DIY Laundry Detergent: Why I Ditched Commercial Products (And the Recipe I’ve Used for Years)

Here’s something that surprised me when I became a naturopathic doctor: the products we use every single day on our skin might be slowly harming us.

I’m talking about laundry detergent. You know, that bottle you grab without thinking twice because it’s been the same brand forever, or it smells nice, or it’s on sale.

After doing the research, I realized: many conventional laundry detergents contain chemicals that can cause skin irritation, respiratory problems, and even more serious health issues. And we’re putting these on our families’ clothes the ones closest to their skin for hours at a time.

So I made a change. And I want to share why, and how you can too.

The Problem With Conventional Laundry Detergents

Let me be honest: when I first looked at the ingredient list on my “natural” detergent, I was shocked.

Sodium lauryl sulfate. 1,4 dioxane. NPE (Nonylphenol ethoxate). Phosphates.

I couldn’t even pronounce most of them.

Here’s the thing: anything you put on your skin gets absorbed into your body. Your skin isn’t a barrier that stops chemicals from entering it’s porous. Which means those ingredients in your laundry detergent? They’re potentially going into your bloodstream.

The chemicals I listed above are linked to:

• Skin irritation and allergies
• Respiratory problems
• Cancer (in some cases)
• Reproductive and developmental issues

And we’re washing our kids’ clothes in this stuff.

The Simple Rule I Use

In my household, we follow one simple motto: “If you can’t pronounce it or don’t know what it is, don’t buy it.”

That’s it. That’s the rule.

It’s become second nature now. I pick up a product, I read the ingredients, and if I’m confused, I don’t buy it. My kids have noticed too they’ll sometimes ask, “Mom, what’s that ingredient?” and we look it up together. It’s become a wellness practice for the whole family.

The Better Option: Make Your Own

I’m not saying you have to make your own laundry detergent. But I am saying: once you realize how easy it is, you might wonder why you ever paid for commercial stuff.

The first time I made this recipe, I was genuinely surprised. It took maybe 15 minutes. The ingredients are simple. And it actually works better than most commercial detergents I’ve used.

I’ve been using this exact recipe for years now. It’s what I wash my family’s clothes in every single week. It’s gentle enough for sensitive skin, effective enough to get out real stains, and affordable enough that I’m not stressed about cost.

My DIY Laundry Detergent Recipe

Ingredients:

• ½ cup baking soda
• ½ cup citric acid
• 1 cup washing soda
• ¼ cup coarse sea salt
• 1 bar Pure Castile Soap (I use Dr. Bronner’s)

Note: I buy most of these from Mountain Rose Herbs, but you can find them at most health food stores or online.

Instructions:

1. Grate the soap bar finely. I use a cheese grater to get it as fine as possible. This helps it dissolve better in water.
2. Mix everything together. Put your grated soap in a bowl and combine with the baking soda, citric acid, washing soda, and sea salt. Mix well until everything is evenly distributed.
3. Store it. Pour into an airtight container (a mason jar works great). Add a desiccant pack to keep it dry and prevent clumping. You can find these in the supplement aisle or order them online.
4. Use it. Add 1-2 tablespoons per load. That’s it.

Why These Ingredients Matter

Baking soda: Natural deodorizer and mild abrasive. Helps lift dirt without being harsh.

Citric acid: Natural cleaner, brightener, and water softener. Helps remove hard water deposits.

Washing soda: Alkaline powder that cuts through grease and boosts cleaning power. Different from baking soda don’t substitute.

Sea salt: Acts as a natural thickener and helps bind the mixture. Also adds slight abrasive properties.

Castile soap: Plant-based, gentle soap that does the actual cleaning. Dr. Bronner’s is my go-to because it’s pure and effective.

None of these will cause respiratory problems. None of them will absorb into your skin and cause harm. They’re just… cleaning stuff. The way detergent used to work before companies added chemicals to make it smell like a tropical rainforest.

How Much Does It Cost?

Here’s the financial side: this batch costs me about $8-12 to make, and it lasts 2-3 months for a family of five.

Compare that to commercial detergents at $5-8 per bottle, and you’re actually saving money while using something safer. The math works out.

A Few Things to Know

It doesn’t smell like commercial detergent. Some people add essential oils to theirs. If you want to add a few drops of essential oil (lavender, lemon, etc.), go for it.

It works in all machines. Hot water, cold water, high-efficiency machines this detergent works everywhere.

Less is more. You really only need 1-2 tablespoons per load. I know it feels weird if you’re used to pouring half a cup, but this is concentrated. Trust me.

It’s safe for sensitive skin. If your kids have eczema, psoriasis, or other skin sensitivities, this is a gentler option than most commercial detergents. It’s what I recommend to patients all the time.

How to Check Your Current Detergent

Curious if your current detergent has those harmful chemicals I mentioned?

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has a database where you can look up your products: www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners

Search for your brand, see what chemicals it contains, and get a health score. It’s eye-opening. Most people are shocked at what they find.

The Bigger Picture

Here’s what I want you to understand: making this one switch from commercial to DIY laundry detergent is an act of prevention.

You’re not treating a problem that’s already there. You’re stopping it before it starts. You’re protecting your family from unnecessary chemical exposure on a daily basis.

This is what root-cause wellness looks like. It’s not complicated. It’s not expensive. It’s just being intentional about what touches your family’s skin.