GGK Homemade Laundry Soap Recipe

From registry to real life… because laundry is VERY real life. Every. Single. Day.

Between work, kids, and the laundry that somehow multiplies overnight, I'm always looking for little ways to simplify our everyday routines.

And laundry? If you're a mom, you know. It. Never. Ends.

Over the years, I've gone down more laundry detergent rabbit holes than I'd like to admit. Reading ingredient labels, researching fragrances, comparing brands, and questioning whether I really needed a separate detergent for baby clothes.

Sound familiar?

When I became a mom, I started paying closer attention to the products we were using around our home. And instead of buying a separate baby laundry detergent, I decided to try making one simple laundry powder for our whole family.

Not because every store-bought detergent is bad. I just liked the idea of choosing the ingredients myself.

And if you love your favorite scented detergent? Keep using what works for you, mama. No judgment here!

This is simply one of those everyday swaps I've incorporated into our home, and it's surprisingly easy to make.

The best part? It takes me less than 10 minutes to whip up a batch.

What You'll Need

Just five main ingredients!

• 2 cups baking soda

• 2 cups washing soda

• 2 cups borax

• 1 cup Epsom salt — Plain, unscented.

• ½ cup fine sea salt

Optional additions:

• 10–20 drops of your favorite essential oil
• ½ cup pure soak flakes (or shredded coconut soap)

Quick note: Coconut soap means an actual soap made from coconut oil, not shredded coconut from the baking aisle.

I personally buy my baking soda, washing soda, and borax in the larger Earthborn Elements tubs. They're convenient to store, easy to scoop from, and I can use them for multiple batches.

Let's Make It!

Step 1: Mix your dry ingredients.

Add your baking soda, washing soda, borax, Epsom salt, and sea salt to a large, dry mixing bowl.

Step 2: Stir it all together.

Mix thoroughly until everything is evenly combined.

Step 3: Add your extras (optional).

If you're adding shredded coconut soap, mix in ½ cup.

For a little fragrance, add 10–20 drops of your preferred essential oil and mix well. I also like that you can skip the fragrance altogether.

Step 4: Store it!

Transfer everything into an airtight glass jar and store it somewhere cool and dry, safely out of reach of little hands.

And that's it. Seriously!

One less thing to overcomplicate.

How Much Do I Use?

My personal amount is 2–3 tablespoons per load.

This is the amount I've chosen for my homemade mixture, not a universally tested dosage.

A few things worth knowing: Homemade laundry mixtures aren't necessarily compatible with every washing machine, and soap-based ingredients can leave buildup, especially with hard water. Always check your washer manufacturer's recommendations before using a DIY formula.

Why I Started Making My Own

IYKYK… once you start reading ingredient labels, it's easy to end up 20 tabs deep wondering what you actually need to worry about.

That was me.

Especially when I became a mom.

I started paying more attention to fragrances, ingredient lists, and all the products marketed specifically for babies.

And here's what I realized: I didn't necessarily need another product just because it had the word baby on the label.

I wanted a simpler routine, fewer separate products to keep track of, and more say in the ingredients I was choosing for our home.

For me, making my own laundry powder became one small way to do that.

Does homemade automatically mean safer, gentler, or better? Absolutely not. Ingredients like borax and washing soda still require careful handling, and some commercial detergents are better suited to particular fabrics and machines.

But I enjoy knowing exactly what I've mixed together and having the option to adjust the recipe to my preferences.

And that's really what Good & Growing Kids is about: understanding your options and choosing what works for your family.

Not perfection. Not fear. Just more informed everyday choices.

A Little Mom-to-Mom Tip

If you find a homemade mixture that works well for your washer and household, you can prepare a larger batch so you don't have to mix it as often.

I know people who make enough to last months and store it in a large container!

Just scale the ingredients proportionally, keep everything dry, and use a clearly labeled, tightly closed container.

Because between the school clothes, pajamas, towels, and the mystery pile that appears every weekend, who has time to make laundry soap every other week?

Not me!

From Registry to Real Life

At Good & Growing Kids, we're two working moms sharing the research, practical tools, and everyday routines that help us navigate busy family life.

Sometimes that starts with figuring out what you actually need on your baby registry.

Sometimes it's learning about the products we use around our homes.

And sometimes? It's finding a simple solution for that never-ending mountain of laundry.

We're not here to tell you there's only one right way to do things. We're here to help you understand your options, save a little time, and decide what matters most for your family.

Better for little bodies. Easier for busy parents.

With love,

Ash & Chanel 💛

Household note: This is a personal DIY recipe, not a tested detergent formulation. Borax and washing soda can irritate skin and eyes; avoid inhaling dust, handle ingredients carefully, and keep the mixture away from children. Check your washing machine and fabric-care instructions before use.