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Happy new year friends and loyal readers! Welcome back to the blog! As we kick off the new year, we’re all about fresh starts, saving money, and simplifying our lives—especially as busy mamas!  

It’s that magical time of the year when we all feel a spark of motivation to declutter, organize, and embrace healthier habits. While most resolutions revolve around hitting the gym or drinking more water, why not tackle something totally unexpected yet completely satisfying?  

Let me introduce you to my latest obsession: homemade laundry soap. Yes, you heard that right. DIY laundry soap is the vibe this year, and trust me, it’s a total game-changer for any clean-living, budget-savvy mama! 

I know what you’re thinking: “Why would I make my own laundry soap when there are perfectly good ones in stores?” Let me tell you why—and by the end of this, you’ll be convinced that making your own soap isn’t just for the ultra-crunchy moms or extreme penny-pinchers. It’s for anyone who wants to save money, take control of what’s in their home, and reduce their environmental footprint—all while having a little fun! Let’s dive into why this is the year to say goodbye to store-bought detergents and hello to fresh, homemade goodness! 

 

My Journey into DIY Laundry Soap  

It all started when my friend introduced me to her homemade laundry soap. She made a giant five-gallon batch and split it with me. I loved how clean it got my clothes, but the chunky texture? Not so much. (Pro tip: Don’t skip grating and melting your soap bar!)  

So, naturally, I went into full experiment mode. Initially, I whipped out my immersion blender, to break up the chunks of the stain remover bar that hadn’t dissolved. After some trial and error, I tweaked some ingredients and refined the recipe to perfection 😉! I started grating the stain remover bar finely and melting it on the stovetop to ensure a silky-smooth mixture that flows easily through the dispenser. The result? A magical liquid detergent that’s easy to make, easy to use, and just plain awesome! 

Why Make Your Own Laundry Soap?  

1. Cost Savings That Add Up
   When I first did the math, my jaw hit the floor. Between the babies’ constant spit-ups, blowouts, and everything in between, I was buried in laundry. (Let’s not even talk about my toddler’s recent love of puddle-jumping!) Buying detergent by the gallon gets expensive FAST. But making your own? The basic ingredients—washing soda, borax, soap—are super affordable and stretch for multiple batches. This becomes a no-brainer when you’re a mom and realize you’re drowning in mountains of laundry. I thought my husband and I did a fair amount of laundry before we had kids, but when my first baby arrived, the laundry pile doubled. Add baby number two, and suddenly, it becomes overwhelming and spirals out of control FAST! For a typical family, you’re looking at saving hundreds of dollars per year. And if you’ve got a big family, like three or four kiddos, those savings skyrocket! Think of it this way: Hello, extra cash for that Target run, a much-needed coffee splurge, or a date night with the hubby! 

1. Control Over Ingredients 
   Have you ever read the back of a detergent bottle and thought, “What the heck is this stuff?” Me too. Many store-bought detergents are full of chemicals, synthetic fragrances, and who-knows-what that can irritate sensitive skin. Making your own soap means you’re in full control. No toxins, no harsh chemicals—just clean, safe, natural goodness. Perfect for kiddos with eczema or allergies (or husbands who are mysteriously picky about soap scents).  

1. Eco-Friendly Vibes 
   I love a good sustainability win! Making your own soap cuts down on single-use plastic from store-bought jugs, and the biodegradable ingredients are kinder to our planet. Plus, if you’re like me, you’re constantly looking for ways to model eco-conscious behavior for your kids. Making laundry soap together? Total teachable moment.  

1. Gentle on Skin, Tough on Dirt 

Homemade laundry soap isn’t just eco-friendly and affordable—it works. It’s hypoallergenic, gentle on sensitive skin, and tough enough to handle everything from grass stains to baby messes. Bonus: it’s also pet-safe. (Because let’s face it, our fur babies deserve the best, too!) 

1. Customizable Scents  

This is where the fun begins! Whether you love uplifting citrus, calming lavender, or invigorating peppermint, the choice is yours. You get to pick your vibe for the week—or mix and match essential oils to create your own signature scent for your laundry! And if you’re not into scents, that’s totally fine too, you can skip them entirely. My laundry smells fresh, not fake, and I love it! 

 

Best Essential Oils for Laundry  

Adding essential oils is where the magic happens. Here are some tried-and-true combos for dreamy laundry vibes: 

• Citrus Bliss: Lemon, orange, or grapefruit for a bright, clean uplifting scent. 

• Spa-Like Freshness: Eucalyptus, lavender, and spearmint for a calming, refreshing aroma. 

• Tea Tree & Peppermint: Antimicrobial, antibacterial, great for fighting mildew (because we’ve all forgotten a load in the washer, right?) and perfect for stinky gym clothes or washing cloth diapers. Ideal for tackling tough odors.  

• Lavender & Chamomile: Gentle and soothing, ideal for baby clothes and bedding. 

Start with 10 drops of essential oil and adjust to your liking. If you’re like me and love a little extra fragrance, you can even add a few drops directly to your washer with each load. 

The Magic Recipe  

This recipe makes a big batch, so you’ll be set for weeks (or months, depending on how often you’re doing laundry).  

Ingredients:  

• 1 cup Borax: A natural mineral salt that fights stains like a pro. 

• 1 cup Washing Soda: Softens hard water and releases dirt from fabric fibers. 

• 1 cup Baking Soda: powerhouse ingredient in laundry detergent because it boosts cleaning performance and helps neutralize odors.  

• 1 cup Castile Soap (Dr. Bronner’s Baby Unscented is my favorite!): A biodegradable, nontoxic soap made with natural oils.  

• 1 Buncha Farmers Stain Remover Bar (grated finely): All-natural and biodegradable.  

• 16 cups distilled water  

• 1 cup enzyme laundry booster (optional but highly recommended): These are the unsung heroes that eat away at oils, grease, and bacteria. Think Pac-Man for your laundry.   

• Essential oils (10–20 drops, depending on your scent preference)  

 

How to Make It:  

1. Finely grate the entire Buncha Farmers Stain Remover Bar using a kitchen grater. (Pro tip: grate it while your kids are napping. Trust me, the last thing you need is a toddler taste-testing soap.) 

1. Add the grated soap to a large stockpot along with 16 cups of water. 

1. Stir in 1 cup each of Borax, Washing Soda, Baking Soda, and Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap. 

1. Measure and add 1 cup of Enzyme Booster for extra cleaning power. 

1. Melt the Ingredients & Mix the Magic: Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, stirring constantly until everything is dissolved and well combined. 

1. Add the Scents: Remove the pot from heat and let it cool. Once cooled, add 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil for a natural, fresh scent. 

1. Bottle it Up: Transfer the soap into old laundry detergent jugs or a 2-gallon bucket using a funnel. 

Why Add Enzymes?  

Enzymes are the unsung heroes of laundry soap. Think of them as tiny Pac-Men that gobble up dirt, grease, and bacteria. My crunchy mama bestie, Magdalen swears by them.  If you’ve got little ones, workout gear, or cloth diapers to tackle, enzymes are your secret weapon. They’re optional but totally worth it for next-level cleaning power.  

The Cost Breakdown 

Homemade laundry soap is ridiculously budget-friendly. Let’s do the math: 

• Borax: Around $5 for a 2-pound box (enough for several batches). 

• Washing Soda: $4-$5 per box. 

• Baking Soda: $3-$4 for a large bag. 

• Castile Soap: $10-$15 per bottle (depending on size and brand). 

• Stain Remover Bar: $5-$6. 

• Enzyme Booster: $15 for a 2-pound bag. 

• Essential Oils: $10-$15 per bottle (but a little goes a long way). 

Each batch costs roughly $10-$15 to make and yields enough soap for dozens of loads. Compare that to the $0.20-$0.40 per load for store-bought detergent, and the savings add up fast. 

 Too Busy to DIY?  

I get it — sometimes life is too hectic, and you don’t have the time or energy to whip up a batch of homemade detergent, but you still want a safe, natural option. No worries, I’ve got you. I recommend Pronounce Laundry Detergent Powder on Amazon. It’s eco-friendly, non-toxic, safe for sensitive skin, and mom-approved (my crunchy bestie, Magdalen, introduced me to it and swears by it for cleaning cloth diapers- yep, even the poopy ones). At just $0.22 per load, it’s a steal! I love the lemon scent!  

Final Thoughts  

Making your own laundry soap might seem like an extra step in your already-busy day, but the payoff is so worth it. Not only are you saving money, reducing waste, living more sustainably, and protecting your family’s health, but there’s also something deeply satisfying about creating something from scratch. Plus, it’s a fun project to do with the kids (just keep the soap-eating toddler far, far away) that you’ll feel good about every time you run a load of laundry. So go ahead, mama. Embrace your inner DIY goddess and kick off the new year with clean clothes, clean living, and clean savings—now that’s a resolution worth keeping! Happy washing!