Three laundry jobs, three different questions
The DIY laundry detergent calculator scales a homemade powder or liquid recipe to your number of loads, based on published recipes such as the University of Florida IFAS Extension’s. The laundry stripping calculator works out detergent, borax and washing soda for your tub size and soak time. The detergent dosage calculator is for everyday washing: it turns your load size, soil level, water hardness and detergent type into an amount per load.
What to know about homemade recipes
Homemade detergent and stripping recipes are widely shared, but they are not tested standards. The pages say where an amount is our own estimate, and they remind you to check your washer maker’s guidance, particularly for high-efficiency machines, which are designed for low-sudsing detergent. Borax and washing soda are not harmless: keep them away from children and pets and follow the safety notes on every page.
Why water hardness matters
Hard water leaves less detergent free to clean, so the same dose works differently in different homes. That is why the dosage calculator asks about it. Start with the detergent maker’s own directions, adjust to the soil and water you have and see how we calculate for the sources.