This DIY laundry detergent uses just four ingredients, is safe for babies, and costs far less than commercial detergents. During my journey to better health I focused on swapping out many household items, and the laundry routine was one I wanted to improve. After several trials I found a reliable, effective formula — and here’s what worked for me.
The Benefits Of Homemade Laundry Detergent
- Easy to make
- Cost-effective
- Gentle and baby-safe
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor or a chemist. These are methods and ingredients I felt comfortable using and that performed well for me. Results can vary, so treat this as a tested household method rather than a scientific breakdown.
DIY Laundry Detergent
0 minutes
5 minutes
5 minutes
Shelby Stover
Equipment
- Large glass jar
Ingredients
- 1 cup washing soda
- 1 cup baby OxiClean (or powdered oxygen bleach)
- 1 cup baking soda
- Essential oils (optional)
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients thoroughly.
- Store the blended powder in a large glass jar. (You can mix directly in the jar if preferred.)
Notes
Essential oils are optional but recommended for scent and odor control. I use a purifying blend and then add a favorite single oil such as lime, lemon, or geranium.
If you have very hard water, add 1/4 cup Epsom salt per batch to help soften it. If your water is already soft, you can skip it, as washing soda acts as a water softener.
I began making my own laundry detergent long before Baby Bear arrived. While earlier homemade recipes seemed adequate, they weren’t always up to the task for baby clothes. That led to multiple trials until I found a formula that cleaned well without harsh chemicals.
DIY laundry detergent is straightforward to prepare: a few common ingredients, little time, and minimal tools. Still, like any homemade solution, it may take some tweaking to match your water type, washing machine, and personal preferences.
Below are a few recipes I tried and why I moved on from them.
Trial #1: Liquid Laundry Soap
This was the cheapest option and yielded a large amount of soap, but it required grating and melting bar soap, which was tedious. Ingredients typically included washing soda, borax, Dr. Bronner’s bar soap, and water. For everyday clothes it performed adequately, but baby items often looked dingy after washing.
Trial #2: Alternate Liquid Recipe
A second liquid recipe used Castile soap, baking soda, salt, and water. It avoided borax, which I was cautious about, and worked okay for many garments, but again, baby clothes didn’t come out as clean as I wanted.
Trial #3: Powder Detergent
I expected a powdered detergent to be more potent. This version combined grated bar soap, washing soda, and borax. Despite following stain-removal tips (vinegar, lemon, hydrogen peroxide), stains persisted and whites looked dingy. After researching borax further I felt comfortable using it occasionally, but this particular powder still fell short for my needs.
Why I Prefer This Four-Ingredient Powder
- Simple — no melting or grating of soap bars.
- All powder — mixes and dissolves easily in the wash.
- Effective — especially when paired with oxygen bleach and targeted essential oils.
I was hesitant to use OxiClean at first, but its main components are hydrogen peroxide and a sodium-based booster — essentially oxygen bleach and baking soda — so I became comfortable including it. Soaking whites in a baby-safe oxygen bleach before washing restored brightness, and weekly soaks for cloth diaper covers improved stain removal dramatically.
Why This Mix Works
Baking soda helps neutralize odors and boost cleaning power. Washing soda is a stronger alkaline that removes grease and stains while softening water. Oxygen bleach brightens fabrics and aids stain removal. Together these ingredients create an economical, baby-safe detergent that cleans well without unnecessary additives.
I used to add Epsom salt for hard water, but found it could wear fabrics faster; washing soda already provides water-softening benefits in most cases. Adjust the recipe for your water type and personal needs, and test on small loads until you’re confident with results.