This easy homemade powdered laundry detergent has 3 ingredients and doesn’t require any measuring. Saves time, money, and trips to the store!

I don’t honestly remember where I found the recipe for this homemadepowdered laundry detergent because I’ve been using it for that long…I’m talking years.

Initially, I started making it to save myself some time running to the store with the amount of laundry I do.

When the pandemic hit and everything was out of stock for weeks on end, I realized that knowing how to make regular household items – like laundry detergent – has much more value than just saving time.

Tips For Using a Homemade Powdered Laundry Detergent

Warm water is necessary for the detergent to fully dissolve and activate.

For cold cycles, delicates, and dark colors: dissolve the detergent in warm water prior to adding it to the washer.

I have a top loading washer and dissolve 1/2 cup of the detergent in warm water. I then switch the cycle to the Cold setting after it dissolves before adding the clothing.

If you have a front loader, dissolve the detergent in a separate bowl before adding to the washing machine with the clothes.

Scent Boosters

Some homemade powdered laundry detergent recipes add scent boosters directly to the detergent mix. I don’t do this in an effort to minimize use of artificial fragrances.

HOWEVER…

Essential oils alone were just not enough to make my clothes smell fresh. I also don’t like that they could possibly stain fabric.

The amount of essential oils required to produce a decent fragrance in a laundry load is more expensive than my entire 6 month’s cost to do laundry. SO…

When I wash bedding and towels, I run it on the hot/sanitize cycle and add 2 tablespoons of the Bounty Scent Boosters. I consider this a “scrunchy” aka sort of crunchy but has her flaws type situation.

You can completely opt to leave it out, I’m just being totally honest and feel like everything is okay in moderation.

Supplies You May Need

Large mixing bowl or pot
Box or hand grater
Mixing spoon
128oz storage container with lid
1/2 cup measuring scoop to leave in the container

Ingredients

1 box Borax
1 box Washing Soda
1 Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Baby Castile Soap bar

How to Make Homemade Powdered Laundry Detergent

Grate the Castile soap bar using a box grater or hand grater into a large mixing bowl.

Add the entire box of Borax and the entire box of Washing Soda.

Use the back of a mixing spoon to break up any clumps from the Washing Soda.

Mix contents together until well blended and smooth.

Store in a glass or PET plastic 128oz container.

Add 1/2 cup of powdered laundry detergent to every wash cycle.

Homemade Powdered Laundry Detergent

Yield: 1 gallon

Active Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

This easy homemade powdered laundry detergent has 3 ingredients and doesn't require any measuring. Saves time, money, and trips to the store!

Materials

1 box Borax
1 box Washing Soda
1 bar of Castile soap
Gallon (128oz) sized storage container

Tools

Box or spiral grater
Mixing spoon

Instructions

Grate the Castile soap bar using a box grater or hand grater into a large mixing bowl.
Add the entire box of Borax and the entire box of Washing Soda.
Use the back of a mixing spoon to break up any clumps from the Washing Soda.
Mix contents together until well blended and smooth.
Store in a glass or PET plastic 128oz container.
To use: add 1/2 cup of powdered laundry detergent to every wash cycle. Dilute in warm water first if using a cold wash cycle.