DIY Laundry Detergent, Fabric Softener & Stain Remover

Fortunately, you are not stuck buying these commercial products every time you hit the store. You can easily make your own DIY laundry detergent at home with just a few simple household products, which saves you money and keeps your home safe.

That’s why I’m ready to show you how to make laundry detergent, stain remover, fabric softener, and static cling balls starting today.

If you’ve ever watched my laundry room organization video, then you already know that I make my own homemade laundry detergent at home. And since I finally ran out after fourteen whole months, I thought it would be a great time to share how I make all my laundry products with you.

1. Homemade laundry detergent

Let's start with laundry detergent. I got all of my ingredients at Walmart, even a giant glass container with a sealable lid, and I simply repurposed a scoop from a supplement I take. It measures about one tablespoon which is perfect because it is so concentrated that you only need one tablespoon per large load. 

If you need a funnel while adding your ingredients to the jar, you can always use a piece of paper or a plastic chopping mat from Dollar Tree. 

The key to mixing this homemade laundry detergent properly is to add the ingredients in increments, starting with the bar of castile soap. You will either chop it up with a knife, grate it on a hand grater, or in a food processor as I do.

Then you will add one cup each of the remaining ingredients, which are the washing soda, borax, and oxygen booster. Then, you will mix everything by hand until it is evenly distributed, and then repeat these steps again. 

For my large glass container, I repeated the process three times. And it will last a long time now that it’s full because, whether you are washing whites, brights, darks, or delicates, you just need to add one tablespoon of this laundry detergent instead of a whole capful like you’re probably used to.

For whites, depending on the load size, you can also use two to four tablespoons of oxygen booster, but you really don't need to. I just like to use it for my white bedding for a little extra brightening. 

2. Homemade stain remover

For my homemade stain remover, I simply mix one part hydrogen peroxide with one part distilled water. It is important to keep hydrogen peroxide stored in an opaque bottle.

So I just used an old bottle of hydrogen peroxide from Dollar Tree and diluted it with distilled water. You don't even need to let it sit on the stain for very long; you just spray the DIY stain remover on before you put it in the wash. 

3. Homemade fabric softener

For DIY fabric softener, I fill the fabric softener dispenser with vinegar and a few drops of lemon essential oil. The vinegar odor does not linger. 

4. Homemade static cling balls

To reduce static cling and speed up drying time, I use aluminum foil balls in the dryer. You simply crumple up three to four feet of aluminum foil for each ball. After one use, they look compact and smooth, and you can reuse them over and over again. 

DIY Laundry Products

DIY laundry items

DIY laundry detergent, stain remover, fabric softener, and static clean balls save you both time and money. Not only are they easy to make, but they also last a long time, so you don’t have to keep making up new batches over and over again.

Lastly, they are all made with safe ingredients that are good for your family and the environment. Share which DIY recipe you plan on making first down below.