Learning how to make your own laundry detergent tabs can save money, and be fun! Take your laundry to a whole other level and give this homemade laundry detergent recipe a try!
Our society thrives on convenience and doing laundry isn’t an exception to that rule. We love to make washing our laundry as easy as possible. There’s rarely any scrubbing involved (even if a stain is involved) and most members of society love to dump in the washer, shut the lid and walk away.
How do I make my own laundry detergent? If you find yourself asking this question, I share all the instructions below. The process is simple.
Over the years, washing machines advancing technology has made doing our laundry so much easier. The only thing that has made our lives even easier is laundry detergent tabs! Laundry detergent tabs are so convenient, they literally do everything for you! Learn how to make your own detergent tabs like these.
They are pre-measured so we don’t even have to think twice about how much to use. There’s only one problem…the price adds up really quickly. Who knew that cleaning dirty laundry could be so expensive?! One of the easiest laundry detergent recipes yet!
If you don’t want to keep shelling out the high price, it’s time to consider making your own homemade laundry detergent tabs. The process isn’t hard, and the rewards are unbeatable! Plus when you learn to make your own detergent, you will never look back. I love having a homemade bathroom cleaner too. Making homemade recipes saves time, and I know what we are using.
Ingredients for making your own laundry tabs
1 ¼ cups laundry soap bar (such as Fels Naptha or Castile Soap) *One bar is roughly 1 ½ cups.
1 ¼ cups Borax
1 ¼ cups washing soda
5 to 10 drops of essential oils (optional)
½ to ¾ cup water
Directions to make homemade laundry detergent
Use a food processor to grind up the laundry soap bar.
Add the Borax and washing soap to the food processor and continue to process until everything is a fine powder.
Mix in the essential oils and ½ to ¾ cup water. You want to add just enough so that the mixture holds together when molded in your hand.
Place in a mold that holds roughly one tablespoon per slot, such as a silicone ice cube tray.
Dry overnight, release from the mold and store in an airtight container.
For small or regular-sized loads you would use one tab and for large loads, you would use two.
Why I Love Making my Own Laundry Detergent Tabs
I think my most favorite reason that I love to make my own laundry detergent tabs is that it is extremely cost-effective. I also love that I can use essential oils to give them my preferred natural scents instead of the chemical-laden store-bought ones. And have I mentioned how simple they are?! How do you make HE laundry detergent? The process is just the same, these work for either.
Is Homemade laundry detergent safe?
Yes. These detergent tabs are safe to use. I find they are better than buying detergent because I am in charge of every ingredient I use to put into my detergent to wash our clothes. Plus they won’t harm your washer.
What can I substitute for laundry detergent?
If you don’t want to use laundry detergent you can pour 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar into your washer. This is a great alternative to help deodorize and clean your clothes. You would need to find a good stain fighter to prep any stains you come across.
Is making your own laundry detergent cheaper?
Depending on the brand of detergent you buy will depend on if it is cheaper to make homemade detergent. I personally find we are saving money. But, maybe if you buy a really cheap detergent you might not notice a huge difference in price points.
If you’re looking to save money in the new year, this is definitely one of the easiest things you can do! Making your own homemade laundry detergent not only smells better, but it’s also something to be proud of as well!
ABOUT JENN
I’m Jenn, welcome to Home by Jenn where I share simple and quick cleaning hacks for an organized home that keeps the busy household running smoothly. Read more...
It’s a chemical compound that is used to remove stains and smells from your laundry. You can find it on Amazon and in local grocery stores like Fred Meyer, Kroger, or Winco to name a few. Hope this helps! 🙂
Antoinette E. Stokes
1 year ago
Hello I will be trying this recipe. Thank you so much.
It depends on the size you make between 24-30 tabs.
Tonya
6 months ago
Hi there just wanted to let you know that I made this recipe as part of a Christmas gift for my Mom. She is blind so tabs are easier for her and she absolutely loves them. She normally uses a high end national brand and says these tabs remove odors and stains (my dad commented) so thank you for sharing.
I use this recipe but leave it as a loose powder because the tabs do not fully dissolve. 1 tablespoon for a regular load, 2 for a large load…..works great.
Could these be made with liquid castile soap to replace both the grated soap and the water?
I’m not sure you’ll come out with the same consistency. I haven’t tried it that way. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.
What is washing soda ?
It’s a chemical compound that is used to remove stains and smells from your laundry. You can find it on Amazon and in local grocery stores like Fred Meyer, Kroger, or Winco to name a few. Hope this helps! 🙂
Hello I will be trying this recipe. Thank you so much.
-Toni
How many tabs does one batch make?
It depends on the size you make between 24-30 tabs.
Hi there just wanted to let you know that I made this recipe as part of a Christmas gift for my Mom. She is blind so tabs are easier for her and she absolutely loves them. She normally uses a high end national brand and says these tabs remove odors and stains (my dad commented) so thank you for sharing.
Yay!! I’m so happy to hear!!!
I use this recipe but leave it as a loose powder because the tabs do not fully dissolve. 1 tablespoon for a regular load, 2 for a large load…..works great.