3 Ingredient Laundry Soap

This weekend I whipped up a batch of homemade laundry soap and thought I’d share the recipe with you. For years I’ve struggled with reactions to store-bought detergents—even the so-called free and clear versions. Those were a little better, so we used them most of the time, but I was thrilled when I discovered a simple homemade option that actually works on our toughest stains.

The best part? It only takes three ingredients: soap nuts, water, and vinegar.

That’s it—gentle, effective, and budget-friendly. I order my soap nuts from Mountain Rose Herbs, and a little goes a long way.

Start with soap nuts in a stainless steel pot. I usually make a bigger batch with 4 oz of soap nuts, which gives us enough laundry soap to last 2–3 months. The ratio is simple: 1 oz of soap nuts for every 4 cups of water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for about an hour.

Once it’s done simmering, stir in 1 cup of vinegar per ounce of soap nuts used. (The recipe below is written for 1 oz, so you can scale it up or down depending on your family’s needs.)

I like to let the mixture sit on the counter for about 24 hours before straining. This extra time helps pull out all the good stuff from the soap nuts—you’ll notice they turn much lighter in color once they’ve released everything. After that, just strain off the liquid.

A batch made with 4 oz of soap nuts will yield roughly 1 gallon of laundry soap. I store mine in a mix of swing-top bottles and mason jars until I collect enough swing-tops to hold it all.

For each load of laundry, you’ll only need 2 tablespoons of soap—simple, gentle, and effective.

A 4 oz batch usually lasts me about 2 months in the winter, when we’re washing extra layers, and closer to 3 months in the summer when laundry slows down a bit.

We have a top-loading washer, and I make a point not to overload it—especially when using homemade soap. Giving the clothes extra room to move around really helps the wash water do its job.

For heavy-duty dirt (like garden clothes), I’ve found a couple tricks that make a difference. If I spray them off outside with the hose first, most of the black dirt comes right off before washing. Then I use 4 tablespoons of laundry soap for that load, and even my jeans usually come clean. Other than black dirt stains, we haven’t had any trouble keeping clothes looking good with this recipe.

• 1 oz soap nuts

• 4 cups water

• 1 cup vinegar

1) Add soap nuts and water to stainless steel pot

2) Bring to a boil

3) Reduce to simmer for 1 hour covered

4) Remove from heat and add vinegar

5) Let sit on counter and cool for up to 24 hours

6) Strain into swing top bottles or mason jars.

7)Use 2 TBSP per normal size load of laundry

*You can make as large or as small of a batch as you need for your family

*You can strain it as soon as it is cool enough to touch the pot. I find I get a higher quality soap by letting it set for 24 hours and really infusing the solution.

*I use square swing top bottles for my soap and regular swing top bottles for my water kiefer so there is no mix up by accident.

I hope this simple recipe helps your family cut costs while keeping your laundry fresh and clean. Don’t forget to pin it for later or share it with a friend who’d love a natural laundry option.

‘Til next time—keep living that farm-fresh life!
—Lee and Megan Taylor

👉 Curious how our homestead journey began? Read our story here.