DIY Laundry Detergent Update: You may have read my post here about trying the DIY laundry detergent I had seen all over Pinterest.
About 2 weeks into my experiment I decided to add the Purex Fabric Softener Crystals because I didn’t like the smell of the clothes. It helped some.
I can now say that after using the homemade detergent for 2 months, it is a definite bust. The last couple of weeks our clothes have begun to have a weird sour kind of smell. I thought that maybe it was because I hang them to dry and they were staying damp too long, so I did a few loads and dried them in the dryer–same smell.
I checked my washing machine and even called our water department to have them test our water. The only conclusion that I can come to is that the detergent is the cause. Interestingly enough, my sister who lives in another state and who was using the same recipe that I used, recently had the same problem, so we have both decided to return to purchasing store bought detergent.
I will be buying the cheapest powder brand, which in my area is Sun (around $2.48 for 42 ounces). The box says 40 loads, but I am going to use two tablespoons of detergent for a few loads and see if the clothes are clean. My mother taught me to test the water to see if it feels soapy. If it does, there is enough detergent. [By the way, powder detergent is almost always cheaper than liquid.]
Have you used this homemade detergent recipe? What were your results? Leave a comment. 
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I used homemade liquid and liked it a lot, but I’m totally sold on the simplicity of SoapNuts now. http://skipperclan.com/2012/03/22/soapnuts-laundry-detergent-update/
I still use my homemade laundry detergent. But mine is not a powder. I make it a liquid (or gel). I do not use the zote soap you have in the picture so I don’t know if that makes a difference or not. I have used the Fels-Naptha but I am currently branching out into pretty smelling soaps just to see if I like it more.
The biggest change I made to my homemade soap was adding a scoop of Oxyclean to the recipe. This definitely gave it a more sudsy appearance.
However, the loads do not smell wonderful like Tide did. I DO USE DOWNEY to help w the static, softness and of course the wonderful smell we all crave.
I am trying out a new homemade fabric softner but the vinegar, although a 50% mix is still not a desired scent! I will probably go back to Downey.
I have tried cheaper store brands in the past and 1)I did not like the scent, 2)they did not clean well, 3) they left a powdery residue on the clothes.
So. I am content w my DIY laundry soap. I will probably keep tweaking it but overall, I am happy to be saving at least $20 a month!
I use Fels-Naptha too. I like it’s fragrance. I also use vinegar in the rinse. I haven’t had any problems with odors. I don’t get the overly perfumed smell that you get with some detergents, but that’s a plus for us since some of my family members have allergies.
That’s strange you were getting a bad smell. Borax is a wonderful deodarizer. I use Ivory bars. I love the clean smell. Did you try different bar soaps?
I love my homade recipe. I guess I eyeball equal parts borax, washing soda, and grated Ivory soap bars. Really I would try a different barsoap before I gave up. You can even use the pretty stuff when it goes on sale at Tuesday Morning.
I’ve made it in liquid form and used it in the dishwasher with great results. Maybe you were using too much?
we use the Fels-Naptha too, but I splurge on the Downy liquid softener because I like it and gives just enough scent…we have used this soap for two years and only turn to mass produced because I didn’t make the homemade in time for laundry day…we have five children and hubby is a welder and no complaints or bad reactions…we eyeball the Borax and washing soda to and also make the liquid because our washer is old and doesn’t handle powder detergent very well…we’ve tweaked the recipe for our needs…
I put vinegar in mine and use a bar of Dr. Bronner’s hemp soap (comes in different scents) and also use some Fels Naptha. I measure out the ingredients and have found that I don’t need fabric softener except for in unusual circumstances and that everything comes out clean and fresh smelling. We’ve been doing this for 3 months now and have saved a lot of money. We have a family of 6 and it’s gentle enough that no one gets the “itchies”. Here is what I use:
Laundry Detergent
Ingredients
1 C Borax
1 ½ C Baking Soda
1 C Super Washing Soda
½ C White Vinegar
1 bar grated Castile Soap OR 1 ½ C Fels Naptha
Essential Oils for scent (or can use scented castile soap and skip essential oil)
Directions
On medium-high heat, in a large pot, simmer 1 quart of pure water along with the grated castile soap, stirring continuously, until melted. Do not allow to boil. Remove pot from heat and add remaining ingredients stirring vigorously until dissolved. Pour contents of pot into a 5 gallon bucket and begin to slowly add 2 gallons of pure water while continuing to stir. Let laundry soap sit for 24 hours prior to use (this allows it to thicken).
**Use ½ cup of laundry soap per load**.
Notes:
After the 24 hr thickening period, you may use a funnel to transfer soap into alternative storage bottles or leave in 5 gallon bucket.
This is a low suds recipe and is completely safe for high efficiency machines.
After soap has cooled, it may be too thick for your liking. You can add water until desired consistency, remember that it is supposed to be gel-like.
For the brightest laundry, pour white vinegar in fabric softener compartment with each load.
I’m not sure if anyone has posted this…
The likely culprit of the smell is your fabric softner. It leaves a coating on the inner drum of your washing machine, the residue builds up and mildew flourishes. To get rid of it, obviously you have to stop using liquid fabric softner…. Run a few loads of hot water through your machine with nothing but borax and vinegar. Repeat periodically. If you want a fabric softner in your wash use vinegar. As for scenting your soap, use essential oils. Personally I use dryer sheets to add a little clean scent. I’ve been making laundry detergent for almost 4 years and now when I’m on a walk in my neighborhood and someone is drying their clothes… All the perfume that comes out of their vent makes me sick. Similarly when I have borrowed a friends washer and had my clothes covered in her Tide detergent, had a headache all day and actually grew frustrated with the constant smell. You will be shocked how you loathe Store bought laundry detergent once you become accustomed to the homemade version. Hope this helps and you give it another try!
Thanks Allison. I don’t personally use liquid fabric softener, but this is a helpful tip for those who do. I added about a tablespoon of the Purex Crystals to some of my laundry loads when I used the homemade laundry detergent to make the clothes smell better. It didn’t really help.
Here is an interesting forum on cleaning your washing machine, definitely check out the pics one of them posted. http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1844416
I should also add, that I use oxiclean to get the grime out. I have a 1 and 3 year old… Rarely do I have issues getting their clothes clean. Currently I am using the concentrated soap cream on pinterest, had been using the Duggar’s recipe. I use Kirk’s Castille soap and it’s an HE front load washer. To answer the person who asked if you can use it in an HE, yes, it’s low suds, just use 1/2 the recommended amount in your washer.
There is a recipie I use that I adore, it works great. It’s from duggarfamily.com makes 10 gallons though we leave it concentrate 5 gallon buckets. after almost 4 months, with the same bucket, no odd smell or anything.
1/2 C Borax
1 C Soda Ash (Washing Soda, same thing)
1 Fels Naptha bar.
That’s it. Grate and melt the bar in 4 C water on stove, In 5 gallon bucket ad the Borax and Soda Ash, half fill with warm water, stir till disolved, add the melted bar mix, stir, then fill the rest of the way with water.
After 12 hrs, stir and put some in clean empty laundry jug. 1/4c per load, shake well before each load.
Fabric softenr, I won’t give up my sheets and my dryer so I take my fav liquid, in air tight container put 1 part liquid fabric softner to 2 parts water, add a couple inexpensive sponges cut in half (Ocello has the best for this). When you toss clothing in the dyer, give the sponge a couple squeezes (not enough to dry it out, it still needs to be a bit damp) and toss in the dryer. Works great, and it’s cheap.
I have been using The Duggars recipe for over a year now. I recently noticed that sour smell on some of my clothes, so I took the recent $2 wisk coupon and bought a bottle of wisk. I am not sure, but I think some of the clothes I washed with the wisk also have the sour smell. I hope to figure it out soon so my kids will quit bringing me more laundry that smells bad.
I wonder if those getting the sour smell are using water that’s too cold. The homemade detergents aren’t formulated for cold water the way the store bought ones are.
I do use cold water–hadn’t thought of that. Thanks!
We use the liquid product. It actually leaves my clothes feeling cleaner but not as washed out looking as regular liquid. We use warm water for every wash except towels. We use hot for those because towels are breeding grounds for nasty things. I will never go back to regular detergent.
I wholeheartedly agree with washing towels in hot water!
Hmm – I have used homemade detergent for 4 years (except for the 9 months that I used 20 bottles of Wisk I got for free with coupons – lol).
The only time I noticed a sour smell, I cleaned the washer and it was gone after that.
I also mostly use cold water – except for whites and towels.
The detergent I use is 1 box of borax, 1 box of washing soda, 1 small container of oxy-clean, 2 bars of Ivory soap – grated. I also added some Purex Crystals to the last 2 batches. I mix it in a 5 gallon bucket and then put it into smaller airtight containers.
I have used the powdered detergent for about 4 months now. It is all I use. I won’t go back! However, my recipe doesn’t have baking soda in it. I use oxyclean poweder instead of the baking soda. I never have an issue with smell.
I have been using a similar recipe, only without the baking soda. I also use Fels Naptha Soap, but I am not sure if that has anything to do with it. My washing maching smells stinky after a while (could be the hard water we have in Florida), so I clean it every other month. I run it on a hot cycle with two cups of bleach, one hot cycle with two cups of vinegar, and one cycle with just hot water. I also happen to use homemade fabric softener, and I think the vinegar may help break the soap down better.
I can tell you that, along with the others above, I’ve been using our own detergent for about 3 years now! I am also a couponer….and won’t even take laundry detergent if it’s free! I know our clothes are cleaner! I’ve never heard of someone’s clothes coming out ‘sour’ smelling….that’s weird! I don’t know if it is the baking soda you’re using along with the washing soda….but borax, washing soda (or we use pH UP for pools, same thing…sodium carbonate!!) and fels-naptha and I’ve got laundry detergent that works better than Tide will EVER work! I’ve done a side by side comparison too! My husband spilled chocolate ice cream all down a good shirt….and I thought this is the best opportunity to test it…if it doesn’t work, I’ll just buy him a new shirt! We washed it with Tide…stain was still there! Then I washed it with the our soap…and it was GONE!! I couldn’t believe it….so, I was convinced there! I really wished it would have worked for you….it’s good to know what is REALLY in your soap and what is being put on our skin! Thanks for all you do….I enjoy the blog and your menu planning….it’s got me motivated to menu plan and actually cook, which is totally new for me! lol God bless!
Perhaps I am adding too much per load. I have the funny smell too. How much do you use per load?
I make my own powder with ivory, borax and washing soda, but I still get the “dirty” smell on our clothes, my husbands cologne still stinks on clean clothes and my daughters accident pee smells are still on them. I’ve use vinegar and apple cider vinegar in rinse and I’ve tried in the wash too- still no dice. Any suggestions? I’ve also threw in lavender oil into the rinse cycle and helped a little bit… I don’t know what the deal is. With my cloth diapers too I have to double rinse and boil and hang dry them to not smell like ammonia! I’m thinking I might have to boil our clothes at this rate! My kids have horrible allergies too so no softner and no scented anything unnatural… So weird I can use essential oils. Can anyone help?
I don’t know if you saw my update Nicolette, but we have stopped using the DIY detergent and have returned to using ALL Free and Clear for the family members with allergy symptoms (I wash their clothes separately). Everyone else uses the cheapest powder detergent, which in our area is Sun. Hope this helps.
For smells, I add baking soda. Especially urine smells.
Hi, I just wanted to say that I have been using homemade laundry detergent for about three years now and haven’t had any issues with smell. My only concern is I think colors fade a bit faster but that may be my choice of cheaper clothing. I have used, Oil of Olay, Fells Naptha (not my favorite scent), Dr. Bronners Castile and several others. No smell issues….I have also added essential oils to mine for fragrance but I don’t think it is necessary. I won’t be going back to store bought unless I get really lazy or busy.
I use Sun and add vinegar and baking soda to it. It works like a charm.
I also use vinegar as a fabric softener, an added benefit beside being so inexpensive is that
your can use it on your towels and they soften without loosing their
water absorbing ability, as many fabric softeners seem to add a coating to the cotton that affects that.
Reply
AGREED! I had a sour smell as well. I had to soak in vinegar overnight and rewash with a store bought detergent to get the smell to go.
I use home made laundry soap too and have never had a sour smell but I use the following recipe:
1/2 cup of Dr. Bronners (unscented liquid soap, you could use scented)
4 cups Baking soda
1/4 cup Soda ash
1 cup Hydrogen peroxide (I think this is the active ingredient in oxyclean but am not sure)
Then just enough water to moisten everything together. Store in a bucket/bottle with a lid. Scale the quantities up to make more. 1 cup is equal to 16 tablespoons. I use 1/8 cup of detergent per load or 2 table spoons per full load of laundry.
We have “hard” water so the baking soda softens it. If you have soft water you may not need as much of it.
Also that “funky” smell on your clothing may be from the following:
1) Too much soap in the wash that doesn’t completely rinse out. That is why when using store detergent you have to “strip” cloth diapers and towels periodically.
2) If your water heater is set low and it is cold (so your pipes are cold) the water may not be really good and hot by the time it gets to your machine in the morning. Since you do one load a day in the morning it could be in lukewarm water. Check your water heating setting and turn it up (uses a bit more gas $) or run the washer after showers.
I made that same exact recipe. Unfortunately, I put the OxyClean in it & I hate it! It makes ours clothes looks so faded! I’ve had to buy numerous color boosters to keep our clothes looking nice! I do not have a problem with the rest of the recipe, though. I used fels-nappa (spelling) bars instead of site, though. Smells clean and clothes seem to be clean. Lasted about 6 months so far. I’ll be making it again without oxyclean. Is there stain remover that I can add to recipe that isn’t oxyclean, I wonder?
I haven’t heard of one Amber. Maybe you could do a little research on the internet.
I used the duggars recipe for liquid and found I was using waay to much to get them clean and that the sour smell happened. I think I discovered it was because of our hard water. Borax helps, so I tried adding more Borax and it helped. I haven’t kept it up, but since I have most of the ingredients I am hoping to try it again after we move. I also use Dr. Bronners soap, because the fragrance of the felsNampa was too much for me when I was grating!
I save on dryer sheets. Use a square piece of fabric and spray 5-9 squirts of fabric softener on it. Place the cloth dryer sheet in the dryer and reuse/respray as long as the cloth holds up. Periodically wash the dryer sheet to get rid of buildup. One bottle of fabric softener will now go a LONG way.
For years I used Xtra laundry detergent because it was the cheapest liquid detergent I could find. About 9 months after moving to our new house (with its own used washer) the washer itself took on that terrible smell, and it would not go away even after 2 rounds of commercial washing machine cleaners (Afresh and Tide) and running it with just hot water and a whole bottle of bleach. Since switching to my homemade laundry detergent the smell is gone! Here’s my recipe: Place 1 cup borax and 1 cup washing soda in a clean 1 gallon milk jug, fill halfway with HOT water, and shake until dissolved. Add 3/4 cup liquid dish soap (any brand should work, I use Mrs. Meyer’s in rosemary because I like the scent and it’s all natural), then fill the rest of the way with cold water. I use about 1/4 cup per large load.
Jessica – When you say “liquid dish soap” do you mean the type you wash dishes by hand with? Or liquid dishWASHER soap? Just want to make sure because this recipe sounds very doable! Thanks!
Liquid dish detergent – the kind you use to wash dishes. I use either Dawn or Gain.
Does the dish soap create a high sudsing action during the wash cicle? I’m asking because I have a front load HE washer.
I’ll throw my hat in the ring on this one.
Like many others, I’ve made the DIY laundry soap for years. In the beginning, there was an issue with a smell, but I quickly learned that by adding some OxyClean and regularly cleaning my HE washer on a hot cleaning cycle, I could rid myself of that odd, lingering sour smell.
With that said – many people I personally know have also tried to make their own laundry soap, and it seems that every person’s experience is different. I tried tracking who had an HE washer, who washed in cold water, who cleaned their machines, who had hard water, etc. The variables were so numerous, I gave up.
I did notice that those with very hard water typically had the least desirable results. Our water, I discovered isn’t just hard – it’s downright *crunchy* on the water hardness scale.
Now that I’ve learned how to tweak it for our circumstance, I love it and will probably never go back to commercial detergents unless I am too sick or too lazy to make it!
I use the homemade also and have had some t-shirts smell foul. I started adding a small amount of Odoban. I also use vinegar.
have been using the liquid homemade laundry soap. i have used both zote and fels naptha. i have had no problems at all. i no longer need to use fabric softener at all.i made the diy wool dryer balls and they are great. my clothes just smell clean. my husband and son dont want to smell like lavender or lemons. no sour smell at all.
I have tried using homemade laundry soap both as a liquid and the powder. I first started using the liquid and noticed that I was getting spots on my clothes so I changed to the powder and I seem to still be getting spots on my clothes. Any ideas? Anyone else experience spots on their clothes?
I don’t have an answer for you Savannah, but I will post this on Facebook for you. Check the page here https://www.facebook.com/thepeacefulmom/posts/10151161197622798?comment_id=24678193&ref=notif¬if_t=feed_comment for the responses.
I absolutely love this recipe. I have been using it for months and find it no different than the other detergent I used to buy. It is definitely cheaper and lasts a lot longer than other detergents. I would highly recommend this recipe for anyone wanting to save money. I have become a frugal person also. I’ve made my own febreeze, cleaners and cook most of our food from scratch.
I didn’t read all of the comments, so I don’t know if anybody else mentioned it, but I read at Natural Mom’s Talk Radio that she had the same problem with the weird smell and she found that putting a couple drops of tea tree essential oil really helped. I did the same thing and it worked for me too.
I’ve never had the weird sour smell and I have been using homemade detergent for a few months now. However, I use the liquid kind.
I use 2 cups of Borax
2 cups of washing soda
1/2 cup of Dawn or Gain dish detergent
Downy Unstoppables to give it that fresh smell.
I mix all of this up in a 5 gallon bucket with hot water. Once it’s all mixed up, I pour it into 1 gallon jugs and wait for them to gel up.
I used the homemade laundry detergent and after 6 months of using it my whites are very dingy!!! Time to go back to Tide pods!!!
Hi Kimberlee! I have just started following you.. THANK YOU so much for sharing so much of your struggles and experience! My children are grown, but we have always struggled and I am making the plunge to become more financially free! I am writing you because I already implement a lot of the same things you do, but you have given me some more great ideas.
I make the laundry soap for almost a year now, and I use Fels Nappa. However, I make the liquid version. We love it! The only thing I do different is I have a Downy ball that I put vinegar in to the fill line and throw in the wash. I still use cheap dryer sheets. Our clothes are clean and smell great! I also discovered if I use the double the amount needed in a SMALL load, my husbands’ dirty grimy work shirts come out cleaner! Hope this helps….It has been a serious money saver for us.
Hi Sandy–welcome! I have heard that the liquid version works better, I just haven’t tried it yet. Thanks for the info.
I don’t have problems with odors on my clothes, but my teen does. We solve the problem by adding an extra 1/2 cup of baking soda to her load, use warm water, then once the machine begins to agitate, we shut it off for 30+ minutes and let the clothes SOAK.
I add white vinegar to both the wash AND rinse cycles too. No need for fabric softener that way, so the washing machine doesn’t get that nasty greasy build up, and the dryer stays clean too.
Also, leave the lid OPEN when not in use, so it dries out thoroughly!
I, too, have hard water…horribly hard water!!! I have used every recipe out there and eventually stopped using my homemade detergent b/c of the sour smell and dinginess. I have decided to try it again and have made 2 gallons of dry detergent in a large glass canister but this time added 2 bars grated Fels Naptha, 2 bars grated castile soap, 1 box borax, 1 box washing soda, and a container of oxyclean free and clear. I am really hoping for good results.
I also made the suave conditioner/vinegar fabric softener recipe and am using that with it. I had never thought of the fact the homemade stuff was not really formulated for cold water. I will wash with warm and see if that makes all the difference this time. If I still have problems with our hard water and detergent I will add a container per gallon of purex crystals to the mix. Here’s to success!
this recipe has worked to take the sour smell out of towels for my BFF when she was having the sour smell issue that even regular store bought detergent couldnt get rid of ….she has hard water as well,,this combination has worked ..Ive been using it for months and it works good for our family and many of our friends use this as well..we alternate with the liquid as well too!! try it the baking soda and oxiclean should make a difference with your hard water….:)
1 (4 lb 12 oz) Box of Borax- laundry booster -Borax will: whiten your whites, soften hard water, remove soap residue from your clothing, neutralize any laundry odors, disinfect clothing, increase the stain removal ability of your detergent
1 (3 lb 7 oz) Box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda adds extra cleaning and freshening power remove stains especially greasy stains
1 (3 lb) Container of OxyClean- brightens laundry,helps to remove odors
4 (14.1 oz) Bars of Fels Naptha Soap-soap removes stains and powerful cleaning of clothing
1 (4 lb) Box of Arm & Hammer Baking Soda-give you whiter whites, brighter brights, and odor free clothing.
2 (55 oz) Bottle of Purex Crystals Fabric Softener- (If you are okay with no scent in your clothes, you can omit this)- helps clothing smell so yummy!!
What amount to you put into each large load with this recipe?
this is the recipe me and my friend have been using for about 6 months now. we were just visiting and started talking about our soap seems to be leaving our clothes smelling really bad. we live in north florida have hard water so im not sure if thats our problem or not. i have decided to try zote instead of fells naptha next time. she tried ivory soap instead of fells naptha and still got the awful smell and went back to store bought detergent. i still want to try to tweak it somehow cause it saves so much money.
I made the liquid/gel with Fels, but I have been reading that using too much will cause a build-up. For that problem, use Vinegar as a rinse or right in the wash.
I also have read that some of the smell problems are from front load washers–mold gets in various parts of the gasket seal on the front door and can cause problems with smell. If that is the case, I don’t think going back to regular store bought would solve the problem.
As for the soaps–Fels and probably Zote contain detergents–not just soap. Ivory doesn’t so I can see where it would work differently. Any skin soap (even if it does contain a detergent) probably doesn’t contain the same high amounts of detergent.
From what I gather in researching, soap is only one small component of cleaning clothes–there’s an important pH that is really doing most of the work. The soap contains oils that allow the soil particles to stay agitated in the water and off the clothes. Thus, soap bubbles are not important.
I am quite sure I never get water hot enough to dissolve the bar of Fels. I melted it in water on the stove and that took 15 minutes of very hot water and stirring–so I can’t imagine that the washer would always get the soap part dissolved. I wash in cold a lot and dry on a line.
I used a “whipped” recipe to keep the finished liquid “gelled.” (You can’t use oxyclean in the recipe if you are whipping it–you have to add it separate if you want it.
I don’t particularly care for the heavy smell of Fels so I will probably try zote next…even though the smell doesn’t necessarily stay on the clothing, just working with it is such a strong smell!
My socks came out gray at the foot part and white at the leg part. “What gives?”
I am not sure unless they are made of different fabrics and one of them absorbs color more.
Hi Kimberlee! Was just going through your Pinterest boards and saw this pin and read it. I also make homemade laundry detergent. I make the liquid and use Fels Naptha soap. It is made for laundry and is a great stain fighter/treatment. My sister tried the powder form and reported similar results to yours. However, I use a downy ball with vinegar in every load. Been using this almost a year now and have had no trouble with sour or bad odors. Might want to try it again using the liquid and vinegar. I also use dryer sheets for the dryer.
Thanks Sandy!
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