Old-Fashioned Laundry Soap You Can Make at Home

Making your own homemade laundry detergent is a simple and affordable way to keep your home clean without all the harsh ingredients. If you’ve already made the switch to my foaming hand soap or all-purpose cleaner, this easy recipe is the perfect next step in your natural home routine.

This post may contain affiliate links, please read our disclosure policy for details.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

It’s made with everyday ingredients: No weird chemicals or mystery liquids—just simple pantry staples you probably already have on hand.
Saves you money: A little goes a long way, and one batch can last for weeks. It’s a frugal homemaker’s dream.
Gentle on your home (and your people): Skip the artificial fragrances and harsh stuff. This mix is easy on sensitive skin and keeps your laundry fresh without all the extras.
Easy to whip up: If you can grate a bar of soap, you can make this. It’s a no-fuss kind of recipe that fits right into a slow, intentional routine.
Smells the way you want it to: Keep it plain and clean-smelling or add a few drops of your favorite essential oils—like lavender, lemon, or eucalyptus.
Feels good to use: There’s something so satisfying about scooping out something you made yourself, especially when

Ingredients

Washing soda: A powerhouse cleaner that helps lift dirt and grime from fabric. It also softens the water, which helps the other ingredients work more effectively.
Borax: A natural mineral that boosts cleaning power, helps whiten whites, and tackles stubborn stains. It also helps deodorize smelly laundry.
Epsom salt: Adds a little natural fabric softening and helps prevent detergent buildup in your washer. Bonus: it can help brighten colors over time.
Bar soap: The heart of the detergent—this is what actually breaks down the grease and dirt on your clothes. Choose a gentle, natural soap like castile, or even a handmade bar you trust.

Recipe Tips

Grate the soap finely: The finer your soap shavings, the easier they’ll dissolve in cooler water. A hand grater works great, but you can also pulse it in a food processor if you want a softer powder.

Choose the right soap: Go for a simple, unscented bar like Castile or Fels-Naptha if you want low-tox and skin-friendly. If you use a scented or handmade bar, make sure it’s not too oily—it can leave residue on clothes.

Mix in small batches: If you’re trying this for the first time, mix a small batch and test it on your clothes to make sure you love the results.

Add essential oils if you want scent: A few drops of lavender, lemon, eucalyptus, or tea tree oil can give your detergent a soft, natural fragrance. Just mix it into the dry ingredients well.

Store it in an airtight container: This keeps moisture out and helps the powder stay clump-free. A large mason jar or vintage canister works beautifully.

Label your jar: Especially helpful if you make multiple DIY cleaners. A handwritten label or printable tag adds a cute farmhouse touch.

Use with hot or warm water for best results: While this powder can work in cold water, it dissolves best in warm or hot cycles—especially if your soap isn’t super finely grated.

Great for HE machines: Because it’s low-sudsing, this detergent is safe to use in high-efficiency washers—just add it directly to the drum, not the soap drawer.

homestead kitchen

Get My Simple Kitchen Printable Bundle

Bring a little order to your from-scratch kitchen. My Simple Kitchen Printable Bundle is filled with practical pages to help you plan meals, track pantry staples, and keep your homestead kitchen running smooth and simple.

Get the bundle

Instructions

Grate the soap: Using a box grater, finely grate the entire bar of soap. The smaller the shreds, the easier they’ll dissolve in the wash.
Mix the ingredients: In your container, combine the grated soap, washing soda, borax, and Epsom salt. Stir well with a wooden spoon until everything is evenly distributed.
Store: Keep your detergent in an airtight container with a lid. Label it if you’d like, especially if you’re storing it in a shared laundry space.
Use: Add 1–2 tablespoons per load, depending on the size and soil level. Works well in both regular and HE washing machines—just place it directly in the drum.

FAQ

Yes! This detergent is low-sudsing, which is exactly what HE (high-efficiency) machines need. Just sprinkle it directly into the drum before adding your clothes.

It can, especially if your soap is grated finely. But for best results, use warm or hot water to make sure the soap dissolves completely—especially if you’re washing large or heavily soiled loads.

It does a great job on everyday dirt and odors. For extra-tough stains, pre-treat them with a dab of soap or a paste made with this detergent and a splash of water.

Yes, as long as you use a gentle, fragrance-free soap bar (like Castile). Always do a patch test if you’re unsure, and skip essential oils if sensitivity is a concern.

Use 1–2 tablespoons depending on the size of your load and how dirty the clothes are. A little goes a long way!

It depends on how often you do laundry, but this recipe should last around 25–30 loads when using 1–2 tablespoons per load.

I like to make a big batch to last us for the entire year and store it in a large glass canister. My Simple Kitchen Printable Bundle helps me stay organized when planning my homemaking routine.

Absolutely! Just make sure you store it in a large, airtight container and give it a good stir before each use to keep things evenly mixed.

Nope! As long as you use the right amount and grate your soap finely, it dissolves cleanly and won’t gum up your machine.

Recipe Variations

Add baking soda: For an extra boost of odor-fighting power, swap ½ cup of the washing soda with baking soda. Great for gym clothes, pet bedding, and anything extra smelly.
Use different soap bars: Switch things up based on what you have on hand. Castile for a gentle clean, Fels-Naptha for heavy-duty loads, or even goat milk soap for a creamy, soft scent.
Make it scented (or unscented): Add 10–15 drops of essential oils like lavender, lemon, orange, or eucalyptus for a custom scent. Or keep it completely fragrance-free for babies and sensitive skin.
Skip the Epsom salt: If you don’t have Epsom salt, leave it out—your detergent will still clean just fine. Or replace it with sea salt or coarse kosher salt for a similar softening effect.
Liquid version: Prefer liquid detergent? Grate the soap and melt it in hot water, then mix it with the rest of the ingredients in a large container. Add more hot water and stir until fully dissolved. Use about ¼–⅓ cup per load.
Brightening blend: Add ¼ cup of oxygen bleach (like OxiClean Free) to the mix for a natural brightening and whitening boost—especially helpful for light-colored laundry.

Shop The Tools

Join the List

Want More Simple Recipes & Seasonal Inspiration?

Get cozy, from-scratch recipes, seasonal homesteading tips, and simple living inspiration delivered straight to your inbox.

Join the list

Similar Recipes

Equipment

Box grater For grating the soap bar into fine shavings
Container (such as a jar): To mix and store your detergent
Wooden Spoon To stir everything together

Ingredients

1 ½ cups washing soda
1 cup borax
½ cup Epsom salt
1 bar soap such as Castile, Fels-Naptha, or your favorite natural soap

Instructions

Grate the soap: Using a box grater, finely grate the entire bar of soap. The smaller the shreds, the easier they’ll dissolve in the wash.
Mix the ingredients: In your container, combine the grated soap, washing soda, borax, and Epsom salt. Stir well with a wooden spoon until everything is evenly distributed.
Store: Keep your detergent in an airtight container with a lid. Label it if you’d like, especially if you’re storing it in a shared laundry space.
Use: Add 1–2 tablespoons per load, depending on the size and soil level. Works well in both regular and HE washing machines—just place it directly in the drum.

Video

View this post on Instagram

Notes

Grate the soap finely: Smaller shreds dissolve better, especially in cooler water.
Use 1–2 tablespoons per load: A little goes a long way, even for large or dirty loads.
Store in a dry, airtight container: This keeps your detergent fresh and clump-free.
Choose your soap wisely: For sensitive skin, go with unscented, natural soap bars like Castile or goat milk soap.
Add essential oils (optional): For a light scent, mix in 10–15 drops of essential oil per batch.
Great for both regular and HE machines: Just add directly to the drum before your clothes.
Label your jar: Especially helpful if you’re storing multiple homemade cleaners.

Did you make this recipe?

We’d love to see! Tag @the.rootedfarmhouse on Instagram! #therootedfarmhouse

Tag @the.rootedfarmhouse on Insta

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Ingredients