Store-bought laundry detergent drains the budget fast, especially when you wash for a whole household and still end up lugging home another bottle a week later. This homemade laundry soap cuts that routine down to a handful of basic laundry staples and one simple stovetop method. It also turns into a gel overnight, which feels oddly satisfying for something that lives in the laundry room (we take our thrills where we can get them).
Using current Walmart prices, the consumable materials for one batch come out to about $1.15 total, which works out to roughly 3 cents per load at 1/2 cup per load. A comparable store detergent usually costs far more per load, and making your own lets you control the scent by leaving it unscented or adding essential oil if you wish.
You only need 4 materials for this batch: water, grated Fels-Naptha, washing soda, and borax. The method uses a large stockpot, a spoon or stirrer, and a 2 gallon bucket or reused laundry jug for holding the finished soap after it gels overnight.
- 🧰 Materials You'll Need
- 🔧 Tools & Equipment
- 🛠️ How to Make Super Economical Laundry Soap
- 🎨 Customization Ideas
- 🛠️ How to Use It
- 🛡️ Safety & Care
- 📦 Storage
- 💸 Cost Breakdown
- 🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- ❓ Frequently Asked Questions about Super Economical Laundry Soap
- 📌 Love this Super Economical Laundry Soap? Pin it!
- 🖨️ Print-Friendly How-To: Super Economical Laundry Soap
Materials You’ll Need
- 6 cups water
- 1/3 bar Fels-Naptha laundry detergent, grated
- 1/2 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (NOT baking soda!)
- 1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax laundry detergent
- 1 quart hot water
- Additional hot water as needed
- Optional: 20 drops of your favorite essential oil for scent
Tools & Equipment
- Large stockpot
- Spoon or sturdy stirrer
- 2 gallon bucket
- 2 gallon plastic jug or reused laundry jug
- Grater
How to Make Super Economical Laundry Soap
- Pour 6 cups water into a large stockpot and add the grated Fels-Naptha.
- Heat over low to medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the soap dissolves completely.
- Add the washing soda and borax, then stir until the mixture thickens.
- Let the mixture cool slightly, just enough so it will not melt your 2 gallon plastic jug.
- Add 1 quart hot water to a 2 gallon bucket.
- Remove the soap mixture from the heat and pour it into the bucket with the hot water.
- If desired, stir in 20 drops of your favorite essential oil for a fresh scent.
- Transfer the mixture to a 2 gallon plastic jug or another suitable container.
- Let it sit overnight to gel.
Liss Note: This was my favorite recipe to make. I simply reused an old laundry jug I had laying around.
Customization Ideas
- Leave it unscented if you prefer a plain laundry soap.
- Add 20 drops of your favorite essential oil for a fresh scent.
- If you want to compare methods, you might also like Liquid Laundry Detergent or Hard Water Laundry Detergent.
How to Use It
- Use 1/2 cup per load.
- Because this soap gels overnight, stir or shake it if needed before measuring.
Safety & Care
Label the container clearly and keep it out of reach of children and pets. If you reuse a laundry jug, make sure it seals well and stays dedicated to laundry use. For general household chemical storage, the EPA recommends keeping cleaning products in their original containers when possible and storing them out of children’s reach, which is a smart rule to follow with homemade laundry products too: EPA household product safety guidance.
Storage
- Let the mixture gel overnight before first use.
- Store it in a 2 gallon jug or bucket with a secure lid.
- If it thickens unevenly after sitting, stir before using.
Cost Breakdown
Using current Walmart prices for a 5 oz Fels-Naptha bar at $1.87, a 55 oz box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda at $5.38, and a 65 oz box of 20 Mule Team Borax at $6.98, this batch uses about one-third of the soap bar, 1/2 cup washing soda, and 1/2 cup borax. That puts the estimated consumable cost for the batch at about $1.15. At 1/2 cup per load, that works out to roughly 3 cents per load, depending on your final yield and local prices.
🛍️ Need Help Finding Everything?
- Fels-Naptha Laundry Bar & Stain Remover, 5 oz
- Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda, 55 oz
- 20 Mule Team Borax, 65 oz
- More homemade laundry detergents, stain removers, and pre-wash sprays
Frequently Asked Questions about Super Economical Laundry Soap
No. This recipe specifically calls for Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda, not baking soda. They are not interchangeable here, and the original method is very clear about that.
Use 1/2 cup per load. If the soap has been sitting and the gel separates or thickens, give it a stir or shake first so you can measure it easily.
No. This mixture gels overnight. Make it, transfer it to your container, and let it sit before you plan to use it.
Yes. You can add 20 drops of your favorite essential oil if you want a fresh scent. If you’d rather keep it plain, just leave it out.
A 2 gallon bucket works for mixing, and a 2 gallon plastic jug or reused laundry jug works well for storage. Pick a container that seals well and label it clearly.
Yes. The recipe starts with grated Fels-Naptha dissolved into 6 cups of water over low to medium heat. Grating helps it melt down evenly instead of clumping in the pot.
Cool it slightly so it won’t melt your 2 gallon plastic jug. That step matters, especially if you’re reusing a plastic laundry container.
Not if you want to follow this exact formula. This version uses both 1/2 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup borax, and changing those ingredients turns it into a different recipe.
Yes, that’s the whole appeal. One batch uses inexpensive laundry staples, and the estimated cost per load stays very low compared to most ready-made detergents.
📌 Love this Super Economical Laundry Soap? Pin it!
Did you try this project? Tell us whether you kept it unscented or added your own favorite scent.
liss,
i made this and it didn’t gel. what did i do wrong? can i fix it?
i noticed the soap is separating. the top part is hard, with water underneath. it is actually so hard that i have to get the power drill out to help stir it up.
the first time i made this, it stayed creamy all the time.
thank you,
ann
are you soposed to add a qt of water at the end??????
Is this safe for HE washers? Thanks.