Follow-Up Article: Suds Made Simple—The Easiest Way to Make Laundry Soap

Let’s face it: soap-making conjures images of a mad scientist in a basement, goggles fogged up, while cauldrons of bubbling lye threaten to turn the whole operation into an episode of Breaking Bad: Amish Edition. But the truth is, making soap for laundry is surprisingly simple—and doesn’t require a PhD in chemistry or the patience of a saint.

In fact, laundry soap is one of the easiest DIY wins in the prepping world. It’s cheap, quick, and powerful enough to knock the apocalypse funk out of even the smelliest socks.

The Three Musketeers of Laundry Soap

How to make laundry soap

At its most basic, laundry soap needs only three things:

1. Soap (grated) – You can use a bar of store-bought or your own homemade soap. Castile or plain lye-based soaps are perfect.

2. Washing Soda – This is NOT baking soda’s identical twin. It’s more like the cousin who can actually fix your car. Washing soda supercharges cleaning power.

3. Borax (optional but awesome) – The OG of whitening and deodorizing. If you can snag it, you’ll want it.

That’s it. Three little ingredients. No drama. No evil twin plots.

The Quick Recipe

Powder Version (easiest to store):

• 1 cup grated soap

• 1 cup washing soda

• 1 cup borax

Mix it up in a jar. Use about 2 tablespoons per load of laundry. Boom. Done.

Liquid Version (for the overachievers):

• Same ingredients as above

• Dissolve in a gallon of hot water, stir until smooth, and store in a jug.

• Shake before use.

This isn’t Tide Pods couture—it’s crisis couture. Simple, effective, and barter-worthy.

Why This Rocks in a Crisis

• Shelf Life: The ingredients themselves last for years. Stockpile now, mix later.

• Scalability: You can whip up a batch in five minutes or go full prepper and crank out a 5-gallon bucket of soap like a sudsy tycoon.

• Barter Power: A jar of DIY laundry soap is worth way more than cash when everyone else smells like old chili.

Soap doesn’t just clean your clothes; it restores your sense of dignity and normalcy. In a world turned upside down, being able to wash your sheets is more than luxury—it’s hope. The beauty of this recipe is its simplicity. A few humble ingredients become a ticket to comfort, trade, and confidence.

So while others are hoarding chocolate and toilet paper, you’ll be the one saying, “Sure, I’ll clean that shirt for you…what’ve you got to trade?”