There is no objectively best homemade laundry detergent recipe established by the available evidence. Published formulas use different ingredients and ratios, and none has been shown in a controlled comparison to clean as well as commercial detergent. Treat any mixture as a DIY experiment, check your washer’s model-specific manual first, and be especially cautious with high-efficiency (HE) machines.
Why no single recipe can be called “best”
Homemade laundry detergent recipes are not standardized. Ingredient combinations and ratios vary, while the reviewed sources provide no head-to-head test proving that one formula is superior, safer for every machine, or equivalent to a commercial product.
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Consumer Reports notes that both ingredients and their ratios can affect cleaning effectiveness, but it does not establish a winning homemade formula. The available evidence also does not provide a reliable cost-per-load comparison, stain-removal ranking, or environmental advantage.
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| Source | Ingredients or approach described | What it establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Martha Stewart | Baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, borax and dish soap | A published recipe variation; not a tested winner |
| Eastside Maytag Home Appliance Center | Borax, washing soda (sodium carbonate) and soap | A different published recipe approach; not proof of universal compatibility |
Do not combine ingredients from these separate formulas or invent new ratios and assume the result is validated. If you follow either article, use that source’s complete directions rather than mixing-and-matching.
#1 Best Overall
- 4 More Loads Per Bottle: 174 fl oz ARM & HAMMER Liquid Laundry Detergent, Clean Burst Scent, with up to 174 loads for excellent value and trusted cleaning power
- 2X Stain Fighters: Concentrated with 2X stain fighters in every load (vs leading value detergent); tackles grass, food, and oily stains in every load; infused with ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda to power out tough dirt and odors
- Fresh Clean Burst Scent: With a vibrantly fresh fragrance that leaves clothes smelling fresh without being overpowering
- High-Efficiency (HE) Detergent: Designed to work in all washers, including standard and high-efficiency (HE) machines; works at all temperatures, even cold water; suitable for all fabric types
- Trusted Clean: ARM & HAMMER is the #1 liquid laundry detergent brand (based on total wash loads sold, L52W ending 1/08/26)
A practical homemade laundry detergent option
If you want to try a DIY formulation, choose one published recipe and reproduce it exactly. The Martha Stewart version described in the reviewed material contains:
- baking soda
- hydrogen peroxide
- borax
- dish soap
The reviewed material does not establish a scientifically optimal ratio, and it does not provide a controlled performance test for this mixture. That means this ingredient list is a DIY option, not a recommendation that it is the best detergent or suitable for every washer.
Rank #2
- Removes tough odors: 200.2 fl oz bottle of ARM & HAMMER Plus OxiClean with Odor Blasters Liquid Laundry Detergent in a Fresh Burst Scent
- 3X odor power: Concentrated with 3X odor fighters in every load (vs. leading value detergent) for fresh, clean laundry
- Fights tough odors: Powered by Odor Blasters, this liquid detergent tackles tough odors like pet odors, damp clothes, sweat, musty towels, and body odor
- Triple power action: Powered by OxiClean, this dermatologist-tested detergent fights tough odors, boosts lasting freshness, and blasts away stains
- Trusted ARM & HAMMER Plus OxiClean: Harness the power of OxiClean plus the cleaning power you know and trust from ARM & HAMMER
Another published approach uses washing soda (sodium carbonate), borax and soap. Because the formulations differ, select one complete source recipe instead of substituting quantities or ingredients between them.
Check your washing machine before using any homemade mixture
Washer requirements take priority over a recipe. Whirlpool’s 2025 owner’s manual W11795970 for the covered model says to use only HE detergent. It explains that HE detergents are low-sudsing and quick-dispersing, and warns that homemade formulations may create excessive suds.
Rank #3
- LOOONG-LASTING: Gain Odor Defense Liquid Laundry Detergent Super Fresh Blast Scent capsules break for scent that continues to release during regular wear for lasting freshness for up to 6 weeks from wash until wear
- ODOR FIGHTING: Bye-bye, stink! Gain Odor Defense Liquid Laundry Detergent lifts away tough in-wear odors at the source, instead of just masking them. So you get the funk out of your clothes, leaving only the delightful scent of nature
- DESIGNED FOR COLDWATER: Gain Odor Defense Liquid Laundry Detergent delivers a powerful clean, even in cold water
- HE COMPATIBLE: Safe for use with regular washer and high-efficiency washers, even in cold water!
- PAIRS WELL WITH: Experience a scent explosion when you use with Gain Scent Booster, Gain Fabric Softener, and Gain Sheets
- Find your washer’s exact model number.
- Open the model-specific owner’s manual and look for detergent type, HE requirements and suds guidance.
- Do not use a homemade mixture if the manual requires HE detergent and does not permit an alternative.
- If excessive suds or a suds-related error appears, stop using the mixture and follow the manual’s corrective instructions; the cited Whirlpool guidance says to consider a different HE detergent.
The Whirlpool warning applies to the covered washer, not automatically to every brand or model. A front-loading or top-loading design alone does not establish compatibility.
Cleaning performance and hard-water limitations
A 2025 Time article reports that Dr. Neha Pathak, chief physician editor at WebMD, cautions that homemade recipes may clean less effectively, particularly in HE machines. The same report notes that hard water can leave residue. These are expert cautions, not quantified results for a particular formula.
Rank #4
- 6X BOOSTED CLEAN: Tide liquid laundry detergent is engineered to be 4X cleaner and 2X fresher vs Tide Simply liquid detergent
- TOUGH ON COMMON STAINS: Works on 100% of common stains and has 10X the grease fighting ingredients vs leading bargain detergent
- CONCENTRATED FORMULA: Less water per drop vs leading bargain liquid detergents provides more cleaning power
- LONG-LASTING FRESHNESS: Enjoy the original washing detergent scent you love. Made to last all day, Tide liquid laundry detergent provides freshness that you can count on
- ORIGINAL SCENT FRESHNESS: Original scent helps keep laundry smelling fresh throughout the day
Watch for dull fabric, lingering odors, visible film, or buildup in the drum and dispenser. If those problems develop, discontinue the homemade product and return to a detergent specified for your washer.
Borax handling and child safety
Store any borax-containing mixture in a sealed, clearly labeled container away from children. The Time article attributes this specific warning to Dr. Pathak: “Also, avoid borax in homes with small children, as it’s not recommended for use around babies or toddlers because they may suck on their clothes.”
Best Value
- 6X BOOSTED CLEAN: Tide liquid laundry detergent is specially engineered to be 4X cleaner and 2X fresher, formulated with 4 additional cleaning active ingredients and 2 additional freshness active ingredients versus Tide Simply liquid detergent
- TOUGH ON STAINS: Tide’s laundry soap works on 100% of common stains plus has 10X the grease fighting ingredients versus leading bargain detergent. Don't settle for "almost clean", get Boosted clean with Tide laundry detergent, every load, every time
- CONCENTRATED FORMULA: Tide concentrated liquid laundry soap has less water per drop versus leading bargain liquid detergents which means you get more cleaning power in every dose of Tide washing detergent
- LONG-LASTING FRESHNESS: Enjoy the original washing detergent scent you love. Made to last all day, Tide liquid laundry detergent provides freshness that you can count on
- EASY TO USE: Pour desired amount of liquid detergent into the laundry dispenser or drum. Tide laundry detergent works on all machine washable fabrics and in all cycles and water temperatures, including cold and quick cycles
This guidance does not establish a complete toxicology assessment or an exposure threshold. It does mean a borax recipe is a poor choice where babies or toddlers could contact or mouth treated clothing.
When a commercial detergent is the safer choice
- Your manual requires HE detergent.
- Your washer produces excessive suds or displays a suds code.
- You have hard water and see residue or buildup.
- You need predictable stain removal or fragrance-free, allergy-oriented labeling.
- Young children could contact clothing washed with a borax-containing mixture.
In these situations, use a commercial detergent that explicitly matches the washer’s requirements rather than trying to adjust a homemade formula.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mix borax, washing soda and dish soap in any proportions?
No. Published recipes use different ingredients and ratios, and the available evidence does not validate a combined or modified formula. Follow one complete recipe exactly if your washer manual permits homemade detergent.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Is homemade detergent safe for an HE washer?
Not automatically. The cited Whirlpool manual requires HE detergent and warns that homemade formulations may create excessive suds. Check your exact model’s manual before use.
Does homemade detergent save money?
The available evidence does not provide a verified cost-per-load calculation, so savings cannot be established from these sources.
Quick Recap
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