DIY laundry detergent with store-bought soap bars

Hi everyone! Today I'm sharing a fantastic recipe for laundry soap that's a little different – we're making it with store-bought soap bars!

You might be wondering why I made this, when I usually make all of my soap, including for laundry, from scratch?

Well, if you're new to soap making and haven't quite gotten around to making your own bars from scratch, this is a great way to dive in and make something useful. Plus, using store-bought soap can be a really affordable alternative to buying all the oils for handmade soap, especially if you're on a budget. I've been making this formula for years, even before I learned to make my own soap, and it truly works well.

This recipe is simple, and you only need a few basic ingredients and kitchen items.

Make sure you watch the full video demonstration on my soap making channel on YouTube:

What you'll need:

• A large bucket (9-10 litres or 20 litres if you have one) with a lid

• A pack of plain, affordable laundry soap from the supermarket (Coles brand Australian made pure soap or Sunlight brand laundry soap works perfectly)

• ¾ cup Borax

• ¾ cup Washing soda (sodium carbonate)

• Optional: 15-20 ml essential oil or fragrance oil. Eucalyptus oil is a good choice, but use what you like. Just err on the side of caution and use a small amount to start with! You can always add more.

• Basic kitchen equipment: grater, saucepan, spoons

How to make it:

1. Grate the soap: Grate your store-bought soap or chop it finely with a knife.

2. Melt the soap: Add the grated soap and a few litres of water to a saucepan and heat on the stove until it melts and dissolves.

3. Prepare the powders: In your large bucket, add about ¾ cup each of borax and washing soda. Add some cool tap water and stir, then add the full kettle of previously boiled water, stirring until dissolved.

4. Combine mixtures: Pour the dissolved soap mixture into the borax and washing soda mixture in the bucket and stir thoroughly.

5. Add water and optional fragrance: Fill the bucket with more tap water until you have about 10 litres of liquid in total. Stir well. If using, add about 15-20ml of your chosen essential or fragrance oil, and stir again.

6. Cool and set: Let the mixture cool down, stirring a few times if you remember. It may separate into a gel on top with liquid underneath, but you can mix it up once completely cool, and it should stay homogenous. If it gels too solid (especially in colder temperatures), a stick blender can re-homogenise it.

Why it works:

Borax helps by softening water, aiding in stain removal, and deodorizing. Washing soda is an alkaline salt that cuts through grease and grime, boosts detergent effectiveness, and neutralizes odors. Soap is a natural detergent that cleans!

How to use It:

I use a ⅓ cup measure for my liquid and gel mixtures, adding anywhere from 1-3 of those depending on the load. For a HE washer, ⅓ to half a cup is usually enough. I also add white vinegar to the fabric softener compartment in my machine – it helps prevent buildup and keeps fabrics soft.

The cost:

I've costed this recipe based on current Australian prices, and this entire batch (about 10 litres), without the water or optional fragrance, cost me $3.22. That works out to a very economical 4-6 cents per load!

Initial product costs:

• Borax (500g): $4.10

• Washing Soda (1kg): $5.00

• Store-bought Laundry Soap 4 pack: $2.80

Cost breakdown for your homemade laundry gel:

• Borax Used (3/4 cup): $1.25

• Washing Soda Used (3/4 cup): $1.03

• Laundry Soap Used (1 and 1/3 bars): $0.93

Total Estimated Cost of Your Homemade Laundry Gel (10 litres): $3.22

Cost per load:

• 1/3 cup: $0.03

• 1/2 cup: $0.04

• 2/3 cup: $0.05 (AUD)

More laundry soap recipes and resources from my YouTube channel:

• Eucalyptus Laundry Bar Soap Recipe with Coconut and Rice Bran Oils

• Laundry Soap Powder with Handmade Soap Base

• DIY Laundry Soap Liquid/Gel (depending on climate) from Homemade Laundry Bar Soap

• What I really think about making DIY laundry soap. My best tips and laundry talk

• A TRUE Handmade Liquid Laundry Soap Recipe - Potassium Soap Paste Recipe - No Gels!
  
  

Have you ever made your own DIY laundry soap?

I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. This is a fun and easy weekend project that can clean your clothes beautifully and save quite a lot of money!

Thanks for reading and watching my videos, I hope you find them useful :)

If you would like to support my work making these free resources, you can ‘buy me a coffee’ here (big thanks to all of you who have 🌼).

See you next time,
Elly

To comment:

1. Type your comment and click ‘post comment’

2. Enter your first name or an initial/symbol (any character will do the trick - it just needs to have something in the name field)

3. Click ‘comment as guest’ and your comment will be published.