Find Northbird on social media:

• Tumblr
• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• Twitter

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. You can read my full disclosure HERE.

Jump to Recipe Card

Does Homemade Laundry Soap Actually Work?

Yes! It not only cleans our laundry extremely well, but also has a bright & fresh scent from any essential oils that are added.

There are a lot of homemade laundry soap recipes that I’ve seen, and I’ve tried a few different ones but this is the one I keep coming back to. Credits to my-sister-in law K, for first sharing a laundry bar recipe with me several years ago!

Is Homemade Laundry Soap Less Expensive?

This is one of the biggest money savers I have used over the past five years of living in remote communities. I honestly don’t remember how much it cost for a small jug of laundry detergent at the first fly-in community we lived in, but I remember being completely shocked at the price. That year I was ever so thankful to already know about a few household budget-savers!

I stock up on “The Soap Works” laundry stain remover bars purchased from the Bulk Barn whenever I am in the south, and with some cartons of baking soda I am all set for a few years!

You can also purchase them directly from The Soap Works website HERE. I have found that 2 of these laundry soap bars and 3-4 small cartons of baking soda are all we need for a year’s supply of laundry soap, for 4 people (Approximately 3 loads a week). When you compare that to buying liquid laundry detergent or pods for a year, the price difference is pretty clear.

Are Commercial Laundry Detergents Bad for the Environment?

Making your own laundry detergent is not only better for your bank account, but also for the environment. Commercial detergents use harsh chemicals that can have harmful effects on the environment.

Phosphates are found in most laundry detergents and cause algal blooms in waterways, lakes and streams which block sunlight from reaching lower aquatic plants, eventually depleting oxygen from the water. This is one example of how chemicals from littered garbage can make changes to the ecosystem. You can read more HERE about this.

Why is Homemade Laundry Soap Better for Your Health?

Natural, homemade laundry soap is not only non-toxic, chemical-free and artificial fragrance-free, but also way more gentle on your skin. You are using safe and natural ingredients, some of which you may already have in your pantry!

When combined with pure essential oils, Homemade Laundry Soap is much more beneficial to your health and wellness than using commercial detergents.

Why are Pure Essential Oils Better to Use than Artificial Scents?

Artificial fragrances and perfumes are everywhere: in candles, in air fresheners, hand soaps, body lotions, shampoos & conditioners, and very heavily in most commercial based laundry products. (One reason why it is so important to check labels!)

Synthetic scents are usually petroleum based and these chemicals have very serious effects on the human body. Some common chemicals used include benzophenone and styrene (carcinogenic) and phthalates (endocrine disruptors). You can read more about this HERE.

I suppose that makes sense why there are so many allergies and asthmatic reactions to strong scents!

What Essential Oils are Commonly Used for Laundry Soap?

My personal favourites that I alternate for adding to the laundry soap recipe are lavender and lemon. I have also included a few other scents that people enjoy using for homemade laundry soap, and the medicinal and natural properties that these oils have for use in laundry soap.

• Lavender: Relaxing and calming, this is great to use for washing bedding.
• Citrus Oils (Lemon, Grapefruit, & Orange): A bright, fresh and deodorizing scent. This is my favourite for washing clothing in.
• Tea Tree: Anti-fungal and anti-viral, this is good for washing clothing and bedding after someone has been sick.
• Peppermint: Fresh and bright scent, this is also anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and anti-viral.
• Eucalyptus: Refreshing and clean scent. I like to use this for towels.
• Rosemary: A fresh and woodsy scent, it is also anti-bacterial, anti-microbial and anti-viral.

You can also opt out of adding any essential oils for an unscented batch of homemade laundry soap!

How to Make Homemade Laundry Soap

Supplies Needed:

• Measuring cups
• Tablespoon
• Large stock pot (8 quart works great)
• Whisk
• Small bowl & spoon
• Funnel
• Storage container for liquid laundry soap

Ingredients:

• 3 Litres of water
• 3 + 1/2 Tablespoons of shaved stain remover laundry bar, The Soap Works (1/8 bar, or 25-30g)
• 1/4 cup of baking soda
• 10 Drops of pure essential oil (See ideas above)
• 1/4 Cup white vinegar (add separately to wash load)

Directions:

1. Boil 2 litres of water in a large stock pot, and turn burner off when it hits a rolling boil.

2. Mix laundry bar shavings with baking soda in small bowl. Add slowly to boiled water in small amounts, whisking in constantly. (*The first time I made this I just dumped it all in and then had to deal with all the soap bubbles spilling all over the stove, into the stove, onto the floor…it was everywhere! But I had a very clean stove after that.)

3. After dry mix has dissolved in the water, let cool completely for several hours, whisking occasionally. It may clump up into jelly-like consistency as it cools, just whisk it out.

4. When completely cool, whisk in approximately 10 drops of pure essential oil. This amount can be more or less, depending on your oil selected, and how strong of a scent you like your clean laundry to have. You can see some suggestions above of what oils are nice to use in laundry detergent.

5. Pour with funnel into your choice of storage container for liquid laundry soap. In the past, I have used glass jars and recycled pourable juice containers. But a lot of people also use refillable glass jug dispensers (see “Shop This Post” for ideas).

6. When you are ready to do a load of laundry, you can use 1/3 cup of homemade laundry soap for a medium sized load (1/2 cup if laundry is really soiled!), and add 1/4 cup of white vinegar directly to the clothes. If the laundry liquid has become jelly-like, just give the jug or jar a little shake. It will still work well if it comes out clumpy.

Optional: Funnel into a glass jar, label and tie ribbon or twine around it for a cute homemade housewarming gift!

More Ideas for Natural Living:

Subscribe to Northbird’s email list to get weekly posts on: tasty recipes, activity ideas for kids, natural living tips, and some genuine mom thoughts and encouragement!

Recent posts from Northbird:

Return to Top