batch it makes is GINORMOUS. I am currently scouring my house for 5th container to store the stuff in. Can’t wait to see how it works
what size bucket did you have to use to make this laundry soap?
5 gallon
Find a friend who buys Tidy Cat Litter in the plastic buckets and get one from him/her! That’s what I did.
I use to work at a grocery store bakery and we would give away our 5 gallon buckets that icing came in all the time to people.
I was a huge fan of homemade laundry soap and loved the fact that it was a less inexpensive alternative, and what I thought was a safer option-until my doctor gave me a link http://www.motherearthnews.com/natural-home-living/borax-has-issues-you-have-alternatives.aspx#axzz2MDSqPVh6. After reading it, I started researching other sites. My conclusion? Using borax just wasn’t worth the possible health issues.
I read the article from the link you posted. Since it’s just a booster I suppose you could omit the borax altogether. When I made this detergent recipe I wore a face mask from the doctor’s office so I wouldn’t breathe it in (I was afraid all the powders and mixing would upset my allergies) and I didn’t have a problem at all. I would also consider wearing gloves the next time I make it.
Thank you so much for posting this. I thought I was doing a good thing for my family, and we have itched like crazy. It’s the Borax I’m so glad I seen your post because I’ve been researching trying to find out what could be causing our problem. Thanks again
Dont use zest, lol…. I love the smell of it so i was like oh ill just sub that out since its bar soap…epic blonde moment :/
LMBO!!! Thanks for the heads up!!!
I am getting ready to buy cloth diapers and I heard you have to be very picky when it comes to what you wash them in. Is there any moms who have used this recipe on their cloth diapers and how did it turn out? Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks so much. Heather
I am also strongly considering cloth diapers and would like to know if this recipe is okay to use. I would also like to know if this detergent is safe for baby clothes.
I would NOT recommend this for cloth diapers. It has some ingredients that can be harmful to your diapers
I use cloth diapers and I use a homemade liquid soap…borax (probably going to change that now) washing soda and fels neptha soap. It has worked great for mine and we use bum genius, simply baby, and flips with cotton pre folds and microfiber inserts. I was hesitant at first but I have many friends who cloth diaper and use the same recipe and have had no issues either.
This detergent cleans my cloth diapers very well, but the fabric softener will eventually leave a dirty smell in them. (Stink clings to scent in cloth) So when you make the batch, mix up all the ingredients but the fabric softener first. Then make up a bottle just for your diapers. Afterwards, you can add the fabric softener to the rest of the batch.
Stick with a tried and true diaper detergents. I am a cloth diapering mom and when I have used anything BUT diaper detergent (we use Rockin Green and Bum Genius detergents) the diapers will start to stink to high heaven after a few uses and washes. Also our daughter as uber sensitive skin and her little butt turns red easy- even 5 minutes in a clean diaper if we use anything but the a fore mentioned.
The Oxiclean part of this recipe should be used with caution on cloth since it is a form of “bleach”. Bleaching cloth diapers is for striping them only to remove soap build up that can contribute to the “stinkies”. Sun bleach cloth diapers for stains (if any).
I live in Holland and I really want to try this. What exactly is Zote soap? I probably need to find something to replace it with, because I don’t think it is available here.
You could try Amazon.com has what you will be looking for if your super markets do not carry the item.
Or lowe’s or home depot! They have some of these items. I’ve heard zote is found there… and the dollar store!
She lives in Holland…Lowe’s and Home Depot are US stores, not worldwide chains like McDonalds. No dollar stores either. And if you have to pay international shipping for an online purchase, I think the cheaper laundry soap just became very expensive. We live in Italy and while the idea of saving money on basic cleaning supplies intrigues me, my stores don’t carry borax or zote or the softener crystals.
I am in Australia, and have never heard of ‘zote’ or the alternative. Would another brand of laundry soap work do you think, as long as it’s laundry soap?
I use Ivory. I have been using homemade laundry detergent for about six months. I gave samples to my friends they loved it. I love it and will never,ever go back to storebought laundry detergent.Mine smells wonderful and leaves clothes clean and soft.I make a small batch. I bar Ivory soap,1cup of 20 Mule Team Borax,1 cup Arm & Hammer washing soda,1/2 cup Oxyclean,3 oz. Purex crystals.Grate Ivory bar with hand grater.Alternate dry ingredients and soap flakes in blender. Mix small amounts at a time (2cups).Store in plastic container with lid.
I bet any *laundry* soap would work great.
You could try Amazon.com, it has what you will be looking for if your super markets do not carry the item.
Zote is a laundry bar. I found mine at Big Lots for less than a dollar. I actually love the smell of the Fels Naptha, and prefer that. I always get mine at my local Meijers grocery store. You can find them on Amazon as well
Most countries have their own brand of laundry bar soap. Try looking in your local store and asking about it. When I lived in Ecuador, they didn’t have Fels Naptha or Zote, but they had lots of others to choose from. They smelled amazing too.
I have been told you can also use Ivory soap, but I use Felts Naptha my self because I don’t care for the smell of Ivory soap. This may be an alternative for you. You can try the simple recipe of 1 Cup Boarax, 1 Cup washing Soda and 1 bar of soap super simple and cleans well.
Does anyone know if this is septic safe?
It should be septic safe, just as most commercial detergents are. Just be sure that you are treating your septic tank with Rid-X to keep the tanks bacteria & enzyme levels up.
I made this about six weeks ago. The only change I made was to use Velvet soap, as I couldn’t find any of the others mentioned in the shops (I’m in Australia). Thankfully, we do have Purex over here though!
We usually do one load of laundry a day, sometimes two, and still have about 1/3 of the first Purex bottle fully of detergent left.
My first batch lasted me about 6 months. It’s only myself and my daughter though. I made some for my sister in law over Christmas and I told her to put the date on the lid. Ill be curious to see how long it lasts as she has my brother and 5 kids. She loves it but called me and asked me if I noticed little holes in my clothes. I didn’t put it together, but I did notice them. I did a lot of research on it and I thought at first it was the oxi clean but then I again, i have added that by itself previously (before using this soap) and never had holes. I found many websites with the same phenomenon. I think it is actually the front loader washing machine. My SIL has one also. My friend who introduced the soap to me does not have a front loader and has not noticed any little holes. If you notice on the front loader, the clothes are a lot dryer when you take them out of the washer than a regular top loader. The spinning actually causes weaker materials to break down. I almost stopped using the soap bc I thought it was doing it but I’m glad I did my research. Hope this helps anyone experiencing the same problem.
Michelle, I have also heard that if you have granite counter tops, they will cause holes in the front of your clothes too. Just thought I would let you know. Maybe it is a possibility.
It’s not your front loader washer. It’s your front loader dryer. The lint screen on the front of the machine can come loose and snag your clothes. Rub your hand on the inside and you should be able to tell where it is not pushed in all the way. I’ve had this happen twice. You can just push it back in until it snaps back in place. Now I just check it every so often.
Has anyone ever tried it for the dishwasher, dishes?
As the Zoyte soap is for laundry, I would not recommend it in a dishwasher. However, there is an alternative recipe for dishwashers! http://www.thriftynorthwestmom.com/diy-homemade-dishwasher-soap-rinsing-agent/
Do NOT use in the dishwasher!!!
I made this on Monday – it smells SO good! I have already done quite a few loads of laundry and am VERY happy with the results! I got a big 5 gallon paint bucket with lid at Walmart, and I found the Zote bar soap at Walgreens
Also I found you can buy 5 gallon buckets for a $1-$2 from sub shops like firehouse,subway or sobiks. Super Walmarts carry all these products in the laundry section
Firehouse pickle buckets come with lids! The only thing is the pickle smell. Walmart sells them over by the paint aisle but the lids are separate.
Well, I’m going to try and make the soap. I will note that in Maine not a lot of the stuff is available in stores. Took some searching, but I did find most of the stuff on amazon. So my next step is searching the stores in person not online.
I am in Maine as well, and I found everything in Walmart, except the zote soap. I used fels naphtha and it worked very well. I have a high efficiency front loader. I’ve been giving samples to friends and they love it!!
Hi! Thank you for the recipe. Can this also be a liquid soap recipe? Do you happen to have a liquid laundry soap recipe with these ingredients? Sometimes the grated soap doesn’t completely melt when I do a load with cold water. Thank you!! Jen
i put the graded soap with some baking soda in a food processor and it broke down the big pieces and it worked much better in the washer!
Here’s a great frugally green liquid one too: http://frugallygreen.blogspot.com/2008/05/how-to-make-your-own-laundry-soap.html
After mixing all the ingredients of the recipe together I processed it to a powder (in batches) in my kitchen blender. I don’t have a problem with it dissolving in cold water.
I have been using my homemade concoction for about 3 years and I love the savings. I am sensitive to many of the laundry detergents on the market and was worried that this wasn’t gonna work for me. It did and I am happy about the savings. I make up mine with water in a 5 gallon bucket. I had a front loading machine and now I have a top loader. We do use bleach with our whites and hydrogen peroxide with the colors. We use ZOTE soap, pink I prefer. I have used a few of the other laundry soaps but prefer the ZOTES.
Thanks mary! I’ve been reading through everyone’s comments and have been trying to find someone mention whether or not this was okay for sensitive skin. Glad to hear it’s working for you!
I was wondering if this laundry detergent is adaptable into a liquid soap, I would just much prefer a liquid and it seems like ingredients are the same as most liquid recipes. Thanks in advance for any help!!
Hello Ladies!
I just purchased all the stuff to make this and mixed it all together! I first want to give you the run down of what I bought and my prices. I found everything at Walmart in Emporia Kansas.
55 oz. Purex Crystal Softener (blue kind) 2 @ $8.95
4 lb. box of Baking Soda @ $2.24
Bar of Fels Naptha 2 @ $0.97
4 lb. 12 oz. box of Borax @ $3.38
3 lb 7 oz. box of Super Wash Baking Soda @ $3.24
3 lb container of Oxyclean Free @ $7.52
For a grand total of ONLY $36.22
I mixed all the ingredients together in a trash can (couldn’t find a bucket) and filled both 55 oz. Purex bottles, the OxyClean container, and a gallon ice cream container. AND IT SMELLS SOOOO GOOD!!
I anticipate that this will last my family about 6 months. We have are a family of 4. That equals out to $1.39 a week! I am so impressed! Thank you for this recipe, I am a lifer!!
Our local grocery store carries an off-brand oxyclean for $1 per pound, so if you can find that the price will drop even further.
I just found this through my How Does She newsletter and I must say I’m quite excited to try this! BUT, I have two questions – 1) Can you use this with hard water? and 2) Can you use this with bleach?
Many thanks!
Heather, some commenters above have mentioned that its worked for them in hard water and that it works with bleach.
I just made my batch and then got worried. Will the soap melt in cold water?
She mentions in her notes that yes it will met in cold water!
I made up this recipe a couple of months ago. I have to say, my laundry is clean! I could not find Zote, so I used the fels naphtha soap.It has a very strong smell. To counter that, I use a small amount of Liquid fabric softener – less than a quarter cup. I read someone’s comment about using vinegar in the rinse, so I’ll try that instead of the softener in my next wash. The ingredients in this recipe, except for the soap, are laundry boosters. I try to let my laundry soak in the washing machine for at least 30 minutes after agitating for a few minutes. I then turn the cycle back to start and let it wash. My grandmother used to soak her laundry in her bathtub overnight (her whites). She saved slivers of regular soap in a jar, made holes in the lid, and filled the jar with water. That soapy water was used to soak the laundry. When my Nursing uniforms got dingy looking, I’d give them to grandma, and she would soak them in that soapy water overnight, then throw them in the washing machine. My uniforms looked like new – nice and bright! Just a nice memory………but soaking does help!
I made up this recipe a couple of months ago. I have to say, my laundry is clean! I could not find Zote, so I used the fels naphtha soap.It has a very strong smell. To counter that, I use a small amount of Liquid fabric softener – less than a quarter cup. I read someone’s comment about using vinegar in the rinse, so I’ll try that instead of the softener in my next wash. The ingredients in this recipe, except for the soap, are laundry boosters. I try to let my laundry soak in the washing machine for at least 30 minutes after agitating for a few minutes. I then turn the cycle back to start and let it wash. My grandmother used to soak her laundry in her bathtub overnight (her whites). She saved slivers of regular soap in a jar, made holes in the lid, and filled the jar with water. That soapy water was used to soak the laundry. When my Nursing uniforms got dingy looking, I’d give them to grandma, and she would soak them in that soapy water overnight, then throw them in the washing machine. My uniforms looked like new – nice and bright! Just a nice memory………but soaking does help!
I just made half a batch of this soap, and am trying it out today. I couldn’t find the Purex crystals softener, or the Zote soap. I used Fels-Naptha soap instead, and I found Purex detergent with crystals which I now know wasn’t the right thing, but I used some anyway. Since I have hard water, I added half a box of Rain Drops water softener.
I wash in cold water so I dissolve the powdered soap in 1 cup of hot water before adding it to the machine. I had found in the past that the washing soda sometimes left a chunk of hardened stuff in the washer from not dissolving.
I’m anxious to see how it works!
what do you use to store it in? Do you just keep it in the 5 gallon bucket? I know some used glass jars. Are plastic ok too?
I store mine in the two Purex containers and two Electrasol tabs containers from Costco.
I have been using a similar version to this for almost a year. I was hesitant at first because my daughter and I are sensitive to powder laundry detergent. I read that you can use vinegar as a rinse agent in the wash and so I decided to give it a go! It worked fantastically, with only one problem, my laundry had no smell. I was afraid to stop using the vinegar rinse because I thought the powder would cause breakouts. I did a little research and found a sensitive formula Oxi-Clean!! I also found the Purex Crystals in a sensitive formula! It’s in a pink bottle and it’s marketed as a “baby” version, but it smells great! I am able to use this version of the powder detergent with no problems!!!
I went to grate the soap in a food processor and I only got 1/4 of the bar grated when I tried to take off the bowl to see how fine the powder was and I couldn’t. It is stuck to the machine somehow. I poured out what I could and put water in it.My hubby says the soap gummed it up. Any ideas anyone? Thanks.
Please note that I own a Ninja 1500 watt/2 horse-powered blender/processor…. It’s very powerful.
So I THOUGHT I could just cut my Fels Naptha soap bars into small pieces and then blend it up into a powder with my Ninja. HaHA! WRONG! The short of it is, it ultimately ended up gumming a bit on me too.
I then took that gummed mess out and broke it up in my hands into small pebbley pieces. I added that to my Ninja’s small single serving blender cup, added the baking soda and screwed on the lid/blade. Then, I shook it up really well so that the soap was coated with powder. I tried blending it after that AND IT WORKED! YAY!
I dumped out my new powder into a bowl and mixed in the rest of the recipe’s ingredients. Now, the batch would have been just fine and ready to use that way, but I have found that if I blend the whole batch together in a food processor (my Ninja in this case), that the detergent turns into an ULTRA FINE POWDER. It ALSO causes the ingredients to stay adhered together (sort of emulsified I guess) so that with each scoop you are getting the appropriate amount of ingredients.
NOTE: I am guessing that any “Bullet” style blender would work at turning your bar soap mixed with baking soda into a nice powder.
ALSO: I broke the recipe above down into percentages, so that I could just weigh out any size batch that I want (I didn’t want to do such a large batch). In addition, I prefer to use Fels Naptha bar soap and the bars weigh differently than the Zote (So it would be more like 3 bars of Fels Naptha in the above recipe). Here are the percentages….
Borax = 35%
Baking Soda = 21%
Washing Soda = 20%
OxyClean = 16%
Fels Naptha = 8%
I grate mine using a food processor. Someone else mentioned letting it sit out, opened, for a day to dry out a little. I have not ever done that though. After it is grated (with the cheese grater attachment), I switch out the attachments and put in the regular one and, in batches, add one of the powders (ie baking soda) and some of the grated soap, then turn it on till it is much finer. I think it dissolves better this way, since I do tons of cold-water loads.
Made a batch of this in October before Sandy gave us our eviction notice, with three adults and one baby we have only just now run down to the last bit of it. (lost 3lbs when someone knocked a container over) Works wonderfully, have not noticed any problems, even in our front loader.
I made some I love it but when I grated the soap the finer side wasn’t grading the soap it would just get stuck so I used the bigger side and worked just plus I crumbled some with my hands still can’t get over the fact it doesn’t sud up it makes me want to use more and I couldn’t find the Purex fabric softener crystals so to have a more smell good I used Purex wash booster crystals don’t know if its the same thing but smells good
If you don’t want to grate down the Zote Bar you can just buy the Zote flakes like I did. Rhey are right with the other laundry stuff. They are a bit more expensive then the bars but to me it was worth it since I didn’t have to shred the stuff myself. .
I love this soap about to make my second batch. . We bought a new washer ans dryer (thank you tax refund! !) They are front loading HE will this soap work??
Just wondering if this will dissolve in cold water? I don’t like to use hot water when I wash clothes =/
Made the laundry soap…love it!!!
Just wondered I’m unable to get arm and hammer super washing soda can I substitute more baking soda and be ok?
I found a cheapo food processor at a yard sale that I use for chopping up my soap into a a gritty powder (all I have to do is cut the soap into large chunks before processing). I make a quadruple batch of laundry soap in less than two minutes. BAM. Done.
Will this dissolve if I only wash my clothes in cold water?
I use Fels Napa soap and before I put it in the food processor I put in the microwave for 1 minute. It makes it easier to process.
I use to do that to, however I couldn’t handle the stinch it created. And I could NOT get rid of the smell in my microwave. Then my food that I cooked in there would have a bit of that soap smell. Yuck! I stopped doing that… to bad ’cause it was easier for sure.
I have discovered that cutting the soap up into small pieces and then blending it with baking soda in a small “Bullet” style blender works really well. It turns the soap into a fine powder without gumming up the blade. =>
Hi,
I have been using this soap for about a month now.I have to say it works great and easy to make. However, the only down side for me is the smell of the fels. I don’t like it but my husband and kids love it. Other than that it is great. I will just switch out the fels for zote next time.
Also, my husband loves a strong scent in his cloths and we do have 4 kids so we use about an half a cup of the powder. It really does keep the clothes bright and clean. I also use about 1/2 cup of vinegar in my colored towels at the beginning of the wash. I know some put it in during the raise cycle but I found it works no matter when its add.I do this to get rid of the musty smell colored towels can get and it makes them extra soft.
Oh has anyone tryed the downey unstoppable instead of the Purex? I was thinking of using that the next time I make it. Which will be in about 5 months being we wash cloths about everyday and the amount we use. But this is still way cheaper than buying from a store. Thanks for the share!!!
I’d love to try making my own washing powder, and the recipe look really easy and sooo cheap. Is this an american shopping list I don’t reconise the products I’m in london and really wanna try this.
I’m a first time mom, and I have been trying to find cost savers wherever I can! I am super stoked to try this, and I LOVE the fact that you placed links to amazon for the exact products! Such an inspiration!
Thank you so much for all of the terrific ideas!
ok this sound awesome! I’m out of laundry detergent and I was going to buy some of the one I usually buy (ariel) I think i’m going to try this! questions though… does it leave whites white? lol I like whites to be white and I don’t use bleach… also would I still need softener? do you use extra softener?
So I was looking at this recipe, and decided to break the ingredients down into percentages. I wanted to be able to just weigh out any size batch that I want (I don’t care to do such a large batch).
I should note that I prefer to use Fels Naptha bar soap and those bars weigh differently than the Zote. The recipe above says that 2 bars of Zote come out to 14.1 oz. 3 bars of Fels Naptha equals 16.5 oz – Very close, and I wanted a touch more soap in the mix anyways.
Here are the percentages based on using Fels Naptha:
Borax = 35%
Baking Soda = 21%
Washing Soda = 20%
OxyClean = 16%
Fels Naptha = 8%
Here are the percentages based on using Zote:
Borax = 35%
Baking Soda = 22%
Washing Soda = 20%
OxyClean = 17%
Zote = 6%
Hope This Helps! =)
I totally forgot to add in the percentage for the Purex Crystals! So sorry. I don’t care to use them, so I left them out of my calculation.
Here is the percentage based on using Fels Naptha:
Purex Crystals fabric softener = 20%
Here is the percentage based on using Zote:
Purex Crystals fabric softener = 20%
OMGosh – I can’t just add the Purex Crystals to what I had already configured and calculate the percentage! Hahaha! *Doh!*
I AM SO SORRY Y’ALL!
If the moderator could just erase all of this, I will start over. LOL
I’m going to post the CORRECT breakdown below in a separate post. =)
So I was looking at this recipe, and decided to break the ingredients down into percentages. I wanted to be able to just weigh out any size batch that I want (I don’t care to do such a large batch).
I should note that I prefer to use Fels Naptha bar soap and those bars weigh differently than the Zote. The recipe above says that 2 bars of Zote come out to 14.1 oz. 3 bars of Fels Naptha equals 16.5 oz – Very close, and I wanted a touch more soap in the mix anyways. I will also show different batch percentages for with or without the Purex Crystals.
Here are the percentages based on using Fels Naptha withOUT the Purex Crystals:
Borax = 35%
Baking Soda = 21%
Washing Soda = 20%
OxyClean = 16%
Fels Naptha = 8%
Here are the percentages based on using Fels Naptha WITH the Purex Crystals:
Borax = 28%
Baking Soda = 17%
Washing Soda = 16%
OxyClean = 13%
Fels Naptha = 6%
Purex Crystals = 20%
Here are the percentages based on using Zote withOUT the Purex Crystals:
Borax = 35%
Baking Soda = 22%
Washing Soda = 20%
OxyClean = 17%
Zote = 6%
Here are the percentages based on using Zote WITH the Purex Crystals:
Borax = 28%
Baking Soda = 18%
Washing Soda = 16%
OxyClean = 13%
Zote = 5%
Purex Crystals = 20%
Hope This Helps! =)
Wow…. I TOTALLY BOTCHED THIS!….. AGAIN!! * Sheesh* I completely misunderstood the total weight of Zote soap & misread the weight on another item. This is where I sooo wish we could edit or delete our own comments. Lol *Doh!* – If the moderator would be so kind as to remove the above? Because the percentages are all WRONG. AGAIN…. I will get it right and post a CORRECT breakdown….. I promise! =}
So, I was looking at this recipe, and decided to break the ingredients down into percentages. As great as the recipe is (and it really is great), I want to be able to just weigh out any size batch that I choose instead of creating a big ol’ batch.
I also prefer to not include the Purex Crystals (fabric softener) in my homemade batches, so I will include recipe percentages with and without the Purex.
PLEASE NOTE: Fels Naptha bars weigh differently than Zote. One bar of Zote comes out to 14.1 oz, and 1 bar of Fels Naptha equals only 5.5 oz – Big difference.
Here are the percentages based on using recipe withOUT the Purex Crystals:
Borax = 28%
Baking Soda = 24%
Washing Soda = 20%
OxyClean = 18%
Fels Naptha /Zote = 10%
Here are the percentages based on using recipe WITH the Purex Crystals:
Borax = 23%
Baking Soda = 20%
Washing Soda = 17%
OxyClean = 15%
Fels Naptha /Zote = 8%
Purex Crystals = 17%
HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR PERSONAL RECIPE ~ Let’s say you want to start with 20 grams of Fels Naptha in a recipe withOUT Purex Crystals. You would divide those 20 grams by .10 (or 10%) and the total (in this case, 200 grams) would give you the total weight for your whole batch. You would then be able to calculate the rest of the ingredients off that total weight number.
Example:
In the recipes, Borax is 28% of the batch. So, let’s say your batch total weight is the 200 grams we calculated earlier. You then would simply multiply 28% into 200. This equals 56. so you would weigh out your Borax to 56 grams. The rest of the ingredients are figured out the same way.
Hope this helps – I know any math might make some of your brains hurt *lol*, but it’s still good information to have in case you want to use it.
Love the soap made it last week. I’m in tx .found every in the store.
what is the best homemade stain remover to use with this?
I wanted to point out something to those who prefer Fels Naptha soap over Zote.
PLEASE NOTE: Fels Naptha bars weigh differently than Zote.
1 bar of Zote = 14.1 oz
1 bar of Fels Naptha = 5.5 oz
– Big difference!
This means that if you are making this recipe but using Fels Naptha, that you would be using about 5 bars rather than the 2 required for Zote.
You know…. I have never used Zote as I can never find it here where I live – So, here’s a question…. Is it a possibility that Fels Naptha is more concentrated than Zote? And, if so how many times more would you say? Fels Naptha would need to be nearing 3xs the strength of Zote to be equal if that’s the case.
I would love to hear the opinions of those who have used both. So, what do y’all think?
What about High efficiency washers? I have heard over time it can ruin your machine???
I’ve made laundry detergent before and was less than impressed. But this stuff actually works! It even removed “pet odors” from my throw rugs. Thanks for sharing this! I also have a front load machine but put it in the detergent compartment, it works well that way as long as I use warm water, which I need with my kids’ filth. I’d put it in the drum though if you use cold water to prevent build up and clogs. Great stuff!
hi, is this homemade detergent safe for sensitive skin? I use a “free & clear” detergent right now…….??
My daughter and I both are sensitive to different soaps, and for years I could only use Tide. This doesn’t bother either of us.
I have an HE too load machine, where should I put the soap?
Top loading**
So I just made this and only ended up using one bottle of the crystals. Seemed like a ton of crystals. Just did a load and now wonder if I should have used 2. Did have much scent to it. I am assuming the crystals are only for scent. Wonder if you could use unstoppables and how many bottles you would need.
It is only for scent. I like two bottles personally. I haven’t tried unstoppables, but I am sure they could be used. Unsure about amount though. Good Luck!
I made this and tried it on my first load of medium sized laundry. I went by the bottom directions and used about 2.5 tablespoons. When I put it in the dryer, there was a terrible
odor. My clothes didn’t smell, but the room did. Maybe I put too much? Should I only put about 1 tbsp per medium sized load?
how would you use the laundry soap in a front load washer just put where you would put the liquid soap or in the drum with the clothes.
Can this detergent be used in a HE washer?
Can I use Ivory Soap instead of the Zote?
I made my first batch and loved it, have shared it with many and they too love it. I was not able to find the Purex crystal sofener. I can find a ton of the enhancer which seemed to work as well. Any tips. I live in Florida. Even online there was only one person that had it and they have on bottle and it was too much to ship. Looking for anyone else that had an idea.
Thanks
Made a batch of this detergent last summer and LOVED it! We just ran out and are making a double batch this time. So easy to make. Smells clean and fresh. We used only 1/2 the Purex crystals. My tip for grating the soap…grate it one day and lay out on cookie sheets over night to dry out, then add to food processor to create a finer powder. I also have an HE front load machine and it is so much better than any store bought detergent. This detergent does not leave any of the gunk behind that the expensive store bought type does. Smells so nice I actually find it a joy to do laundry. Thanks for the recipe.
Hi, I wanted to say thank you for this fantastic recipe. One of my new years resolutions was to spend less at the stores and live a little greener. I made this recipe shortly after new years and have been using it ever sense. I didn’t make any changes. I have an energy efficient washer. My husband is a farmer and also works doing automotive type repair. You can imagine how icky his clothes get. This soap recipe works just as great at All or Cheer. I love it!!! As an added bonus, I used to have to use a washer cleaner one a month to keep the smell out and all my towels had that funk smell to them. Without doing a thing, I no longer use the washer cleaner and my towels smell oh so sweet. Thank you again!!!
Just made a batch and smell wonderful. Noticed however it does not produce suds. Is this normal?
i usually wash with cold water for everything, does this dissolve well even without hot/warm water?
Yes! Cold water is fine
Would Dr Bronner’s soap work?
Has anyone found the Zote soap in Utah county?just drove all over and couldn’t find it anywhere!
I love this recipe! I made a half batch (blogged about it and linked back to you) and I love it! Even my super picky, laundry fanatic husband approves! Thanks for this!
How many bars of fels naphtha would you use? I bought 2 but now realized that the zote bars are 14 oz in comparison to the 5.5 oz bars of fels naphtha.
I couldn’t find the Box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda. Do I have to have this?? Or must I find it??
Thank you:)
I Love, love, love this!…made the liquid, could not handle the sight of it, I had to shake it every time to use it. Love the dry… Love the smell and clothes are clean. Gave my mom some and now she is addicted too.
I have been using this since Aug 2012. It is amazing. We live on a well and even with a water softener and several other filters, the water still leaves iron stains. I made my first batch in Aug and it lasted until Dec 2012. That’s in a family of 5, with a toddler, two athletic boys, and a kitten. I do about 15 loads of laundry a week. This soap works better than any I have bought when it comes to getting the clothes clean and even getting stains out! The colors of my clothes are brighter after being faded by store-bought laundry soap. I have sensitive skin (having to use the free and clear stuff) and this doesn’t bother me at all. I am completely impressed and keep making more. I’m making my 3rd batch today. Thank you so much for sharing!!
oh, I grate my Zote soap in the food processor and wash it immediately with hot water, comes clean every time!
Hi, I heard of this recipe from a friend! I have two questions. #1 is it effective in cold water washing
#2 My children have eczema and sensitive skin. Will these ingredients aggravate this issue. I use free and clear liquid detergent currently.
Thank you!
I have kids that have skin allergies so for the most part we have to use “free and clear” laundry detergents I wonder how harsh it is.
I just made up a 1/2 “batch” of your laurdry soap, but I liquidfied it! I have a 5 gallon bucket of the stuff!! I just had to keep adding water to it to keep it from clumping as i was melting (I used a really big pot). So not sure how much water I used over all. Can’t wait to try it! Oh and by the way I did add the purex beads, just added them last. And they do melt. This stuff smells great!
I love making the laundry detergent, i’ve just made my second batch today. I can’t really say how long the first batch lasted, i gave some away and i do alot of wash, my husband does landscaping (actually does the work a lot of the time), but i’m pretty sure its been at the very least 4 months. I just love the way it smells and it gets the clothes clean! And i save money.
Question…is there an alternative to the purex crystals? My girl’s allergic to purex.
any smelly fabric enhancers. Scentsy washer whiffs, downy unstopabbles, etc.
Do you use a fabric softener with this also? Or is that the point of the crystals?
The crystals is just for smell.
I also use softner for whites and towels.
I have a top loading HE machine. Do I put the powder in the dispenser where I normally pour the liquid detergent or directly onto the clothes?
Is this safe to use on a HE washer?
I’m on a mission…there are literally thousands of sites with DIY laundry soap. What you might want to know that as an Appliance Repair Man’s wife, my husband is THANKFUL to all you ladies who use such recipes because guess what…ikn 2-3 years your washer will be all GUMMED up from using soaps like Fels Naptha and Zote. Both are Tallow based (goodle it). This animal fat tends to stick and gum up the washer innards….whatever you’re savings are in using DIY soap, you’ll no doubt hand over to the Appliance Repair man. Hopefully, he’ll be my hubby!
I love this detergent! Works great in cold water. But my grandmother wqnts to use it but needs to know if this Is this septic safe?
I tried out this laundry detergent and I JUST LOVE IT. I used the downy instead of the purex. And because I used the one white and one pink zote my clothes got the best of both worlds. My clothes also came out brighter.
One thing thought when microwaving i had to do 3mins plus since only some expanded ( any suggestions?)
I have used a recipe very similar to this, but it’s actually CHEAPER than this!! I still only use 1-2 tbsp per load (1 for “normal” nasty laundry & 2 for “nasty” nasty laundry…I like to play in the dirt gardening
), and it doesn’t bubble either, but I make enough laundry soap at a time that I fill a 5 gallon bucket over 3/4 full (it’s about 2 “batches” that I make at a time). It lasts us just shy of TWO FULL YEARS!!!
For one “batch” I use the same recipe above (including the Purex b/c I like nice-smelling & soft stuff too) but instead of using the OxyClean (depending on size it’s ~$0.18/oz or more), I use 1/2 tub of Sun Oxygen cleaner (6# tub) which is only ~$0.05/oz!! That’s over a THIRD less than OxyClean, but w/the EXACT SAME ingredients & effect!! This saves me more than enough to compensate my adding 1/2 a box of Ultra Purex2 (1#, 13oz box). Purex 2 is a bleach-free whitener/color booster (that also helps pull out “tough stains like tomato, oil, blood & wine”). I’ve found that it helps deal w/my hubby’s (funky-fart) underwear.
I have also discovered that when I wash my delicates that the Purex doesn’t always dissolve, leaving some granules at the end of the cycle…I’m guessing that it’s b/c the delicate cycle isn’t near as long as the regular wash cycle, so I just dissolve 1 tbsp in a cup of warm water before adding it to my machine. Works just fine!
I totally agree that the hardest part to the entire process is shredding the FelsNaptha/Zote bars. I found that the “cheese grater” that is used at Olive Garden for their Parmesan cheese works WONDERFULLY & doesn’t make as huge a mess (or cramp my hands) as a regular cheese grater does. I’ll be making another batch or two in the next week or so & I’ll try out microwaving the bar(s) tip.
Can you use this with a front loader. I know the soaps for those are less sudsing if that’s a word…LOL
I’ve started using the detergent for a couple of months now and love it. I also use the fabric softner that I make myself. Happy so far with the results.
I am having trouble finding the Zote soap. I live in central IL. I have checked Walmart, Kmart, Krogers, Dollar Tree, Big Lots, with no luck. Wondered if anyone has any suggestions. Also, has anyone tried the Downey Unstopables? How much would you use? Thanks!
I have used the Fels Naptha and it works fine. You will need 5 bars (about 97 cents/bar). ZOTE is sold at some of the WALMART in this area (upstate NY) but not all of them, so maybe if you go to a different WALMART you may find it. It’s also available on AMAZON but it cost over $3/bar.
I used only 2 bars of Fels Naptha and worked really fine for me. I would recommend this laundry soap with an A+
I made this in July 2012 and absolutely LOVED it! I have skin allergies and was happy that all of these ingredients were so mild, yet smelled wonderful! We generally wash the bedding, make the bed, and lay there for a few minutes, absorbing the smell and softness! I’ve given out so many samples and converted several people over to this recipe- it’s time to finally make more! Thanks for sharing!
Making Laundry Soap:
I can’t find the Washing Soda anywhere? What can I use instead?
Try Ace Hardware..
I love this stuff. Just a tip to save even more $, contact the makers of fels-naptha and ask for coupons. They mailed me a pack of coupons for free. They can do that every 6 months. When I use the coupons at my local grocery store, they are doubled. If I combine that with a sale, my soap is free.
have you tried the downy or gain fireworks? just wondering if they would be ok to use instead of the purex crystals!
I am also from Saskatchewan and I love your blog. I have to ask where did you find the zote soap here? I looked all over and couldnt find it, I used ivory when I made this and left out the scent booster and it works great.
This is my second homemade laundry detergent recipe to use and I must say I’ve had trouble just microwaving the Zote soap. Hardly expanded after “a minute “… Had to microwave it a lot. Only about half of the cut up blocks of the first bar foamed up…
I am very interested in making your laundry detergent. I do have a HE washer. Do you put the detergent in the drum or the dispenser.
Works great in the HE washers! I’ve used it for over a year now. I put it in the dispenser. Mine has a plastic piece that pops up or down depending it it’s liquid or powder. I used to use liquid, so now I leave it up for the powder.
I am using fels naptha in place of zote. Do you use the same amount?
The stores in my area only have the Fels Naptha too. I use the same amount.
I love this detergent. I made a batch in December 2012, have done almost 100 loads of laundry (I’m keeping count) and still have about 2/3 of the batch! I have a front loader and it works perfectly well. I tell everyone about it and have made several converts.
I’m in the process of gathering my supplies and have a question about the Purex Crystals. Does the recipe call for 1-2 bottles (that add up to 55 oz) or 1-2 55 oz bottles… so if I use 2 I would have 110?
I’ve been making this soap for years now. LOVE it!
BTW you can make your own washing soda by cooking baking soda for 45 minutes in a 400 degree oven.
And…..FYI you can substitute epsom salt for the purex crystals, it does the same thing. For scent you can add essential oil to the epsom salt.
Also another tip…There are generic brands of oxy clean that are much cheaper. There’s a brand called ‘Sun’ and it’s only a couple of bucks.
Sorry if this is a question that was already asked. Why does your write up say 1 – 2 tablespoons per load and yet the printable recipe below that says 2 – 4 tablespoons. I’m confused. Any by the way, I love this and gave the first batch away to my friends.
Looking for the same answer.
I have used this laundry detergent for over a year and love it! As a little girl back in the early 60s, I loved running through the fresh laundry on the clothesline and this is the smell I remember! I will never go back to store bought.
can this be made into a liquid, i like using liquid a lot better.
I live in the South Australia Adelaide hills and can’t seem to find any of these ingredients could you please help me out on what stores have them? I really want to make the laundry detergent
Can OxyClean be mixed with bleach safely or does that form chloramine gas which is deadly? I know ammonia and bleach cannot be mixed. I’ll leave the OxyClean out of the recipe for now!
I have been using this recipe for quite a few months and LOVE it! Even the dog beds come out clean and smelling so fresh! I could not find Zote so I used Fels Naptha soap. So happy that I found this recipe! I mix 2 Tbl in a bottle of hot water and then pour it into my front loader
I’m wondering if I do the microwaved version of the zote soap, if it works just as well?
Printing out the directions but realize the site says 1-2 tablespoons and the printable says 2-4. Seems like a big range. All my loads are large loads but not overly dirty.
I made my first batch a year ago. This stuff is the best! I recently ran out and have had to use the liquid detergent from the store. Yuck! My clothes stink like they were left in the washer for a day or two after being washed. I’m making up another batch ASAP. FYI, I use Clorox and the powder with my whites bc I like the smell on my towels.
Now if you could come up with a carpet cleaner to get rid of pet stains…. I would be in heaven.
Hi, I was wondering how this soap is for people with allergies.. I have been ONLY able to use Purex Hypoallergenic but would really like to know if any of your followers have asked this before, prior to be getting the ingredients I don’t typically buy .
Is this safe for HE Front Loaders?
I am a little confused with your laundry detergent. The Purex crystals that you call fabric softener are really fabric enhancers. I can’t find any that say softener. I am using it but there is no fabric softener in it. I am going to have to buy separate fabric softener. When I made it I thought included it, but the clothes were very staticy when they came out. Let me know if I did something wrong. Thanks Paula
I have used the homemade laundry detergent for about a year i love it i also add one cup of colorsafe powder bleach
I made a half batch and it works beautifully. Thanks for sharing. I used my food processor to grate the Zote. It was becoming a gummy ball in the processor so I sprinkled in one pound of the baking soda while it grated in my processor. This worked great!
Just tryin my batch out. Is it suppose to be minimal suds? Any who can answer I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Yes! It doesn’t get too sudsy, but it cleans!!
Hi!
You did indeed inspire me to run out and make my own batch.
There is one catch, I only added one bar of zote (store only had one!) I wondering if i need to use more because of this or should it still me ok? I have yet to use it. I may wait and grab another bar!
Can this be used for baby clothes or do the crystals mess with the flame resistance like softeners?
Maybe I missed it…I’m just wondering if you can use this in a front load washer? I assume you would just toss it in the drum…not put it in the slide in dispenser? Thanks! I am really excited to try this!
I just made this detergent and I’m SUPER excited to try it later today!! It smells amazing and extremely clean, I know that sounds strange but it really does! Even buying the cheap detergent I end up spending a lot in one year, so this is a great way to save money! Thank you bunches for this amazing tutorial!!
Has anyone tried this without the Borax? I would love to try this but I’m not so sure about the Borax. If you can just leave it out all together, then do you add something in its place? Thanks!
I just made a batch of this and am washing my first load of clothes. It smells amazing because of the Purex Crystals! I looked all over Nashville for Zote and couldn’t find it, so I settled for Fels Naptha and it grated up nicely. I can’t wait to see how my load of laundry comes out. I made some fabric softener as well. Super excited! I’ll be back to post an update. Thanks for the recipe. I just love your site. Such awesome ideas.
Just sliced up my zote and popped it in the microwave… Even after 3 minutes it only foamed up a little bit and when I took it out it deflated
I hate the grating haha am I doing something wrong??
just curious, may be a blonde question, but will this work with H E washers. my husband is in a panic thinking I will mess up the washer
thank you
Have you ever used Johnson’s Bar Soap instead of the Zote? I am making this for my two little kids.
I made a batch of this about 2 months ago (family of 3) and am going to make a second batch. Clothes are just as clean as when I used pre-made detergents, and I’m not buying a new box every 2-3 weeks! I have noticed that my hubby’s skin hasn’t flared up nearly as much as it used to, so I think that’s helped him tremendously.
I LOVE THIS RECIPE!!! I made some last week and my clothes still smell fresh and clean just like the store brands, PLUS they just look whiter and brighter! Thank goodness I found this on here! I just love it! Also it’s definitely potent so 1-2 tablespoons is plenty!
thanks for this!
My roommate and I decided to make homemade detergant several years ago, surprisingly it was his idea. We made a big batch and it worked wonders. But shortly after we switched my boyfriend started breaking out in horrible rashes all over his body. His skin isnt sensitive to anything else. We discovered it was the Borax. Luckily my kids were fine. If you chose to use the Borax keep this in mind.
I was concerned about the Borax, have you tried making the recipe with out it?
I just wanted to give ya’ll a tip that I found..
I used Fels Naptha soap. I don’t have a food processor, so I started by grating it and well, that was for the birds. I pulled out my magic bullet and loaded small chunks into it. The magic bullet did great at first but as it started to get finer, it sort of melted around the blade back into a clump. I worked in small batches and had pea sized chunks when I was done.
That’s when I found this website instead of the one I had been using- and found the microwave method! I took my pea sized chunks, popped them in a bowl, microwaved for 3 min and let cool. I don’t know it if was because the chunks were too small or what, but it didn’t crumble that well, but was a lot dryer than it had been. I decided to give it another round in my magic bullet and WOW THAT WAS MAGIC!
We’ve made this and love it~ there are 4 of us here and i do 6-10 loads a week. This recipe usually lasts us 3-4 months.
I recommend using regular body bar soap. When I used the zote, the detergent came out thick and chunky. But when I used Ivory bath bar soap, it didnt do that. Its because Zote is made with tallow (animal fat) and when it cools, it goes back to a semi solid state.
Hey, I just wanted to add that we are doing this right now and we have had to microwave the Zote soap so far for almost ten minutes. Multiple times of microwaving and taking them out to peel off the fluffy parts and microwaving again. Just wanted to let anyone know that was having an issue with this.
I also live in Saskatchewan, and love this idea of making your own laundry detergent. I cant wait to try it.
Is this safe on high efficiency front load washers?
I live in SA and our shops don’t stock these items. Is there any alternatives I could use? I would love to try to make the detergents.
Do you have a trial recipe? also would this recipe work with hard water?
I just open up the end of the Zote wrapper and let it sit for a couple of months, and it just crumbles when you grate it. Much easier.
If people are having trouble finding Zote – you can also use Kirk’s Castile bar soap. It’s what I use.
Zote can be found at Walmart.
You can use just about any type of soap.
Or Octagon soap – that works, too.
I was wondering if this detergent can be used for High efficiency washers?
Thank you.
This stuff is amazing! With a husband and 4 kids I do laundry on a daily basis. It works GREAT and I have saved a lot of money. I have a front load he washing machine and yes you can use it!! So glad I found this recipe.
I have found everything but the A & H Super washing soda. I even went into their web site and A & H dosen’t even have it any more. What else can I use. Can I just use A & H laundry powder?
It only lasted me 4 months BUT we are a family of 2 adults(1working with metal and grease everyday) & 4 children (one being potty trained) and 2 teenagers.
I also found that this mixture cleans my tub WONDERFULLY!! And I used it to clean our pool when we set it up for the summer
It is a wonderful cleaning agent as well as clothing lol 
I used it to remove Blood from a white blanket
Getting ready to make some more!!
I couldn’t find it either, so I used a box of Calgon water softener from the laundry aisle. It appears to be the same substance. I am in Canada…not sure if it’s available in the States…
I just bought some at our walmart because I use it to clean my floors, it is usually over by the stain remover stuff in the laundry isle.
Ace Hardware can order it for you if they don’t carry it. Amazon also carries it.
It was almost gone at my local Wal-mart but I did notice it was out at other stores. I think because of this recipe and Pintrest in general is creating a run on these products. Keep trying at Wal-Mart.
I just bought three boxes of it today. Your local grocer should be able to order it for you if you ask
I think more people are doing this, so the stuff sells out quickly. I’ve decided to just start stocking up when the stuff is in stock because I’ve had to go on a wild goose chase twice trying to find all the ingredients.
If you can’t find washing soda I found this online … it is to make your own washing soda from baking soda.
http://naturesnurtureblog.com/2012/05/08/ttt-turn-baking-soda-into-washing-soda/
I don’t know where your located, but in my area we have Price Chopper Markets, and I found it in the same spot at the 20 Mule Team.
I emailed A&H to ask where to find the Washing Soda, they replied: “Loblaws, Safeway, Sobeys, Fed. Coop, Overwaitea”. I’m in Canada and found it at Superstore. Hope that helps
There is a way to bake regular Baking Soda and turn it into the same thing as the Washing Soda. I don’t know the exact temperature and time but just google about it and I’m sure you’ll find plenty of comments on how to do it. I follow another blog called One Good Thing By Jillee and I believe she has the directions on her website on how to do this. I however find my A & H Washing Soda right next to the Borax at Wal-Mart, but I haven’t had to buy any in a while, so not sure that they do still have it.
I have found A&H super washing soda at Walmart in both Wisconsin and Florida, and at every grocery store that I go to, so I assume most of them carry it. It is always in the laundry detergent section, usually by the oxiclean. Good luck finding it, it is a miracle worker, even by itself. I always add 1/2 cup to my wash load along with whatever detergent I am using. (In a high efficiency washer)
Walmart still has A&H Super Washing Soda. It was right by the Borax at our Walmart
None of the Wal-Mart’s near me sell Zote. You can also use plain white Ivory soap
but not so in Portland, Or. You have to go about 30 miles south of PDX. I know… LOL !! I’m going to visit my son who lives south of here & I’m going Zote© huntin!!! I want those little pink specks in mine next batch!
OH! BTW Thanx for the idea of leaving the end open so that it would dry out, & I imagine that for the ‘other towns’ who don’t carry it the trick would work for my brand was Fels Naptha©, Kirk’s Castile bar soap, etc.
I used Kirk’s Castile which I found in a local grocery store. Our Walmart had Fels Naptha but I chose to use the Castile which is less scented. I don’t bother with the fragrance crystals either but find i really don’t need to use fabric softener. I think the washing and baking soda make the clothes very soft. I microwaved each bar of soap on a heavy plate for about 4 to 5 minutes stopping every minute to check progress then I was able to crumble it easily, threw in the food processor and ground to a fine powder. So much easier than grating all that soap.
I bought the pink Zote at Kmart
Guide Review – Purex Complete Crystals Fabric Softener – Laundry Product Review
The Purex brand is known for rolling out new, innovative laundry products. In 2009, Purex Complete 3-in-1 came on the market as a combination detergent, fabric softener and anti-static dryer sheet in one. Now the Purex folks have a new type of fabric softener, Purex Complete Crystals.
NOTE: The formula for Purex Crystals has now been changed and the product offers no softening power – just added scent. (June 2012)
That is so true, we have bars of it laying around that we use to use to take out grease stains and I notice how dry it gets. I didn’t think to do this when I made it and had a hard time cause it was so soft. I actually did a layer of grating, sprinkle with baking soda to keep it from sticking together. I’ll have to leave it open next time.
I’m in Western Canada and found the A&H Super Washing Soda in the laundry section in London Drugs, Co-op and Superstore. The Zote soap you can find in Hispanic / Mexican grocery stores – we have one here that carries it.
I’ve made another version of this but it calls for adding water. As I often use a laundromat, I’m definitely going to make some of the powdered version!
I live in Portland and I found zote soap at Home Depot. Super weird but just so you know
Thanks look forward to trying this.
So did u out it in the dispenser or in the tub? And how much did u use for each load?
I was going to make laundry detergent awhile back and was told to buy Soda Ash (or Sodium bicarbonate) baking soda, which the way I understood was Sodium bicarbonate is more condensed and cheaper in the long run to use instead of baking soda. What do you think?
I did the math. There is about 2.5gal of detergent or 320oz in your bucket and this purex bottle is 55oz. This means if yo put the detergent in the purex bottle there is about 5 more bottles in your bucket!! 110 tbsp in 55oz means 55 loads in one bottle. You will be set for a long time.
You are supposed to put it in the washing tub itself especially if you have an HE machine.
I want to try this recipe for my own detergent! One question; I usually use abt 1/2 cup vinegar in my wash instead of usuing bleach ( I pour it in the bleach dispenser) Is that okay to still do with this dry detergent? And it is safe to pour directly on my clothes as my HE washer dispensing drawers are for liquid? THANKS A MILLION!
Baking soda IS sodium bicarbonate. It’s the common name for it. Soda ash is sodium carbonate is also known as washing soda. So they are different chemicals. Closely related but different. Which is why I think this recipe has both. Soda ash is used as a water softener in some cars and often in swimming pools to balance the pH. Baking soda is used in cooking, cleaning and stain removal and also softens water to some extent.
Hope this answers your question.
Yes, it can.
Yes, this can be used in High Efficiency washers. I use it in mine and it really does not suds at all. No problems at all.
What size bucket do you store it in? Is it a 5 gallon, 10 gallon?
5 gallon bucket!
Thanks for the Castile soap idea! Hoping it won’t gum up my machine as much as a tallow based soap.