How to Thicken Laundry Detergent

Thickened laundry detergent concentrates it for longevity.

This makes it easy to make laundry soap, dish soap or even body wash of consistencies that you prefer. Thickening laundry detergent concentrates it so it lasts longer. This is a cost-friendly project that allows you to eliminate the need for commercial laundry detergents.

1. Pour the liquid laundry detergent into the 20 oz. bottle. Use your own homemade formula or a base soap made from standard liquid castile soap.

2. Add the vegetable glycerin to the glass bowl. Microwave the bowl on high for two minutes. This melts the gelatinous vegetable glycerin into a thin liquid.

3. Stir the borax into the thinned, warm vegetable glycerin. Borax is a natural material sold as a laundry booster. It also adds to the thickening of your liquid laundry detergent.

4. Pour the blended, warm concoction into the bottle containing liquid laundry detergent. Secure the lid on the bottle and shake it vigorously for two minutes. This disperses the ingredients fully.

5. Remove the lid from the bottle to allow the solution to continue to cool. It needs to cool to room temperature with the cap off for at least two hours. As it cools to room temperature, it will thicken into a condensed gel like laundry soap.

Tip

Obtain vegetable glycerin and castile liquid base from online sources that specialize in soap-making crafts. Alternatively, check with a craft or hobby supply shop to obtain needed materials.