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DIY Thieves Laundry Detergent… for Less Than $5 A Gallon

This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. You can view my full advertising disclosure here.

Cleaning Tips· Essential Oils

10 Oct
47.3K3.4K 

I recently read an article that addressed the effects of cleaning products on the lungs of women. And it’s not good. After following 6,000 participants for 20 years, women who regularly used cleaning products were found to have the same decline in lung function as those that smoked 20 cigarettes per day. What?! This is why it is so important to find cleaning products that are natural and don’t contain harsh chemicals… Some think going natural in their cleaning products means spending a ton of money, but that doesn’t have to be the case. Check out this DIY Thieves laundry detergent that costs 7x less than what you’d buy at the store.

DIY Thieves Laundry Soap in a drink dispenser with folded white towels to the right. The DIY Thieves Laundry Detergent is free of harsh chemicals and costs less than $4/gallon. So easy to make and smells amazing! #laundrysoap #laundrydetergent #thieves #essentialoils

I have been making my own laundry detergent for years, and have loved almost everything about it… but there was one little part I wasn’t a huge fan of, and that was the need to grate soap into the mix. It isn’t super difficult, but it makes a mess, and you really need to wash your clothes in warm or hot water to ensure the soap fully dissolves. I was willing to overlook this for the past 3 years because the batches I made would last forever, and it did a fine job of getting my clothes clean. But then a friend of mine posted a recipe for a liquid laundry soap that required zero soap grating and was super budget-friendly. As always, I did a little research and tweaked the recipe a bit.

I love that everything in the recipe is void of harsh chemicals, and even better, it costs a fraction of what you’d pay for laundry detergent in the store. (Cost breakdown at the end of this post.) Ready for this awesome recipe?

What You Need to Make DIY Thieves Laundry Detergent

Items needed to make DIY Thieves Laundry Detergent: Thieves Laundry Soap, Baking Soda, Washing Soda, Thieves Cleaner, and essential oils (optional)

The recipe below will make one gallon, you can certainly double the recipe (like I did) if your dispenser is larger.

Affiliate links may be used. Please see our advertising disclosure for more information.

  • 1/4 Cup Washing Soda
  • 1/4 Cup Baking Soda
  • 1/4 Cup Thieves® Laundry Soap
  • 1/8 Cup (or 2 Tbsp) Thieves® Household Cleaner
  • Hot Water- You may want to use distilled water to avoid impurities that naturally occur in tap water.
  • 8 Drops Essential Oil of Your Choosing (Optional)- I used Thieves® and Lemon- 4 drops of each. If you are not sure where to buy essential oils, please check out this post.
  • Drink Dispenser (at least 1 gallon)- I used this one and doubled the recipe to make 2 gallons. While my dispenser was glass, many ask about using a plastic container instead… If you want to use plastic, it needs to be the right kind of plastic for use with essential oils. “Typically, HDPE plastic as well as plastics number 1 (PETE) and 2 are safe for use with essential oils.” -Dr. Hill (Quote found here.)

How to Make DIY Thieves Laundry Detergent

Ready for the easiest tutorial ever?

*** If you are using a glass dispenser, it is recommended that you perform steps 1-3 in a stock pot in order to avoid the glass cracking from the hot water.***

Step 1:

Start by pouring 1/4 cup washing soda into your dispenser (or stock pot).

pouring washing soda into a drink dispenser to make DIY Thieves Laundry Detergent

Step 2:

Add enough hot water (not boiling!) to cover by an inch or two and stir until the washing soda has dissolved.

Stirring washing soda into hot water until dissolved

Step 3:

Once your washing soda has dissolved, add 1/4 cup baking soda, and, once again, stir until dissolved.

Adding baking soda to DIY Thieves Laundry Detergent

At this point, I would highly recommend placing your dispenser where you plan to keep it, as it gets a bit heavy. When adding water, simply using a pitcher or jug.

Also… if you performed steps 1-3 in a stock pot, at this point, pour the mixture into your dispenser once cooled.

Step 4

Fill your dispenser with warm (room temperature) water, allowing some room at the top to add a few more ingredients.

Drink dispenser filled with water and previously added ingredients which will make DIY Thieves Laundry Detergent

Step 5

First add 1/4 cup Thieves® Laundry Soap. I have seen similar recipes done with castile soap, but I love the idea of using an actual laundry soap instead (and others have reported that the Castile Soap gets chunky and dispensing becomes difficult).

Adding Thieves Laundry Soap to DIY Thieves Laundry Soap which allows you to make more laundry soap for less money

Step 6

Next add 1/8 cup (or 2 Tablespoons) of Thieves® Household Cleaner.

Adding Thieves Household Cleaner to DIY Thieves Laundry Detergent recipe

Step 7 (Optional)

If you want to enhance the scent of the detergent a bit, feel free to add a few drops of essential oil. I chose to add Thieves® and Lemon (2 of my favorite essential oils for cleaning 🙂 ). A couple drops of each is all you’ll need.

Adding Thieves essential oil to a DIY Thieves Laundry Detergent recipe

Step 8

All you have left to do is give it a little stir, and you’re good to go.

When doing laundry in a HE washer, use 1/4 cup per load.

UPDATE: If you notice the laundry soap settling to the bottom, just give the mixture a little stir. I actually didn’t notice this happening until it had been sitting on my counter for about 2 weeks, but others are reporting this happening after a short period of time. I just leave a wood spoon next to my dispenser and give it a quick stir if I notice any separation.

DIY Thieves Laundry Soap in a drink dispenser with folded white towels to the right. The DIY Thieves Laundry Detergent is free of harsh chemicals and costs less than $4/gallon. It's easy to make and smells amazing!

Cost Breakdown

DIY Thieves Laundry Detergent

  • 1/4 cup Washing Soda: 17¢ (Based off Walmart’s pricing of $3.97 for a 55 oz. box, which has 6 cups)
  • 1/4 cup Baking Soda: 10¢ (Based off Target’s pricing of 79¢ for a 16 oz. box, which has 2 cups)
  • 1/4 cup Thieves® Laundry Soap:  $1.84 (Based off Young Living’s wholesale pricing* for a 32 oz. bottle)
  • 1/8 cup Thieves® Household Cleaner: $1.56 (Based off Young Living’s wholesale pricing* for a 14.4 oz bottle)
  • 4 Drops Thieves essential oil (optional): 56¢
  • 4 Drops Lemon essential oil (optional): 20¢

Total Cost:

  • With optional essential oils added: $4.43/gallon
  • Without optional essential oils added: $3.67/gallon

When using 1/4 cup per load, this equals 6-7¢ per load.

*Wholesale pricing is available to members of Young Living, however, you also have the option to buy retail. If buying retail, the price of the Laundry Soap would increase to $2.43 and the cost of the household cleaner would increase to $2.06; increasing the price per gallon to $4.76 (without essential oils added) and the cost per load would be 7¢/load.

Dare to Compare

Leading Brand of Laundry Detergent

Leading Brand of Laundry Detergent: $16.66/gallon (Based off Target’s pricing of $17.99 for a 138 oz. bottle of Tide)

Be very careful when looking at cost per load. While the packaging states there are 89 loads, it also states this is when measured to “line 2”. If you are doing a “large load” of laundry, you are directed to use twice as much detergent and fill to line 4. If using a HE washer, you need to use even more, and fill to line 5. I have a HE washer, and would definitely need to fill to that number 5 line, so…

Total Cost:

  • Filling to line 4 or 5: 41¢ per load. That is 6-7x higher than the DIY version above!
  • Filling to “line 2”: 20¢ per load (3 times more expensive!)

Okay… after all that math, I need a break 🙂

For the printable version of this recipe (plus answers to the most frequently asked questions about this recipe), click here.

 

Love it? Pin it!

Pinterest Image showing DIY Thieves Laundry Detergent in a glass drink dispenser. White folded towels to the right. This DIY Laundry Detergent is free of harsh chemicals and costs less than $4/gallon. It's easy to make and smells amazing! #laundrysoap #laundrydetergent #thieves #essentialoils

102 Comments

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Comments

  1. Bethany says

    November 27, 2020 at 1:05 AM

    Thieves detergent and cleaner are both expensive! Even though I wouldn’t use the whole bottle, I still have to spend $80 up front to make the detergent, and I need room to store 2 partially used bottles (detergent and cleaner). Until someone will sell me 1/4 cup of Thieves detergent at a time, I’ll be grating soap.

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      July 23, 2021 at 9:25 AM

      How long have you been using this recipe? Have you noticed any issues with your front loader washing machine?

      Reply
  2. Lara says

    September 6, 2020 at 9:48 AM

    Hello,

    Can I make this recipe with just the Thieves household cleaner without the Thieves Laundry soap? If so, how would I adjust the recipe for a HE washer?

    Thank you,
    Lara

    Reply
  3. Olivia says

    June 6, 2020 at 11:55 AM

    Love this! I have been using this for 6 months. What a money saver. I just substituted thieves for Myers.

    Reply
  4. Kathi says

    May 11, 2020 at 11:53 AM

    I have made this 3-4 times now. It works great and it’s is saving me a lot of money! After the initial purchase of ingredients I’ll Ben able to make this over and over again!

    Reply
  5. Susan says

    March 22, 2020 at 4:54 PM

    How much would you recommend using in a load that’s not in an HE washer?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      April 2, 2020 at 10:11 AM

      I would try 1/2 cup. Top loaders use more water, so I would start here to make sure it still cleans the clothes and doesn’t get diluted too much.

      Reply
  6. TR says

    March 14, 2020 at 3:33 PM

    Where did you get the dispenser, it’s super cute!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      April 2, 2020 at 10:15 AM

      I got it from Target. Here’s the link (affiliate link): https://rstyle.me/+BPugVzLaMCgOU1EpqL_eFg

      Reply
  7. Blake says

    March 3, 2020 at 7:14 PM

    Can I use 1/2 cup of baking soda in place of the washing soda?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      March 9, 2020 at 7:09 PM

      They basically do the same things, so you could definitely try that.

      Reply
  8. Liana Ilyuk says

    February 20, 2020 at 12:02 PM

    I really like this recipe! My clothes feel super clean and I’m so happy that I dont have to worry about any harsh chemicals. But, I am having one issue. I have to stir the detergent every time I use it because the thieves laundry detergent keeps separating. I made 2 gallons of this since it’s the only size for the dispenser that I had. Any suggestions?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      March 9, 2020 at 7:12 PM

      I know. I wish I could figure out a solution, but I just stir mine before use. As I noted, for the money I save, it’s totally worth a little stirring 🙂

      Reply
      • Dina says

        March 29, 2020 at 3:47 AM

        I have a solution because mine doesn’t separate.

        Steps 1-4 like you wrote.

        Step 5-7 separately in a dish mix thieves detergent, cleaner and oils together. Add to dispenser.

        Then stir.

        Reply
      • Brenda says

        November 21, 2020 at 9:30 AM

        I refill my empty bottles from the laundry detergent, then give a couple of turns up and down before I use in the washer. Makes it easier then stirring each time I need a capful.

        Reply
      • Celeste says

        July 30, 2021 at 1:51 PM

        I love the dispenser you use but I was having the same issue. I ended buying 4 Thieves Laundry Soap and kept my empty bottles. I now make my own and just refill those bottles. Then every time I use it I just shake the bottle, plus they look cute in my wash room. I sure any bottle will work but these just work perfectly for me.

        Reply
    • Jeanne says

      July 24, 2021 at 6:50 PM

      The last time I made it, I added the thieves laundry soap to the hot mixture and stirred it really well before mixing with the remaining water. It was 2 weeks ago and still hasn’t separated like before.

      Reply
    • Karen says

      January 6, 2022 at 10:21 AM

      I use a bit less water and a scoop instead of a dispenser and it works great. Make sure you use less per load.

      Reply
  9. Victoria says

    January 16, 2020 at 2:38 PM

    Wouldn’t it be a good idea to use distilled water so that it doesn’t sour? Or does the detergent get used quickly enough that that isn’t an issue?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      March 9, 2020 at 7:13 PM

      Yes. This is mentioned in the list of ingredients 🙂

      Reply
  10. Andrea says

    November 26, 2019 at 1:59 PM

    I’m just wondering why you use the thieves laundry soap to make laundry soap? Why can’t you just use the thieves laundry soap like it and is? I’m not trying to be a smart alec! I’m genuinely curious!

    Reply
    • kathie says

      December 6, 2019 at 11:25 PM

      Thieves laundry soap on it’s own is very concentrated and works well when diluted with the other ingredients. It is also rather costly to use on it’s own.

      Reply
  11. Amy says

    November 16, 2019 at 7:04 PM

    Can I use this with cold water?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      November 17, 2019 at 9:00 AM

      Yes. You certainly can use this in cold water washes.

      Reply
  12. Gayle says

    November 16, 2019 at 5:05 PM

    First time I’ve made this and really like it so far. I don’t have a front load machine and wondering if 1/4 cup is still enough for a regular machine?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      November 17, 2019 at 9:02 AM

      I would try starting with 1/2 cup for a top loading machine as it uses a lot more water than a front loader.

      Reply
  13. Leah B. Custer says

    October 11, 2019 at 12:55 PM

    Hi Erin!

    Do you have any other laundry recipe’s that do not use the thieves household cleaner or laundry. I’m actually out of the laundry tabs that I make and I wont get the cleaner for another few days!!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      October 22, 2019 at 10:25 AM

      Prior to using this recipe, I used this one (which is a powder) and will last forever! https://www.lemonslavenderandlaundry.com/cleaning-tip-tuesday-diy-laundry-detergent/

      Reply
  14. Hope says

    July 14, 2019 at 8:56 AM

    Wow this is amazing!! I’ve been making a recipe very similar to this, with the Castile soap. It gets VERY chunky and make me not even want to keep going natural. Thanks for this!! I’ve definitely subscribed!

    Reply
  15. Leigh says

    July 9, 2019 at 9:22 AM

    Hi! Just made the recipe, what is the consistency supposed to be like? Will it thicken up over time? Mine is just thin like water ??‍♀️ Thanks!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      July 10, 2019 at 7:55 AM

      Hi Leigh-
      The consistency is thin, like water, and it will remain this way.

      Reply
      • Leigh says

        July 11, 2019 at 11:34 AM

        Thanks! Really liking it so far!!

        Reply
  16. Cydney says

    May 15, 2019 at 11:34 AM

    I love the feel of my clothes with this recipe. I am having issues with it cleaning underwear and undershirts. My husbands deodorant still seems to be on his shirts and our underwear doesn’t seem as clean. I have tried increasing the amount of detergent I am using and the hadn’t helped. Any suggestions. I love that it is chemical free but still need to ensure everything is coming out clean!

    Reply
    • Ashley Bragan says

      December 2, 2021 at 12:01 AM

      I feel the same way so i started adding a scoop of washing powders to each load. I think that is helping.

      Reply
  17. Robyn says

    April 23, 2019 at 11:04 AM

    Hi! How do you go about brightening your clothes (darks with white coloring or whites in general).

    Thank you!!

    Reply
  18. Beth says

    March 31, 2019 at 5:13 PM

    Hi! Might seem like a silly question but I wanted to double check. For HE washers, do I put the soap straight into the drum or does it go where the soap usually goes, in that little receptacle thing? Thank you so much!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      April 4, 2019 at 12:32 PM

      I always put mine into the soap receptacle.

      Reply
  19. Maggie says

    March 29, 2019 at 7:46 PM

    How much water for this recipe??

    Reply
    • Erin says

      April 4, 2019 at 12:33 PM

      The recipe, as written, requires just under one gallon of water. Basically one gallon minus one cup.

      Reply
      • Amber says

        December 29, 2019 at 8:49 PM

        I didn’t realize I was supposed to subtract a cup from the water and I put in the entire gallon. Is that why my soap doesn’t have a strong smell? Or is that normal?

        Reply
        • Erin says

          December 31, 2019 at 8:14 AM

          It’s normal for this laundry soap to have a very mild scent. Most natural laundry soaps don’t have a strong smell because you aren’t adding fragrance to it.

          Reply
  20. Kim says

    March 28, 2019 at 4:46 PM

    how much actual water do I add? A gallon?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      April 4, 2019 at 12:34 PM

      The recipe, as written, requires just under one gallon of water. Basically one gallon minus one cup.

      Reply
  21. Coleen says

    March 26, 2019 at 6:02 PM

    How much water do u use for all this?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      April 4, 2019 at 12:34 PM

      The recipe, as written, requires just under one gallon of water. Basically one gallon minus one cup.

      Reply
  22. Devin says

    March 16, 2019 at 6:01 PM

    How does it stand up to grass and more heavily soiled clothes?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      April 4, 2019 at 12:35 PM

      Just as I do with any detergent, I treat stains like grass, soil, and oils with my DIY stain remover.

      Reply
  23. Katy says

    March 14, 2019 at 6:49 PM

    My boyfriend doesn’t like the smell of thieves(I know. He’s crazy) any substitution ideas for the thieves products in this recipe?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      April 4, 2019 at 12:37 PM

      I have seen recipes that use Castile Soap, however, many that have tried this report that the detergent gets thick and chunky, which makes dispensing difficult. If it makes any difference, the clothing washed in this detergent won’t come out smelling like Thieves 🙂

      Reply
    • Jenny says

      March 27, 2020 at 12:06 PM

      Sal Suds (a Dr. Bronner’s product) would be great in this recipe or even on its own as a laundry detergent.

      Reply
  24. Carli Johnson says

    February 18, 2019 at 3:51 PM

    Whenever I add the baking soda to the washing soda mixture.m, it doesn’t dissolve at all. The baking soda makes a giant rock solid clump and will not mix in. Any suggestions?

    Reply
    • Brieana says

      March 18, 2019 at 3:56 PM

      I just made mine for the first time. I would just make sure the water is hot and slowly add a little baking soda at a time and stir till dissolved and see if that helps.

      Reply
    • Erin says

      April 4, 2019 at 12:39 PM

      This seems to be a common issue, yet I have never had it happen to me. I would recommend making sure you have enough water (1-2 inches above the washing soda) and make sure it’s hot. Also, be sure the washing soda is completely dissolved before adding the baking soda. Hope that helps.

      Reply
    • Sarah Cox says

      June 6, 2019 at 10:38 AM

      Same thing just happened to me. Definitely need to use quite a bit of water to dissolve.

      Reply
    • Ann Oesterle says

      July 24, 2019 at 10:52 AM

      I just made it… First bactch clumped instantly when adding baking soda to Hot water. The baking soda is solvent at 64 degrees Fahrenheit…. Worked perfect for me after that!

      Reply
      • Ann says

        July 24, 2019 at 10:57 AM

        Also need ration of .27 oz to 3.5oz baking soda to water

        Reply
  25. Lauren says

    January 30, 2019 at 3:44 PM

    Tried to make this, but twice now when I add the baking soda to the dissolved washing soda (and other way around the second time) they react and I end up with what looks like rock salt. Not sure what I’m doing wrong. I did make my washing soda myself (baking soda in the oven at 400 for an hour makes washing soda), but it sounds like someone else in this thread had the same issue.

    Reply
    • Erin says

      April 4, 2019 at 12:40 PM

      This seems to be a common issue, yet I have never had it happen to me. I would recommend making sure you have enough water (1-2 inches above the washing soda) and make sure it’s hot. Also, be sure the washing soda is completely dissolved before adding the baking soda. Hope that helps

      Reply
  26. Brandi says

    January 24, 2019 at 4:22 PM

    How do I keep this from separating? I am making my third batch right now and the first two I made both separate. It is just slightly annoying to have to stir the detergent before every load. Thanks!

    Reply
  27. Colleen says

    January 21, 2019 at 12:56 PM

    What did I do wrong? My baking soda is clumping and won’t dissolve.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      January 30, 2019 at 3:39 PM

      I just tried this with homemade washing soda and am having the same problem. Once the baking soda and washing soda are in the water together, it looks like I made rock salt. Don’t know what I did or didn’t do…

      Reply
  28. Kim says

    January 16, 2019 at 5:56 PM

    Hi Erin. I wonder if you mixed/combined the THC, laundry soap, essential oils & a little bit of sea salt first & then added it to the washing soda/baking soda mixture if that would help emulsify the oils so that it wouldn’t separate. Not sure what ingredients were separating but I was just curious what you thought. Excited to try this recipe!!

    Kim

    Reply
    • Renee says

      May 23, 2019 at 7:46 PM

      I just made this and I’m adding sea salt. My Dr. Bronner’s recipe called for the sea salt and I don’t have any problems with it. Can’t hurt. ?

      Reply
  29. JJ says

    January 10, 2019 at 10:15 AM

    Do you have any suggestions for someone who can’t use Thieves? I’d love to make this, but rosemary and eucalyptus are contraindications for a medical condition that I have.

    Reply
    • Erin says

      January 10, 2019 at 2:11 PM

      I know there are some recipes that use Castile soap, however, I had heard it gets pretty gloppy and thick. I haven’t personally tried it, so I don’t know for sure.

      Reply
  30. Karyan says

    January 9, 2019 at 4:42 PM

    Hi Erin,
    I have recently found your blog and absolutely love it!! This post is the first one I read, I’m curious if one could use Castile soap instead of Thieves Laundry Soap? I really want to give this recipe a try but the Thieves Laundry is so expensive!
    Thank you for your amazing, inspiring blog!!

    Reply
    • JJ says

      January 10, 2019 at 11:24 AM

      I’m also looking for an alternative to thieves. I just found that Mrs. Meyers has a concentrated laundry detergent, too. The concentration is different though- thieves is 1/2 oz/load while Mrs. Meyers is 1 oz/load. So I’m thinking we can make this recipe, substituting 1/2 cup Meyers for the 1/4 cup thieves. It looks like thieves is about $37 for a 64 load bottle, and Mrs. Meyers is about $16 for a 64 load bottle.

      Reply
      • Ashlee says

        September 25, 2019 at 2:28 AM

        Making homemade laundry soap is probably overall better then buying from the store- however you can’t substitute Meyers as the same benefits as Young Living Thieves.

        Look into getting the Think Dirty app- it breaks down all kinds of cleaners and household items and shows the level of how “clean” or “dirty” a product is from 0-10.

        YL thieves cleaner is completely plant based without chemicals or added fragrances. Meyers products are marked really dirty at an 8. Always research products before switching to ensure you’re making the right move and going the direction you are intending; healthier/ cleaner/ less chemical life style.

        Reply
        • JJ says

          October 7, 2019 at 3:51 PM

          Agree, Ashlee, but I can’t use thieves, so I have to substitute.

          Reply
    • Erin says

      January 10, 2019 at 2:12 PM

      I have heard of recipes that use Castile soap, however, many complain that the soap gels and gets very thick and gloppy. I haven’t tried it, so I don’t have any experience with it.

      Reply
  31. Shannon says

    December 30, 2018 at 12:31 PM

    is the housecleaner diluted or straight from the bottle?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      January 1, 2019 at 10:21 AM

      It is undiluted.

      Reply
  32. Tami Seelen says

    December 18, 2018 at 7:47 AM

    Can I use this with cold water or is it best in warm or hot?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      January 10, 2019 at 2:12 PM

      This should be fine to use in any temperature setting.

      Reply
  33. Pam says

    December 14, 2018 at 5:25 PM

    What can you do if you have an allergy to baking soda?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      January 10, 2019 at 2:14 PM

      If you can use washing soda (I think the chemistry is very similar to baking soda, so I’m not sure if it’s okay for you or not) I would double the washing soda and eliminate the baking soda.

      Reply
  34. Patti says

    November 29, 2018 at 12:10 PM

    Could you tell me how this detergent works with bad stains (blood, grass, pen etc..) ?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      January 10, 2019 at 2:14 PM

      For those types of stains, I will recommend treating with a stain remover prior to washing. However, I would do that no matter what laundry soap I was using.

      Reply
    • Heather MW Perry says

      February 26, 2019 at 7:49 PM

      For pen, I tend to use rubbing alcohol to spot treat. (I have a bottle that is 70% alcohol) As far as more protein based stains, (blood and grass) I tend to use the Thieves Household Cleaner at the concentration that I use normally (general household cleaning) as my spot treat…You may have to treat a couple of times – OR you can also soak in Borax or Biz overnight.

      Reply
  35. Lynda says

    November 4, 2018 at 8:41 PM

    I don’t see any mention of high efficiency washers, unless I missed that part. Can this be used in my front-loading HE machine?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      January 10, 2019 at 2:15 PM

      Yes. The recipe above is written for HE washing machines.

      Reply
  36. Roberta says

    October 29, 2018 at 8:05 AM

    Can this be used in HE washers if so, how much?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      November 1, 2018 at 12:07 PM

      I use it in my HE washer. 1/4 cup/load.

      Reply
  37. Carol Ebert says

    October 27, 2018 at 6:37 AM

    I may have missed it, but, how much laundry detergent do I use per load?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      November 1, 2018 at 12:08 PM

      I use 1/4 cup/load in a HE washer.

      Reply
  38. Jessica Kelley says

    October 23, 2018 at 1:51 PM

    If you have a large load of laundry, do you need to add more then the 1/4 cup of laundry soap? Also, does the amount added per load differ if you have a non-HE Machine?

    Thanks for the recipe and the break down, I so appreciate it!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      November 1, 2018 at 12:10 PM

      I used the 1/4 cup for large loads. If you have a top-loading washer, you will probably need more, as more water is being added to the washer. Most top loaders use twice as much water as HE, so I would guess you’d need about 1/2 cup if using a top-loader, but you can certainly experiment with lesser amounts.

      Reply
      • Jasmin says

        June 12, 2019 at 6:45 AM

        Hi!
        I’m not sure if I have a HE. We are renting our place – it’s a top loader and I don’t have a soap receptacle. Can I also put it straight into the drum??
        Thanks for the recipe!

        Reply
  39. Rachel says

    October 23, 2018 at 8:34 AM

    The recipe listed do I just need to double that to fill my 2 gallon jar?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      November 1, 2018 at 12:10 PM

      Yes. I doubled all the amounts for the 2 gallons 🙂

      Reply
  40. Shannon says

    October 21, 2018 at 8:20 PM

    Where did you get your laundry dispenser?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      November 1, 2018 at 12:11 PM

      The dispenser is from Target. Here’s the link (aff.link): https://rstyle.me/n/da2fkzb9gd7

      Reply
  41. Keisha Dawson says

    October 19, 2018 at 3:56 PM

    This recipe makes my heart so happy. I’m already adding a capful of Thieves cleaner to every single load of laundry I do with a store bought detergent. I can’t wait o make this and start using it!!!

    Reply
  42. Tiffany says

    October 16, 2018 at 12:17 PM

    I am going to try this but I do not like the idea of using a household cleaner in the recipe. Do you think it work well without it? I’m thinking about replacing it a natural laundry booster powder. And thoughts on how well that would work?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      November 1, 2018 at 12:12 PM

      If you would rather not add the cleaner, I, personally, would try doubling the amount of laundry soap and see how that works for you.

      Reply
  43. Beth says

    October 14, 2018 at 10:26 AM

    How about borax in place of washing soda?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      November 1, 2018 at 12:14 PM

      I haven’t tried the recipe with Borax, although Borax and Washing Soda do the same type of thing for laundry.

      Reply
      • Pam says

        November 28, 2018 at 1:08 PM

        Would you use the same amount of Borax as soda?

        Reply
  44. Dianne Lipetzky says

    October 12, 2018 at 10:44 AM

    Is it necessary to use the glass for dispensing? Could it be put into used laundry detergent bottles?

    Reply
    • Sue says

      October 18, 2018 at 12:58 AM

      If you’re adding any citrus essential oils (like the lemon she uses) they will break down plastic so glass is a must.

      Reply
  45. Joei says

    October 10, 2018 at 5:36 PM

    It would be great if you could print out the recipe to keep in a folder to use when making a new batch.
    Thank you for all your hard work helping us stay green and clean. ?

    Reply
    • Nancy says

      December 8, 2018 at 7:12 AM

      Did you see, she created a printable and it is on the next blog post!

      With kindest regards,
      Nancy

      Reply

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Hi there! I'm Erin. Welcome to Lemons, Lavender, & Laundry, where we believe you can create a home you love... on a budget. [Read More...]

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