Homemade Laundry Detergent with French Black Soap (Savon Noir), Simple Recipe

If you are looking to use only natural ingredients in your home while spending less money, I have the perfect recipe for you! This Homemade Laundry Detergent with French Black Soap (Savon Noir) is so quick and easy you probably won’t believe it! It washes clothes as well as any other detergent I’ve used and leaves them fresh and clean.

I started making my own laundry detergent over a year ago. At that time I used savon de Marseilles that I had to grate and then melt into water. It cleaned the clothes really well but it was a little time consuming and a little messy. It also solidified in the bottles which made actually using it quite difficult.

So I set about looking for way to use liquid black soap instead.

I knew liquid black soap was an efficient cleaner, I’ve used it to clean my floors for a long time, but I had never heard of it being used to clean clothes. I did my research and found that it was possible. This is the recipe I have used for several months now and I am really pleased with the results.

Are you looking for a DIY fabric softener too? I have a bonus recipe for you at the end of this post 😉

Ingredients Needed to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent with French Black Soap (Savon Noir)

• 50g liquid black soap
• 900g water
• 1 tbsp bicarbonate of soda
• 1 tbsp washing soda

Liquid French Black Soap (Savon Noir)

Black soap is made from olive oil and olive potash (Potassium Hydroxide). It is 100% natural, which is why it is such a good option for those of us wishing to reduce the amount of chemicals in our homes.

It has been used for centuries for body and facial cleansing, household cleaning (e.g., floors, surfaces and well as a stain remover for laundry) and as a natural insecticide for plants. As you can see, it is highly nourishing, very efficient and extremely versatile.

When looking to buy French Black Soap, try to find the purest one that you can. Make sure it is 100% natural and has not had extra chemicals added. Some of the common French black soap surface cleaners have many different additives, including fragrance, and no longer have the natural cleaning power of 100% black soap. These should not be used for laundry detergent.

Bicarbonate of Soda

Bicarbonate of soda helps with stain removal, reducing odours and as a fabric softener. I use it in every batch of laundry detergent I make. If you would like to discover some more ways to use bicarbonate of soda in your laundry, check out this article.

Washing Soda

Washing soda, otherwise known as sodium carbonate or soda ash, is a more powerful, more abrasive, stain remover than bicarbonate of soda. When the two products are used together, they are very efficient in cleaning laundry. Check out this article if you want to find out more about washing soda.

How to Make Homemade Laundry Detergent with French Black Soap (Savon Noir)

This recipe could not be simpler. All you need in terms of equipment is a 1L glass bottle.

Pour the liquid French black soap (savon noir) into the bottle, followed by the water. Then, carefully, pour in the bicarbonate of soda and washing soda (use a funnel if your bottle’s neck is too narrow).

Screw the lid on the bottle tightly and shake until all of the powder is mixed in.

Use 1/2 cup (125 ml) per load of laundry.

That’s it! In less than 5 minutes you have a DIY laundry detergent that costs a fraction of the price of shop-bought detergent, is better for your health and for the environment and cleans your clothes perfectly every time.

Note: You will need to shake the bottle before every use because the detergent separates. This is not a problem, a quick shake before use and you’re good to go!

How Much Does Homemade Laundry Detergent with French Black Soap (Savon Noir) Cost?

I’ve done a little table to give you an idea how much Homemade Laundry Detergent with French Black Soap (Savon Noir) costs per L.

What if I Don’t Like the Smell of French Black Soap (Savon Noir)

It is true that the smell of French black soap (savon noir) can be rather off-putting. However, I can reassure you that the smell doesn’t stay in the clothes at all, they come out of the wash smelling fresh.

In the past I have put essential oils in my homemade laundry detergent in order to make my clothes smell good. This, however, does not work and is just a waste of money in my opinion. The laundry detergent is rinsed out of the clothes, so the fragrance does not stay.

It is better to add essential oils to your fabric softener as the smell will remain in the clothes better. Check out my bonus fabric softener recipe below!

My Clothes are Really Dirty, Will This Laundry Detergent Work?

Yes, Homemade Laundry Detergent with French Black Soap (Savon Noir) is really good at cleaning even very dirty clothes. I should know, I have three boys!

You should always treat stains before putting clothes in the washing machine (I usually rub stains with soap, savon de Marseilles, before washing), but this laundry detergent works well on generally dirty clothes.

However, sometimes I feel like a load of laundry could do with an extra burst of cleaning power, so I add 1 tbsp of bicarbonate of soda and 1 tbsp washing soda to the machine with the laundry detergent. I usually put the powders in the drawer and the liquid in a detergent dispenser directly in the machine with the clothes. If I am washing white clothes, I will also add 1 tbsp of sodium percarbonate which is a natural bleaching agent that is not harmful to the environment.

Are French Black Soap (Savon Noir) and African Black Soap the Same Thing?

French and African Black Soap are totally different in their composition and are used for different purposes. While pure French black soap is made from olive oil and olive potash, African black soap can contain the following ingredients:

• Plantain Skin Ashes
• Cocoa Pod Ashes
• Palm Oil or Palm Kernel Oil
• Shea Butter
• Coconut Oil

It is also used exclusively as a hair and beauty product, where as French soap can be used for a variety of purposes.

For the purposes of this recipe, only liquid French black soap should be used.

Bonus: DIY Fabrique Softener

Before you go, I have another simple, cheap and effective recipe for you!

Instead of buying expensive fabric softeners, I like to make my own with vinegar. Again, it couldn’t be simpler!

Ingredients:

• 350ml white vinegar
• 600ml water
• 30 drops lavender essential oil (optional)

Pour all of the ingredients into a 1L glass bottle and shake to mix.

Use 1/2 cup in the fabric softener compartment of your washing machine for even fresher, softer clothes! As an added bonus, using vinegar in this way helps to keep your washing machine clean and free from limescale.

I like to use lavender essential oil in my fabric softener for a gentle fragrance, but that is totally optional. You could use other oils, but you should be careful because some essential oils can stain your clothes while others can be dangerous for small children.

So, have I convinced you to try making your own laundry detergent? Let me know in the comments if you give it a go, I love to hear from you 🙂

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