Learn how to make 5 gallons of laundry soap for less than $2! It worksgreat and is so simple to make.
Making laundry soap is a great place to start when trying to get rid of conventional items from your home. It’s easy, works, and extremely cost effective.
It takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish to make 5 gallons of all natural laundry soap. I have been using this soap for six years and it has saved me so much money. You can change of the essential oils to make new scents each time you make it, have fun with it.
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HOMEMADE LAUNDRY SOAP WITH ESSENTIAL OILS VIDEO TUTORIAL
HOMEMADE LAUNDRY SOAP WITH ESSENTIAL OILS INGREDIENTS
5 gallon bucket with lid (I use one similar to this one)
Cheese grater ( I use one similar to this one. I keep this one in the laundry room and have a different one for the kitchen)
30-50 drops of essential oils of choice (I list my favorites below)
HOMEMADE LAUNDRY SOAP WITH ESSENTIAL OILS INSTRUCTIONS
Add 1/2 gallon of water to your bucket. Stir in borax and washing soda.
Shred your soap bar with the cheese grater. Melt soap shreds in 1 cup of water over medium heat. Stir often.
Add melted soap to the bucket and stir well.
Add essential oils of choice.
Fill the bucket the rest of the way with water. Stir until all ingredients are well combined.
Let sit overnight and then shake bucket really well.
NOTES: I like to pour the detergent in a 1/2 gallon jar to make uses easier. You can also store in old laundry soap containers. Shake well before each use. Use 1/2 cup of detergent per load.
BEST ESSENTIAL OILS FOR LAUNDRY SOAP
LAVENDER- Lavender is a very calming, relaxing essential oil, with a lovely floral smell. This one is my favorite for laundry soap.
WILD ORANGE- Invigorating, uplifting, and cleansing; wild orange is perfect for your laundry soap. It adds a fresh scent to your clean clothes.
MELAEUCA- Melaleuca is a purifying and cleansing essential oil. If you ever forgot to put wet laundry straight in the dryer when it is done add 2-3 drops to the wet clothes and add to the dryer.
PEPPERMINT- If you like a fresh, minty smell then this well be your oil. Peppermint makes a wonderful scent for your homemade laundry soap.
EUCALYPTUS- Eucalyptus is a great oil to add to your laundry soap during times of sickness. The oil will freshen clothes and kill germs.
LEMONGRASS- This citrus oil has a earthy smell and makes a great scent, especially for men.
ROMAN CHAMOMILE- Another calming essential oil and great for kids. Roman chamomile adds a beautiful floral scent.
CEDARWOOD- Another one for the men in your life. Cedarwood has a woodies scent that most men enjoy and it has cleansing properties making it great for your soap.
PATCHOULI- Either you love it, or hate it. I am a patchouli lover and am obsessed with the scent. This is another favorite of mine for laundry.
JASMINE- If you want to smell like a bed of flowers all day then add jasmine to your laundry soap. Jasmine is very calming and can help with stress and anxious feelings.
HOMEMADE LAUNDRY SOAP WITH ESSENTIAL OILS BLENDS
CITRUS BLISS
20 drops wild orange
15 drops lemon
10 drops lime
5 drops grapefruit
FLORAL SENSATION
20 drops lavender
15 drops jasmine
10 drops pachouli
5 drops clary sage
GENTLE FOR BABY
25 drops lavender
10 drops roman chamomile
ODOR CONTROL
20 drops eucalyptus
15 drops melaleuca
10 drops lemon
5 drops peppermint
HOMEMADE FABRIC SOFTENER
INGREDIENTS
1/2 gallon white vineger
1 cup baking soda
10 drops clove essential oil
5 drops of lemon essential oil
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine all the ingredients in a gallon size container.
Shake until all ingredients are mixed well.
Add 1/4 cup to each load.
HOMEMADE ALL NATURAL BLEACH
INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide
10 drops of lemon essential oil
INSTRUCTIONS
Mix ingredients together and add to the bleach compartment of the washing machine.
DRYER BALLS
“GET YOURSELF SOME DRYER BALLS!”
Real-wool dryer balls are the non-toxic way to soften your fabrics.
And, you can throw a few drops of lavender or orange essential oil on them before you throw them in. Your family will thank you.
I use to add a few drops of lavender to a clean sock or wash cloth and add it to the dryer. I thought it was doing the same thing as dryer balls, until I actually got dryer balls.
Dryer balls have made my clothes softer and they dry faster than before.
Let’s talk laundry! If you have anymore recipes share them with me. I love to hear from you and bounce new ideas off each other.
I hope this post was helpful and you will find these recipes useful.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission with no extra cost to you.
HOMEMADE LAUNDRY SOAP WITH ESSENTIAL OILS PRINTABLE
Homemade Laundry Soap
Ingredients
1 cup Borax
1/2 cup washing soda
5 ounces fels napa soap , 1 soap bar
50 drops essential oils
5 gallons water
Instructions
Add 1/2 gallon of water to your bucket, stir in washing soda and borax.
Shred soap bar with a cheese grater.
Melt soap shreds in 1 cup of water over medium heat. Stir often.
Add melted soap to 5 gallon bucket and stir well.
Add essential oils of choice.
Fill the bucket the rest of the way with water.
Let sit overnight and then shake well.
Notes
Shake well before each use. Use 1/4 cup per load.
CHECK OUT MY OTHER DIY RECIPES USING YOUR ESSENTIAL OILS
I am using your recipe for laundry liquid detergent recipe in a front loader. I put 1/2 c. Of laundry detergent in the cup drawer located on top outside of washer. I’m getting bleach spots on my sheets and dish rags. So far no clothes. Is there any of these ingredients that could cause my sheets and dish rags to appear as if there are bleached spots on them. I don’t have actual bleach around so I know its not bleach.
I am a mama of many kiddos. Big family = big loads in a large capacity washer. Wondering the load size you’re using 1/2cp with. Want to adjust my detergent amount appropriately. Also….seems like not enough cleaning agent for such a large bucket of water. You really only need that small amount of borax and ws??
Thanks in advance for answering back and for the great video!
You’re welcome! I use 1/3 cup for a regular size load, if you are doing a large load you could do 3/4 cup. And yes I know it seems crazy, but that is all you need! We have been using it for 7 years and I have 4 kids. So things get pretty dirty and it works great!
I have been looking into making a few of your laundry recipes. But a few questions I have are: 1. When you make the fabric softener with the baking soda and vinegar…will it foam quite a bit? 2. Is it ok to use the softener recipe, liquid laundry detergent, and homemade bleach all together? Thank you.
Hi Laura ! Thank you very much for all the work you’re doing. I’ve discovered your blog and YouTube channel just a few days ago, watched and read almost everything, and you made me realize all the benefits of using simple, natural homemade products, for good. One question though, I live in France and here I can’t find Borax anywhere, in stores nor online (I think it is an only professional access product here). As you use Borax in some recipes I wish to make, do you have any suggestions for a replacement product ? Again thank you, you are doing very helpful and great work !
Thank you so much for following along with me! I am so glad you are enjoying my content! Are you able to order it online? Sometimes I get it on amazon when I can’t make it to the store!
Thank you for your answer ! I can only buy “Borax substitute” on Amazon, which is sodium sesquicarbonate. As true Borax is sodium tetraborate decahydrate, I wondered if it would work. I think I’m gonna swap with baking soda as it is almost the same composition as Borax substitute, and give it a try with a small batch. Do you think it’s a good idea ?
I haven’t tried it, but I bet it will work! Good idea making it in a small batch to test it first. I do have a powder laundry soap without borax you could try too! It is washing soda and baking soda.
Kim says
Is The homemade laundry soap compatible with front loaders?
lauraascher says
Yes it is! I have a front loader and have been using it for 7 years. I use 1/2 cup per load.
Gaye says
I am using your recipe for laundry liquid detergent recipe in a front loader. I put 1/2 c. Of laundry detergent in the cup drawer located on top outside of washer. I’m getting bleach spots on my sheets and dish rags. So far no clothes. Is there any of these ingredients that could cause my sheets and dish rags to appear as if there are bleached spots on them. I don’t have actual bleach around so I know its not bleach.
lauraascher says
I have never had that issue before and I have been using this recipe for 7 years so I am not sure why that would be happening.
Sarah says
How do I get the ebook you talked about?
Laura says
Get access to my online resource library here for all my free printable labels and ebooks in one place: https://www.subscribepage.com/member-resource-library.
Rebecca says
I am a mama of many kiddos. Big family = big loads in a large capacity washer. Wondering the load size you’re using 1/2cp with. Want to adjust my detergent amount appropriately. Also….seems like not enough cleaning agent for such a large bucket of water. You really only need that small amount of borax and ws??
Thanks in advance for answering back and for the great video!
Laura says
You’re welcome! I use 1/3 cup for a regular size load, if you are doing a large load you could do 3/4 cup. And yes I know it seems crazy, but that is all you need! We have been using it for 7 years and I have 4 kids. So things get pretty dirty and it works great!
Aeyla says
I have been looking into making a few of your laundry recipes. But a few questions I have are:
1. When you make the fabric softener with the baking soda and vinegar…will it foam quite a bit?
2. Is it ok to use the softener recipe, liquid laundry detergent, and homemade bleach all together?
Thank you.
Laura says
Yes, I use them together when needed. It will foam when you make it.
Aeyla says
Is ok to use the scent booster recipe with these as well?
Laura says
Yes!
Muriel says
Hi Laura ! Thank you very much for all the work you’re doing. I’ve discovered your blog and YouTube channel just a few days ago, watched and read almost everything, and you made me realize all the benefits of using simple, natural homemade products, for good. One question though, I live in France and here I can’t find Borax anywhere, in stores nor online (I think it is an only professional access product here). As you use Borax in some recipes I wish to make, do you have any suggestions for a replacement product ? Again thank you, you are doing very helpful and great work !
Laura says
Thank you so much for following along with me! I am so glad you are enjoying my content! Are you able to order it online? Sometimes I get it on amazon when I can’t make it to the store!
Muriel says
Thank you for your answer ! I can only buy “Borax substitute” on Amazon, which is sodium sesquicarbonate. As true Borax is sodium tetraborate decahydrate, I wondered if it would work. I think I’m gonna swap with baking soda as it is almost the same composition as Borax substitute, and give it a try with a small batch. Do you think it’s a good idea ?
Laura says
I haven’t tried it, but I bet it will work! Good idea making it in a small batch to test it first. I do have a powder laundry soap without borax you could try too! It is washing soda and baking soda.
Muriel says
I’ll try for sure ! Thank you so much !
Aeyla says
Oh….and the scent booster along with the laundry detergent, bleach and fabric softener