Homemade Dry Laundry Detergent (Safe for use in HE washers)

3 bars Felz Naptha Soap (approximately 16 oz total)
1 Box Arm & Hammer Washing Soda (55 oz.)
1 Box 20 Mule Team Borax (4lbs 12 oz.)
1 Tub Oxi Clean (3 lbs) -optional
1 Box Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (4 lbs) - optional
1 Container Purex Crystals (28 oz.) or approximately 8 - 1o drops essential oils - optional


I use my food processor to make the Felz Naptha into a powder. first putting it through the slicer then pulsing it until it's fine. If you don't get it fine it won't mix in very evenly. After that I dump into a 2 gallon container and stir until well mixed. Make sure not to breath in the Borax dust when you pour that into the container or stir it up.  Once mixed well I dump it into a covered 1 gallon container.


I use a very small amount of soap. About 2oz for each average sized load. If they are really dirty I use another 2 oz.

Optional Ingredients:

The Oxi is to help get really dirty clothes a bit cleaner. I use this mostly because I have dirty men in the house. I did find that home made detergent did not do as well as commercial cleaners at getting stains out. The Oxi helped with that but I still find I also need to spot treat stubborn stains accordingly.

If you prefer a scent use the Purex Crystals or Essential Oils.  I have not done this but I did have Lavender scented Felz Naptha. I do hang outside three seasons so the clothes get that smell. I suspect it's much like using that scent free detergent. I admit I did miss the smell that came from commercial detergents. It took a while but I've mostly gotten used to it. I cannot speak as to which would be less expensive, the essential oils or the Purex Crystals but if you're about environmental causes like I am, I'd probably go with the essential oils regardless of cost.

Of course the additional ingredients will add to the over all cost and then you'd have to recalculate to see if it was worth it for yourself.