Homemade Laundry Powder That Actually Works
If your family is like mine, finding a laundry powder that actually works can be hard. With kids that play in the mud or husbands that work in construction… You know how frustrating it is to buy super expensive laundry detergents or laundry powders from the store. And just to know that there is a good chance you’ll have clothes coming out needing a rewash. And besides, do you really want some of those unpronounceable chemical ingredients on your clothes? I didn’t think so.
Starting Off With Liquid
Back in 2006 we had our first son. His sensitive skin broke out with any store bought laundry soap, and any store bought bath soap, I about lost my mind. I took things into my own hands and figured out a way to make my own laundry liquid. And it worked!
By 2009 our second son arrived, and he too had sensitive little baby skin. That’s when I took a deep dive into making natural cold process bar soaps. By 2010, I started my own little online soap shop selling those soaps.
As time went on, I knew that my liquid laundry soap, tho worked well, was getting in my way. Not only taking time to set up, but at the time my tiny laundry closet just wasn’t big enough for a 5 gallon bucket of liquid laundry soap.
Switching To Powder
Hand grating multiple felz naptha bars, stirring to dissolve the powders, standing over the giant pot and burner in the garage to heat it all. It was a lot of work. I’m talking hours. And after that, we had to wait 24 hours for it all to set up and thicken into more of a gel consistency. Then, lugging around a 5 gallon bucket of liquid was no easy task when in a small space, and cutting the recipe would mean I’d have to go through the process more often.
I was feeling like by making liquid, I was making things more complicated than it should have been. So I started experimenting with batches of laundry powder soap.
Works Great For Cloth Diapering
A couple more years had passed, and we welcomed our first daughter. By this time I was full swing into cloth diapering, and I loved how this soap cleaned the diapers… not gonna lie, I did try commercial soap a few times here and there, just because I was growing tired of making more batches. But I realized that I could do better. My babies didn’t have a ton of harsh chemicals in their laundry, they weren’t having skin issues, and diy laundry soap just cleans better…. And the biggest positive- it’s much cheaper.
Now, two more kids later, I finally settled on a recipe that I liked for a powdered version. I’ve been making this version for about 8 years now… when we go on vacation, I just scoop some into a zipper bag and take with. It‘s easy to make and it works on our muddy farm clothes. It doesn’t smell and it doesn’t leave any toxic residue on our clothes. And again, for all of you frugal mommas and dads….. it’s cost effective.
How I Make DIY Laundry Powder
There are some things you’ll have to order or prepare ahead like grating the bar soap or just ordering it already in flakes, and you’ll need a large clean bucket if you decide to keep this in bulk amounts. If you desire to have one of those cute glass jars for your laundry room, this would be great for this recipe as it makes about 1 gallon, so that’s great. But this will be in your closet for your refills.
DIY Nontoxic Laundry Powder Recipe
This simple, effective laundry powder is tough on stains, gentle on fabrics, and safe for you and the planet.
Ingredients
• 4 cups washing soda (sodium carbonate) – boosts cleaning power and removes tough stains.
• 4 cups baking soda – neutralizes odors and softens fabrics.
• 3 cup finely grated Castile soap (or natural bar soap like Dr. Bronner’s) – provides cleansing power. Or if you are looking for already grated soap this one is great that I use often, or this one is a good choice.
• 1/4 cup oxygen bleach (optional) – for added stain-fighting power and whitening.
• 10–15 drops essential oil (optional) – lavender, tea tree, or lemon for a fresh, natural scent.
Instructions
1. Grate the Soap: Use a fine grater or food processor to grate your soap into small, fine pieces.
2. Mix the Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine washing soda, baking soda, grated soap, and oxygen bleach (if using). Mix thoroughly to ensure even distribution.
3. Add Essential Oils (Optional): Add your favorite essential oils for a natural scent and mix well.
4. Store: Transfer the mixture to an airtight container or jar and label it.
How to Use
• Add 1–2 tablespoons of the powder directly into your washing machine drum for a standard load.
• For heavily soiled or stained laundry, dissolve 3 tablespoons of the powder in warm water and soak items for 30 minutes before washing.
Tips for Stain Removal
• Pre-Treat: For tough stains, make a paste with a bit of the laundry powder and water. Rub it onto the stain and let it sit for 10–15 minutes before washing.
• Hot Water Boost: Use warm or hot water for whites and heavily soiled fabrics to enhance cleaning power.
Why It Works
• Washing soda and baking soda break down grease, dirt, and stains.
• Castile soap lifts away dirt without harsh chemicals.
• Oxygen bleach (if included) brightens and removes tough stains naturally.
This DIY laundry powder is affordable, customizable, and perfect for maintaining a clean, nontoxic home!
This recipe really only takes a few minutes to put together. My youngest daughter and I rotate with layering. After each layer of powder, we just give it a quick mix, and then move on to the next layer. This helps prevent getting scoops of just one type of powder in the future.
Another thing that I like to do on occasion, is also adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the powder dispenser. It really isn’t necessary, however every once in a while we love to smell our laundry. This will make your laundry smell nice. It really only takes about 5 minutes to put it together. I really couldn’t ask for it to be easier.
Using white vinegar helps keep the static out of laundry, it’s also an excellent deodorizer.
What About Fabric Softener?
Well, truth is that I don’t use fabric softener, at all. The commercial liquid fabric softeners are full of chemicals that I surely don’t want in my clothes. And the fabric softener sheets tend to gum up the lint tray.
So how do I keep the static cling away? White vinegar. Just fill the softener dispenser with white vinegar and it does a great job. And no, our clothes don’t smell like vinegar. It rinses out nice and clean.
Please leave a comment below and share how your homemade laundry powder actually works in your laundry room, I can’t wait to hear how much you love it in your laundry.
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Happy cleaning!
DIY Laundry Powder That ACTUALLY Works!
Equipment
- 1 Large Bucket make sure it is clean and with a lid
- 1 large wooden or metal spoon for mixing
Instructions
- 4 Cups Washing Soda
- 4 Cups Baking Soda
- ¼ Cup Oxiclean Versatile stain remover (free & clear), optional
- 3 Cups Laundry Soap Flakes - divided
- In a large bucket, evenly layer a few scoops of each powder and a cup of laundry soap flakes, and blend well with large spoon.
- Repeat with layering and mixing until all the powder is combined fully.
- Use 1-3 Tablespoons per load depending on soil level.
Notes
If you are adventurous, and would like to make this recipe in bulk, feel free to multiply by 4 or even 5 to make a 5 gallon bucket as we do.
happy laundry day!
xoxo
My sister and I were just talking about homemade laundry powder this weekend! So glad I came across this!
I used to make my own laundry soap but got out of the habit and haven’t made it in years. Your recipe is very similar to the one I used. I’ll have to give it a go again and try yours. Thanks for the reminder!
I’ve been wanting to make my own laundry soap, this post is perfect timing. Thanks for sharing!