Free tool

DIY Laundry Detergent Calculator

Scale the 3-ingredient recipe to your household and see the real cost per load.

Interactive tool

DIY Laundry Detergent Calculator

Scale the 3-ingredient recipe to your household and see the real cost per load.

Adjust prices
1batches to mix
$0.00DIY cost per load
$0.00saved vs. store

Your shopping & mixing list

    One batch = 1 bar grated soap + 1 cup washing soda + 1 cup borax, about 3½ cups. Prices are typical US shelf prices; edit them to match your store.

    About the recipe

    The calculator uses the classic three-ingredient homemade laundry detergent: one bar of grated laundry soap, one cup of washing soda and one cup of borax. That makes about three and a half cups of powder, enough for roughly 28 to 56 loads depending on your scoop.

    How the cost per load is worked out

    We divide the price of each box by the number of cups in it to get a cost per cup, add the bar of soap, and divide the batch cost by the number of loads it makes. Edit the prices to match your store.

    Tip: Use the 1-tablespoon setting for high-efficiency (HE) machines. Powder this low-sudsing is generally fine in HE washers, but check your machine's manual first.

    Step-by-step mixing instructions, safety notes and troubleshooting are in our 3-ingredient laundry detergent guide. Pair it with our homemade fabric softener.

    Learn more

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