Store-bought detergent disappears fast when you’re washing work clothes, towels, and every mystery stain the week throws at you. This simple liquid laundry detergent recipe gives you a no-fuss batch you can mix in minutes with a short ingredient list and no perfume aisle drama involved (your socks have suffered enough). It works best in warm water and uses a straightforward measured dose, so you’re not guessing at every load.
A comparable bottle of liquid laundry detergent usually costs several dollars for a ready-made formula, while this batch uses small portions of Fels-Naptha, washing soda, borax, and glycerin from budget pantry-style laundry staples.
Making it yourself also lets you skip added fragrance boosters and control exactly what goes into the mix, including whether you keep the formula plain and how thick or fluid you prefer it for measuring.
You’ll need 5 materials for this batch: grated soap, washing soda, borax, glycerin, and water. The method makes 1 batch, and the original directions do not name a finished container size, so use a mixing bowl or jar for combining and a measuring cup for portioning it into the washer.
- 🧰 Materials You'll Need
- 🔧 Tools/Equipment
- 🛠️ How to Make Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe #2
- 🛠️ How to Use It
- 🎨 Customization Ideas
- 🛡️ Safety and Care
- 📦 Storage
- 💸 Estimated Cost
- 🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- ❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe #2
- 📌 Love this Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe #2? Pin it!
- 🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe #2
Materials You’ll Need
- 1 cup grated Fels-Naptha soap
- 1/2 cup washing soda
- 1/2 cup borax
- 2 tablespoons glycerin
- 2 cups water
Tools/Equipment
- Box grater or other grater for the soap
- Mixing bowl or large jar
- Measuring cups and measuring spoons
- Stirring spoon
How to Make Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe #2
- Grate enough Fels-Naptha soap to measure 1 cup.
- Combine the grated soap, washing soda, and borax in a mixing bowl or jar.
- Add the glycerin and water.
- Stir until the mixture is thoroughly combined.
How to Use It
Use 1/2 to 3/4 cup per load. This recipe works best with warm water.
If you need another homemade option for different laundry needs, take a look at Hard Water Laundry Detergent or keep a bottle of Laundry Pre-Treat Spray on hand for spots and stains.
Customization Ideas
- For everyday family laundry: Keep the formula exactly as written and measure the smaller 1/2-cup amount for lightly soiled loads.
- For heavier loads: Use the full 3/4-cup amount when clothes need a little more muscle.
- For your laundry routine: Pair this detergent with a separate homemade stain treatment instead of changing the base formula. That keeps the batch simple and the job-specific products where they belong.
- For hard water homes: If your laundry never seems quite clean, use a formula made for that issue rather than tinkering blindly. Budget101 also has a Soft or Hard Water Laundry Detergent guide that can help you choose the better fit.
Safety and Care
Keep this detergent clearly labeled and stored where children and pets can’t reach it. For everyday laundry-product safety, store detergents in their original labeled container or another clearly labeled laundry-only container, close them right after use, and put them away promptly, as recommended by the American Cleaning Institute’s laundry safety tips.
Avoid getting the mixture in your eyes or on broken skin, and don’t mix laundry products with other household cleaners. Always follow your washer manufacturer’s guidance and your garment care labels when choosing water temperature and wash settings.
Storage
Store the finished detergent in a tightly closed, clearly labeled container in your laundry area. Since the original formula does not give a shelf-life timeline, make only what you’ll use in a reasonable period and stir before measuring if the mixture separates during storage.
Estimated Cost
This batch costs about $1.24 in consumable materials, based on current Walmart pricing for a 5 oz Fels-Naptha bar at $1.87, 65 oz borax at $6.98, and common retail pricing for washing soda and glycerin. Actual cost will vary by brand, package size, and local pricing.
🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar, 5 oz at Walmart
- Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda, 55 oz at Walmart
- 20 Mule Team Borax, 65 oz at Walmart
- Glycerin on Amazon
- More homemade laundry detergents, stain removers, and pre-wash sprays on Budget101
Frequently Asked Questions about Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe #2
Yes, you can use it as your regular detergent for washable clothing and linens. Start with the lower amount for everyday laundry, then move up to the higher amount for dirtier loads.
Use 1/2 to 3/4 cup per load. Stick with 1/2 cup for lighter loads and use 3/4 cup when the laundry is more heavily soiled.
This recipe works best with warm water. If you normally wash in cold, test it on an ordinary load first so you can see whether it dissolves and cleans the way you want.
Yes. The recipe starts with 1 cup grated Fels-Naptha soap, so grating it first gives you the right amount and helps it combine with the other ingredients.
In a formula like this, glycerin helps the mixture stay more fluid and easier to combine. It’s a small amount, but it has a practical job, which is more than some laundry room gadgets can say.
That’s not a smart move. Put it in a clearly labeled container used only for laundry products, and store it where children and pets can’t get to it.
Just stir or shake it before measuring a load. Separation can happen with simple homemade mixtures, and it doesn’t automatically mean the batch is ruined.
You can, but it’s usually better to pretreat stains or rew ash especially dirty items instead of dumping in more detergent and hoping for a miracle. More isn’t always better in the washer.
This recipe is written as a wash detergent, not a direct pretreat. For spots and stains, use a separate product made for pretreating fabric so you can target the mess without changing your whole detergent batch.
📌 Love this Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe #2? Pin it!
Did you try this detergent? Tell us how you used it, or what homemade laundry staple you keep on the shelf right beside it.
i’ve been making this laundry soap for some time, however, my recipe does not call for glycerin. what purpose does the glycerin perform?
Glycerin is added for several reasons, it acts as both an emollient (softener) and texture enhancer in laundry detergent. It’s also an excellent solvent for both organic & inorganic solids which essentially means that it enhances the detergents ability to dissolve soils & clean fabric without leaving behind a residue or deteriorating the other ingredients.
(Information from the SEVAS Bioinformatics Institute)