Learn to make the best laundry detergent with only three simple ingredients. This homemade laundry detergent powder is not only cost effective, it’s also super easy to make, gentle and really works! Plus, our no-soap-grating shortcut is “loads” of fun! Grab the kiddos because they will love to watch and help with this project.
Homemade Laundry Detergent Ingredients
The process of making your own laundry detergent is fast and easy! You only need three ingredients:
- Washing Soda
- Borax
- Ivory Soap
All three ingredients are available at the grocery store. You can pick up borax and washing soda on the laundry aisle. (Tip: Check the bottom shelves.) Ivory bar soap will be on the bath aisle.
The No Soap Grating Method To Homemade Laundry Detergent
We begin by preparing our bar of Ivory soap for our laundry detergent powder. When microwaved, an Ivory bar expands into a puffy soap cloud that easily crumbles into tiny flakes. Place a single bar of Ivory Soap into a microwave safe bowl. Microwave up to about 1 minute. Check for doneness by poking a fork into the fluff feeling for any solid piece. Microwave an additional 30 seconds or until no solid piece is felt in the center. Microwave cooking times may vary so be sure to check for completion often. After you remove the fluff from the microwave, it shrinks quickly.
Allow to cool before handling. Rub the pieces between your hands over the bowl to create the fine powder. There may be lumps which is perfectly acceptable when making Ivory soap powder for your homemade laundry detergent.
Simple & Easy 3 Ingredient Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe
- Two parts Washing Soda, I use this brand
- Two parts Borax, I use this brand
- One part Ivory Soap, buy it on Amazon here
The actual quantities will depend on how much you want to make at one time. For example, 2 cups washing soda plus 2 cups Borax and one cup ivory soap powder will equal 5 cups of detergent. 5 cups of detergent will do about 20 loads of laundry when using 1/4 cup per load.
Use about 1/4 cup per load of laundry. You may use more or less depending on how dirty the laundry is.
Gather your ingredients
Microwave your Ivory soap to expand it
Shred the expanded Ivory soap
Mix the ingredients
Pour the homemade detergent mixture into your storage container
Drop in a few silica packets to prevent moisture
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DD says
Hi, I don’t have a microwave.
Is not ok to just grate the Ivory Soap?
Shirley Wood says
I have never tried just grating the soap. Let me know how that goes for you. Part of the microwave process allows you to shred the soap powder between your hands but it seems like grating would work. Let me know!
Aja Adams says
How do you powder the soap after microwaving it (from foam to powder)
Kelly Gwin says
I don’t own a microwave so how would I do it via stove top?
Shirley Wood says
Hi Kelly, I have not tried making it anyway except in the Microwave. Because it expands so much, not sure I’d do it on the stove.
Laura says
Oh, wow! I might actually try to make my own laundry detergent now.. I always dreaded trying to grate a bar of soap. Thanks for sharing!
Shirley Wood says
Thanks for stopping by Laura. Glad you are able to use the microwave trick with the Ivory soap!
Tammy says
Something I will have to try. I love Ivory soap. Thanks for linking up to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party. I’ve pinned your post to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Board
Shirley Wood says
Thank you for stopping by Tammy.
Prototype Mama says
Oh wow! I’m going to have to try this!
Shirley Wood says
Awesome. Let me know how you like this method! Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment 🙂
Kristen from The Road to Domestication says
This is neat! I’ve only ever purchased home-made laundry detergent (from a friend who has a business selling it). Her’s is in cream form, not powder…but this might be interesting!
Anna @ Northern Homestead says
I too have never made homemade laundry detergent. Is it just cheaper, or better, or better for the environment (I buy environment friendly laundry detergent anyways). Will pin it to good to know!
Shirley Wood says
I’m surprised because I thought I was the last person to leave the train station on DIY laundry detergent!
FabEllis says
Wow! Never thought about creating my own washing soap before.
Shirley Wood says
They say we learn something new everyday. Expanding that Ivory soap is way cool though, isn’t it!
Alli says
I’ve never made homemade laundry detergent. But if I ever do, I will definitely use your method. Grating anything isn’t very fun and especially grating an entire bar of ivory soap. And I’ll pin it for those that do make laundry detergent and are looking for an easier way. Thanks for sharing!
Shirley Wood says
The grating method is messy, time consuming and a few other negative adjectives 🙂 Thanks for the Pin 🙂