Store-bought laundry detergent disappears fast when you do more than two loads a week, and those little bottles rarely feel as economical as they claim. This homemade version turns a bar of soap, washing soda, and water into a big batch of liquid detergent that handles everyday laundry without the fancy price tag (or the dramatic label copy).
Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe #3- choose from several different homemade liquid laundry detergent based on your family's needs
Using current Walmart pricing, one 5-ounce Fels-Naptha bar at $1.87 plus 1 cup of washing soda from a 55-ounce box priced at $5.38 puts this batch at about $2.07 for roughly 4 1/2 gallons, before the cost of tap water. That gives you straightforward ingredient control too, since you can skip added dyes from other products entirely only when the formula actually omits them, and here you know exactly which cleaning ingredients went into the bucket.
You only need 3 materials for this batch: water, 1 grated bar of Fels-Naptha soap, and 1 cup of washing soda. The method uses a 5-gallon bucket for mixing plus a small saucepan and something to stir with, and the finished detergent thickens as it cools.
- 🧰 Materials You'll Need
- 🔧 Tools and Equipment
- 🛠️ How to Make Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe #3
- 🛠️ How to Use It
- 🛡️ Safety and Washer Notes
- 📦 Storage
- 💸 Cost Breakdown
- 🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- ❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe #3
- 📌 Love this Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe #3? Pin it!
- 🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe #3
Materials You’ll Need
- Water
- 1 bar Fels-Naptha soap, grated
- 1 cup washing soda
Tools and Equipment
- 5-gallon bucket
- Small saucepan
- Stirring spoon or utensil
- Soap grater
How to Make Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe #3
- Place the grated soap in a small saucepan and cover it with water.
- Heat the saucepan on low until the soap dissolves.
- Fill a 5-gallon bucket with hot water, then add the dissolved soap.
- Stir to combine.
- Add 1 cup washing soda and mix well.
- Let the detergent cool. It will thicken as it cools.
- Use it immediately if needed.
How to Use It
Use 1 to 2 cups per load.
If you want to compare this version with other homemade options, see Liquid Laundry Detergent and Hard Water Laundry Detergent.
Safety and Washer Notes
Keep this detergent clearly labeled and out of reach of children and pets. Avoid getting the undiluted dissolved soap mixture in your eyes while you’re making the batch, and wash up after handling the soap and washing soda.
If you use a high-efficiency washer, check your machine manual before using any homemade laundry soap. HE machines are designed for low-water washing and are typically intended to be used with HE detergents made for that system, as explained by the American Cleaning Institute’s HE washer guidance.
Storage
Store the detergent in the covered bucket or transfer it to clearly labeled containers that are easy to pour. Stir before use if the mixture separates or thickens unevenly after sitting.
Cost Breakdown
This batch costs about $2.07 total based on one 5-ounce Fels-Naptha bar at $1.87 and about 1 cup of washing soda at roughly $0.20 from a 55-ounce box priced at $5.38. Water is not included because household water rates vary, but even with that added, this remains a very low-cost batch for about 4 1/2 gallons of detergent.
🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar & Stain Remover, 5 oz
- ARM & HAMMER Super Washing Soda, 55 oz
- Laundry Pre-Treat Spray
- Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe #1
Frequently Asked Questions about Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe #3
You can use it immediately. The mixture thickens as it cools, but the directions do not require a waiting period before the first load.
Use 1 to 2 cups per load. Start at the lower end for lighter loads and move up only if your laundry genuinely needs it.
That thickening is normal for this recipe. The dissolved soap and washing soda settle into a more gel-like texture as the batch cools down.
Yes. Grating helps the bar soap melt faster and more evenly in the saucepan, which makes the whole batch easier to mix.
Yes, as long as the containers are clean, easy to pour, and clearly labeled. If the detergent sits for a while, give it a stir before using it again.
Washing soda boosts cleaning power and helps the dissolved soap blend into the larger batch of water. It is one of the two active cleaning materials in the formula.
Check your washer manual first. Traditional top-loaders are one thing, but high-efficiency machines often have more specific detergent requirements, so it pays to read the fine print once instead of regretting it later.
Stir it and use it. Homemade liquid detergent can settle over time, and a quick mix usually brings it back together well enough for regular use.
Yes, but only if you have a container large enough to hold the full batch safely with room for stirring. Keep the same ingredient ratio so the mixture stays consistent.
📌 Love this Liquid Laundry Detergent Recipe #3? Pin it!
Did you try this project? Tell us whether you kept the basic formula or changed your storage setup for easier pouring.
My husband and I made this a few days ago, but with borax powder too, and we made 6 gallons. I have complained of it being too thick and “gloppy” in previous attempts, although it still worked well on the clothes, he recommended the paint stirring paddle that you attach to a drill, and we stirred it really well with that. The next day it had gelled somewhat and we stirred again till it became smooth and well mixed.
I am hoping to be able to transfer it to empty laundry detergent bottles. I realize I will have to shake those bottles each time I do a load of laundry, but I am hoping it will be somewhat pourable. This is the best batch I’ve ever made, my hubby stirred it on the stove for 20 minutes while it cooked and another 15 minutes after adding the powders, absolutely no grit in this batch.
I think I wasn’t cooking and stirring long enough. But no matter how my batches have turned out, it always got our clothes clean!