This is our second favorite homemade laundry detergent. What? Only the second favorite?, you might wonder, Why does she even bother posting the recipe then?
Well, our favorite laundry detergent is using horse chestnuts (aka conkers in the UK), which we simply collect off sidewalks or in parks every fall. It is an all-natural, ridiculously local, and completely free way to wash your clothes. In fact, now is the best time to go out to collect some horse chestnuts! Head over to my FAQ on this to learn more!
However, depending on where you live, horse chestnuts might not be an option, because, well, they do not grow in your area! Or you are reading this article off-season and, honestly, you shouldn't have to wait for fall to arrive to be able to wash your clothes in a healthier, non-invasive, and non-toxic way!
In our case, we moved from Germany to Vancouver in spring, and yes, we had the audacity to leave our all-natural laundry detergent behind. So ever since then we have been using this homemade laundry detergent, and I can say that we like it and it is just as effective, if not even slightly more effective.
The reason why we still prefer using horse chestnuts is because it is as local and as zero waste as it can get! You can probably collect the nuts on your walk, so the carbon footprint is zero! There is no upstream waste, and putting nuts that would otherwise rot on the streets to good use just makes my little zero waste heart skip a beat! ❤️😝
Homemade Powder Detergent
Time required
7 minutes including grating the soap, 3 minutes if you have previously grated soap on handIngredients
5.6 oz/ 160 g palm oil-free castile bar soap* 1 cup/ 240 g baking soda 1 cup/ 240 g washing soda Optional: Essential oils for a nice fragrance (I prefer my clothes unscented though)- Grate the castile bar soap into soap flakes. Skip this step if you have previously grated soap. (I like to grate a bar of soap while watching some TV show to wind down, so I usually have some soap flakes at hand.)
- Mix to combine all ingredients. Blend in blender or food processor if you prefer it completely pulverized. I personally do not mind though.
- Use 1–2 tbsps per load.
Brigitte says
What is washing soda?
shia says
Sodium Carbonate. You can buy it in cardboard boxes in most supermarkets :).
Coccinelle says
If you can't find it, you can easily make it by baking sodium bicarbonate.
Coccinelle says
Can I use Alep soap?
Thanks for your chestnut idea, I didn't know that soap nuts were not ecological. It's so hard to keep up with everything!
shia says
You can :)! We have used it with Alep soap and it works great! And please, don't be too hard on yourself! I didn't know until my friend wrote the guest post here on how to use horse chestnuts! You cannot know what you don't know, right? 😉
And it's very cool that you try to keep up! <3 What we can do is to keep an open mind, try to keep up, and make the best decisions based on what we do know, right?
Coccinelle says
I'm not beating myself up! I found that it's actually counter-productive to do that. I do what I can do and I know that I'm always doing the best I can even if it's not perfect. It's always better than nothing!
Eva says
Do you put the powder directly with the clothes ?
I have tried a similar recipe but it asked to dissolve everything in hot water (so it was obviously liquid). Do you need to use a hot temperature cycle with this recipe?
shia says
You can :). And you don't need to use a hot temperature cycle, but of course you can. Using hot water is always more efficient, provided the material of your clothes can be washed at that temperature.
Tessa says
Does it have to be castile soap or can I grate any odd bar of soap for example fragrance free curd soap?
Thanks for your easy recipe!
Clean Bubbles says
Thank You For Sharing This Blog.. Awesome Blog!!
Clean Bubbles says
Thank You For Sharing This Blog.. Keep It Up!!
Alexandra Arcangel says
What do you do for softeners? 🙂
Katie says
Will this recipe work in washers that call for HE soaps only?
Kat says
For how many loads is the recipe?
Cathrine says
This laundry soap is great! I made a batch from two small soap bars and it lasted for almost two years!
How? It's pretty concentrated, and I diluted it with hot water until I felt it was almost like liquid laundry soap and stored in a bottle. It will separate in the bottle after a while, but just give it a good shake before using. Still only need 1-2 spoons per wash!
I couldn't find washing soda and tried baking baking soda (I think) but didn't see any difference so I might have used only baking soda or even baking powder. 😀 It was a long time ago, but my clothes always stayed clean.
Oh, and softener? 1 part vinegar of choice, 1 part water. And if you dye your hair and get those small packages of hair conditioner, you can squeeze them into the mixture as well. I wouldn't use them on my hair but I don't mind using them on my clothes.
Natalie says
Can I use this in a high efficiency washing machine?
shia says
We have used this in the laundromat, so yes :).
Courtney S says
Do you use this solo or do you add in a softener too (like vinegar/water mix?) Thanks!!
Shelby says
Can you use this in the cold cycle? Will it dissolve?
Jay says
I'm a little new to doing my own laundry (I'm autistic and have usually had assistance, but have requested to do my own laundry now) and I'm wondering if this recipe for homemade powder detergent is safe for HE washers and where I would be putting the powder in the washing machine? Is it in the same area that I would put a liquid detergent?
Jay says
Sorry, to add to this, how much do I throw in with my laundry?
Isabell says
If you use essential oils, will it cause oil stains on your clothes when you wash them?
shia says
Essential oils are so intense, you really only need to add a few drops. These tiny quantities will not stain your clothes, I promise :).
Alana says
Will this dissolve in cold water? Can it be used in HE? Do you combine with clothes or in the top detergent compartment? Thanks!
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Sarah says
Hello! Thank you for sharing this recipe. Can this detergent be used with a cold water wash?
Colette says
So many have no clue that fast growth shampoos (of course with no sulfates, no parabens, no DEA) are a thing. We all now may enjoy longer hair and attain more options. Definitely worth investigating.