You might be surprised to see how simple making your own version of non-toxic laundry powder can be. With just a few basic ingredients, you can create a laundry powder that’s effective, low-tox, and incredibly affordable.

This recipe is tried and true in our home. I use bulk ingredients that I already keep on hand for other DIY recipes my family uses, which makes this even more practical and cost-effective. No complicated steps, synthetic fragrance, or unnecessary fillers. Just simple ingredients that really work!

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Why Make Your Own Laundry Powder?

Making your own laundry powder allows you to:

Avoid synthetic fragrances and harsh additives
Reduce exposure to common irritants
Control exactly what touches your family’s clothing and skin
Cut down on plastic waste
Save money
Simplify your home with multi-purpose bulk ingredients
Customize a scent that your family loves

For our synthetic fragrance-free home, this has been a beautiful fit. I also love that my kids see how easy it is to make cleaner versions of everyday staples at home ourselves.

Ingredients

½ cup Epsom salt
1½ cups baking soda
1½ cups washing soda
¼ cup sea salt
20 drops essential oil (optional)

Now that I know I love this recipe, I am going to start making larger batches in a 8 cup/64 oz. mason jar to save time.

What Is Washing Soda?

If you’re new to DIY laundry recipes, you may be wondering what washing soda actually is. Washing soda (also called sodium carbonate) is a naturally derived mineral salt. It’s stronger than baking soda and helps:

Break down grease and grime
Soften hard water
Boost cleaning effectiveness

Washing soda is commonly found in the laundry aisle, but you can also order it here. It is not the same as baking soda, though they’re related. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, while washing soda is sodium carbonate and has a higher alkalinity, making it more powerful for cleaning applications. I read somewhere that if you bake baking soda in the oven, it turns into washing soda. I’m not interested in the extra step, so I just order it online.

How to Make It

Add all dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl.
Stir thoroughly to evenly combine.
Add essential oils (if using) and mix again well to distribute evenly.
Store in an airtight glass jar or container in a dry location.

How Much to Use

Standard top-load washer: 1–2 tablespoons per full load
HE front-load washer: 1 tablespoon per full load

For heavily soiled clothing, use 2 tablespoons.

This recipe functions primarily as a mineral-based laundry powder/booster. For very dirty farm clothes, sports gear, or deeply set odours, you may wish to add ½ cup white vinegar to the rinse cycle.

Essential Oil Combinations (Optional)

Essential oils are completely optional. If your home is fragrance-sensitive, this powder works well without them.

A few lovely scent combinations:

Fresh + Clean

10 drops lemon
10 drops lavender

Bright + Uplifting

15 drops sweet orange
5 drops grapefruit

Grounding + Calm

10 drops lavender
10 drops cedarwood

Crisp + Clarifying

10 drops eucalyptus
10 drops lemon

Use high-quality essential oils and mix thoroughly to prevent clumping.

Cost Breakdown

One of my favourite parts about this recipe? The cost.

Using average bulk pricing in Canada:

Total batch cost: $3.24 CAD
Converts to approximately $2.37 USD
Yields roughly 35–45 loads

Which broken down further works out to:

$0.07–$0.09 CAD per load
$0.05–$0.07 USD per load

Compared to most store-bought natural detergents, this is significantly more economical, especially when you’re already stocking these bulk ingredients for other DIY recipes.

Final Thoughts

Switching to homemade laundry powder doesn’t need to be complicated. It can be as simple as choosing ingredients you trust, mixing them together, and creating something practical for your home. For my family, this recipe has been a sustainable, affordable, and low-tox alternative that fits perfectly into our naturally nourished life 🙂

Sometimes the healthiest swaps are also the simplest. If you’d like to check out more nourishing swaps for everyday products, check out my recipes for natural deodorant, natural chest rub for congestion, and natural mineralizing toothpaste.