Why Homemade Laundry Soap Is Bad? (11 Reasons)

Homemade laundry soap has become a natural, cost-effective alternative to commercial laundry detergents. However, this well-intentioned effort may come with unintended consequences. From formulation challenges to its compatibility with modern washing machines, homemade laundry soap must often improve in critical areas like cleaning efficacy, fabric care, and safety.

In this blog, we’ll explore why homemade laundry soap is bad, investigate if it actually works, and uncover its associated risks. Let’s also dive into the pros and cons to help you decide on your laundry needs.

What Is Homemade Laundry Soap?

Homemade laundry detergent typically involves a simple combination of ingredients such as soap flakes, washing soda, borax, and sometimes baking soda. These ingredients clean clothes by breaking down dirt, grime, and oils.

The process is pretty easy, just mix the ingredients and, in many cases, dilute the resulting detergent with water. You can find hundreds of DIY recipes online, each promising to clean your laundry effectively, but are these detergents really up to the task?

Before we answer that question, let's look at how these ingredients work.

Common Ingredients in Homemade Laundry Detergent:

Soap Flakes or Grated Soap: This is often the primary cleaning agent in homemade detergent. The soap helps to lift dirt from fabrics but doesn’t do much to break down tougher stains.

Washing Soda: Also known as sodium carbonate, washing soda works as a water softener and helps to boost cleaning power. It can aid in breaking down stains but is not an effective stain remover on its own.

Borax: Borax is another water-softening agent sometimes used in homemade detergent to help improve its cleaning power. However, it could be better at removing stains by itself.

Baking Soda: This common household item is often used to neutralize odors and soften water. It can also enhance the cleaning ability of homemade soap.

11 Reasons Why Homemade Laundry Soap Is Bad

Homemade laundry soap might seem like a smart, budget-friendly solution, but it can introduce more problems than it solves. Here are 11 reasons why relying on homemade laundry soap may not be worth the risks:

1. Homemade Laundry Soap Can Harm Your Washing Machine

Homemade laundry soaps often lead to residue buildup in your washing machine’s drum, filters, and pipes. This happens because soap is not as soluble as detergents, especially in cold or hard water. Over time, this accumulation can cause clogs, reduce the machine's efficiency, and necessitate costly repairs.

2. It Can Ruin Your Clothes

Unlike commercial detergents that dissolve easily and rinse clean, homemade soaps can leave residue on fabric. This buildup can make clothes feel stiff, dull their colors, and shorten their lifespan.

3. It Won't Be as Effective

Homemade laundry soap lacks the surfactants present in commercial detergents. Surfactants reduce surface tension, allowing water to penetrate and clean fabric fibers thoroughly. Without them, stains and dirt are less likely to be removed.

4. You May Not Get the Mixture Right

Homemade recipes often include imprecise measurements of ingredients like washing soda and borax. Incorrect ratios can result in either ineffective cleaning or damage to your clothes and washing machine.

5. It's Soap, Not Detergent

Soap and detergent are not interchangeable. Detergents are specifically engineered to perform in modern washing machines, whereas soap lacks the necessary components to tackle grease, grime, and stains effectively, especially in cold water.

6. It Could Trigger Allergies

Homemade soap may contain untested natural ingredients that can irritate sensitive skin. Additionally, the absence of rinsing agents can leave irritating residue on clothes.

7. It Could Be Dangerous

Some recipes call for caustic ingredients like lye, which can be hazardous to handle and store. Accidental misuse of these chemicals poses serious risks.

8. It Won't Be as Eco-Friendly

Though marketed as sustainable, homemade laundry soap can lead to soap scum buildup in water systems. This contributes to environmental harm, particularly in areas without advanced water treatment facilities.

9. Homemade Laundry Soap Doesn't Use the Right Ingredients

Commercial detergents contain specific enzymes and additives designed to remove tough stains, protect colors, and work in various water temperatures. Homemade alternatives lack these specialized components.

10. Modern Technology Doesn't Work with Homemade Laundry Soap

Washing machines today are designed to function with low-sudsing detergents. Soap-based products can produce excessive suds, which modern machines cannot handle efficiently.

11. It Can React Poorly to the Water

Water type plays a significant role in the effectiveness of laundry cleaning. Homemade soaps often fail to work well in hard water, leaving soap scum and reducing cleaning efficacy.

Read More: Top 11 Laundry Detergent Sheets Benefits

Pros and Cons of Homemade Laundry Detergent

While homemade laundry detergent might seem appealing due to its simplicity and perceived cost savings, it has advantages and disadvantages. Let’s explore both sides to help you make an informed decision.

Pros

Cost Savings: Homemade laundry detergent typically uses inexpensive ingredients like washing soda, borax, and grated soap. These ingredients can significantly reduce laundry costs compared to premium commercial detergents.

Eco-Friendly Packaging: Making your detergent eliminates the need for single-use plastic bottles, reducing your household’s plastic waste.

Customization Options: Homemade options allow users to tailor their detergent by adding preferred natural ingredients or scents, avoiding chemicals they dislike.

Avoid Harsh Chemicals: Many people turn to homemade detergents to avoid the dyes, fragrances, and other additives in commercial options. This may appeal to those with allergies or sensitive skin.

Simple Ingredients: The ingredient list is short and straightforward, often including natural elements like washing soda, borax, and essential oils.

Cons

While the benefits may seem appealing, the downsides can overshadow them:

Human Health: Homemade detergents lack the precise formulation found in commercial detergents. This increases the risk of skin irritation, especially for people with sensitive skin. The use of natural ingredients doesn’t guarantee safety, as certain essential oils or soap bases may still trigger allergic reactions.

Cleaning, Disinfecting, and Sanitizing: Homemade laundry soap isn’t as effective as commercial options in cleaning and disinfecting. It lacks the antibacterial and enzymatic agents in commercial detergents, making it inadequate to eliminate tough stains, odors, and bacteria.

Stain Removal: Homemade detergents struggle to remove stains like grease, grass, or blood due to their lack of advanced stain-fighting enzymes.

Odor Removal: Odor-causing bacteria may persist in laundry washed with homemade soap because it does not contain antibacterial properties, mainly when washed in cold water.

Safety of Your Clothes: The residue left by soap-based cleaners can build up on fabrics over time. This makes clothes feel stiff and degrades the fibers, leading to faster wear and tear.

On Your Washing Machine: Soap scum from homemade detergents can clog washing machine filters, damage internal components, and lead to costly repairs. Modern washing machines are not optimized for soap-based cleaners.

Clogging Your Drains: Soap residue can accumulate in plumbing systems, leading to blockages that require professional intervention.

How Homemade Laundry Soap Can Harm Your Clothes

Homemade laundry soap might seem cheaper, but it can cause problems. Soap scum can build up on fabrics, even after rinsing. This residue makes clothes feel stiff and uncomfortable.

Homemade soaps often lack the cleaning power of commercial detergents. Stubborn stains like grease and wine may remain. Without enzymes, homemade soap struggles to break down tough stains.

The high alkalinity of ingredients like washing soda can damage fabrics. Delicate clothes may fray or lose their shape faster. Over time, fabrics become weaker and wear out more quickly.

Homemade detergents also lack antibacterial agents found in commercial products. Odours, especially from gym clothes, may linger after washing. Clothes may not feel as fresh as with store-bought detergent.

The Damage Homemade Laundry Soap Can Cause to Your Washer

Homemade laundry soap can damage your washing machine over time. Soap residue can clog filters and drains in the machine. This leads to reduced efficiency and possible costly repairs.

As soap scum builds up, washing machines work harder to clean. Mineral deposits from hard water make rinsing less effective. This can cause the machine to waste water and energy.

The residue reduces the effectiveness of the rinse cycle. Soap scum can also accumulate on the machine’s internal parts. Over time, the machine’s lifespan may shorten, leading to repairs.

Homemade detergents often don’t contain a water softener. This makes them less effective in hard water areas. Clogs and residue can accumulate faster, reducing the washer's efficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to make homemade laundry detergent?

Yes, homemade laundry detergent can appear cheaper upfront because it uses inexpensive ingredients like washing soda and borax. However, hidden costs such as damaged clothes, increased washing machine maintenance, and less effective cleaning can make it more expensive in the long run.

Is homemade laundry soap safe for sensitive skin?

Not necessarily. While marketed as a gentler alternative, homemade soaps often leave residue on fabrics, which can irritate sensitive skin. Without proper testing, they may contain allergens or unbalanced pH levels, making them unsuitable for people with allergies or conditions like eczema.

Do homemade laundry soaps work in high-efficiency (HE) washers?

No. Homemade soaps are not designed to work in HE washers, which require low-sudsing detergents. Soap-based solutions often produce excess suds, which can damage HE machines and reduce cleaning performance.

Why does homemade laundry soap leave clothes feeling stiff?

Soap residue build-up on fabric reduces softness and causes stiffness. This occurs because homemade soaps lack the rinsing agents that commercial detergents include to eliminate soap residue completely.

What's a sustainable alternative to homemade laundry soap?

Eco-friendly commercial laundry detergents are a better option. Look for plant-based, biodegradable detergents in recyclable packaging. They balance sustainability with superior cleaning performance and compatibility with modern washing machines.

VivaWash: A Sustainable, Effective Solution

One excellent option for eco-friendly laundry is VivaWash. This plant-based laundry detergent sheet is a 5-in-1 powerhouse, offering everything from stain removal to odor control, while being completely plastic-free and eco-friendly. With VivaWash, you can clean your laundry without worrying about soap residue, harsh chemicals, or unnecessary waste.

VivaWash doesn’t just clean clothes; it’s also a great way to impact the planet positively. Every purchase helps support environmental and social causes, making it a choice you can feel good about.

Join over 10,000 satisfied customers who have switched to VivaWash and see why it’s gaining popularity. Shop VivaWash now and experience the future of laundry.