Toxin-Free Laundry Detergent
Toxin-free laundry detergent is a key component to your family’s health.
Unfortunately neither the store nor the specialty “safe” detergents can give you a true, healthy option.
Let’s jump right into the DIY that saves our family a ton each month!

Non-Toxic Laundry Detergent
INGREDIENTS:
2 gallons of hot water (not boiling, just hot from the tap)
1/2 C Super Washing Soda
1/2 C Baking Soda (great way to get more use from what you bought if you made the fabric softener)
1/2C Thieves Laundry Detergent
20 drops Essential Oils (lavender is our favorite)
Procedure:
1.) Add 1/2 C Super Washing Soda to your 2.5 Gallon Jar.
Pour in enough of the hot water to be able to dissolve and stir.
2.) Pour in 1/2 C baking soda and stir to dissolve
3.) Fill bucket with the rest of the hot water. You must do this before step 4 or your mixture will be super bubbly.
4.) Add in 1/2 C Thieves Laundry Detergent and stir gently
Pour 1/3 C then pour into your washing machine or detergent drawer.
If you see some of it settling over time, that’s okay! Just stir before use. It will break up in the wash. We have used this successfully in both a regular washer as well as an HE.
Grateful
Wasn’t it odd that something in the store made to smell great made me nauseous?
I guess because of this, I wasn’t too surprised to find how dangerous they are.
The worst part?
Some of the most common brands that scored an “F” on the ewg.org scale are made for babies.
Babies!
Brand new respiratory systems, hearts, brains all developing while snuggled in toxins.
The cherry on top? They charge an unsightly amount for 90 loads, call it “Free and Clear,” and even concentrate it to give it to us in tiny little bottles.(You’ll find Fabric Softener does the same thing).
Top Offenders
Like me, you’ll probably find your detergent doesn’t fit into your healthy lifestyle, either. Check it out:
Take Babyganics for instance. The word “baby” is right in it!
Fragrance Free? White bottle? Well played, Babyganics.
And how about Dreft!?
The detergent we’re supposed to wash all our newborn clothes in before the baby arrives to avoid allergic reactions to detergents that also scored an “F”…what??
Even the words “Green” lead the consumer to be confused thinking we’re paying extra for something great, when in fact, we simply are not.
Option 1: Top Pick
The top pick outside of DIY is the only brand I can always trust.
Thieves Laundry Detergent packs a serious punch with the amazing power of Thieves essential oil blend!
Option 2: My Favorite DIY
If you’ve got five minutes (yes, it literally takes only five minutes…or less!), you can have chemical-free laundry detergent that works great and leaves your clothes feeling good, too.
For only around $3 per month!
At a fraction of the cost, this is a quick and easy way to not only save on the budget, but also save your family from breathing in toxins. (Find the companion Fabric Softener here).
Get Essential Oils to Jumpstart Toxin-Free Living!
You’ll find Young Living products all over this blog because I believe in them and the quality that only Young Living offers.
I know their products will not be altered in a way that will ever harm my family, and we love what the oils have done for our family’s health.
Learn more about the best way to get started with oils by clicking here.
Final Thoughts
It’s a good feeling to know this is one more way I can love my family and take care of their health.
After facing childhood cancer in our home, we know the reality of how sick the toxins lurking in the grocery aisles are making our world.
We find peace of mind in this simple switch.
It’s a little different.
It’s a lot less overpowering in smell, but those changes are so unbelievably worth the health of our family.

I ann going to try this too. Do you scoop it out of the jar, or is the a different container that would work. (I.e. My old toxic tide container??). I wasn’t sure if it would clog the spout??
I have used the old Tide container but switched to the glass jar that’s linked in the post to scoop it instead. It did clog the spout at times, so I’d uncap it and pour. It still smelled like Tide even after serious cleaning!
The Dreft is shocking! I might have missed it, but do you use this in an HE washer?
Yes! We have used it in both HE and regular washers successfully! Thank you for commenting. I added that to the post! 🙂
I love this recipe and have used it for well over a year! Works great!!
Such a great feeling to know you’re giving your family the best, saving money, AND getting your clothes clean! 🙂
Wow!! That is awful. How many loads can you do with what you make?
I use it for about a month or so before I have to make more. It makes two gallons and before I bought my 2.5 gallon jar it was roughly a half gallon more than what would fit in the gigantic Tide bottle. I haven’t ever counted the loads, so I hope this can give you a good idea! 🙂
This is great information! I never paid attention to laundry detergent until a couple of years ago when I noticed certain laundry detergents made my skin really itchy. I recently switched to Meyer – but it’s so expensive! I’ll definitely try making your homemade toxic free version.
Meyer is one of those brands that tries to look innocent but isn’t always, too so it’s great that you’re looking into it! I use ewg.org. You can use this to plug in most anything you’ve got to see if you’d rather be using something different. It also lists safe options if you put in a bigger genre (i.e. “sunscreen”). 🙂 I hope you enjoy it! We love it!
I’ve made the switch over to natural cleaning supplies & body care over the past year. I’ve always had a sensitivity to chemicals, and am so glad to have found natural solutions! Vinegar, baking soda, essential oils and Dr. Bronners Magic soap are my essentials now! Love that you did this informative post, I hope it opens up more people’s eyes!
Rebecca | morerebe.com
Enter my international giveaway here!
Those are also my go-tos! All the staples for our homes. A much better list than the toxins that used to lurk! 🙂 Excited to hear another home is “clean” as well!
Wow, I can’t believe how many detergents have toxic ingredients in them! I’ll definitely be giving your DIY solution 🙂
Kristen | http://www.sophisticatedgal.com
We love this mixture. It’s effective and I only make it once a month or so. 🙂
Silly question, is this liquid or more powder-y? Thanks!
It’s liquid. 🙂 The fabric softener is powder. 🙂
Just made my first batch! Excited to use it! Thanks so much for this recipe!
You’re so very welcome! We love it!