Challenge: Choose one household cleaner to replace with a less toxic, more environmentally friendly option.
Why: Cleaning products in the stores are full of toxic chemicals, dangerous fumes, and non environmentally friendly substances. They have harmful effects on our bodies, threaten water quality and wildlife, and are dangerous to have around children.
How: This week I made laundry detergent, a multi purpose cleaner, and an air freshener spray. I have only used the laundry detergent so far, and thus that is what I will talk about in this post. The others will be coming too though!
I used a recipe from a blog my sister introduced me to, Made by Lex, and you can find her recipe post here.
Homemade Laundry Soap
1 bar of soap (I used The Soap Works pure vegetable glycerin soap)
1 c washing soda (not baking soda, I found it at Nature's Fare Markets)
1/2 c borax
4 c water
essential oil of your choice (I used lemon)
container
Supplies.
Grate your bar of soap.
Bring water and grated soap to a boil until it is dissolved.
Add washing soda, borax, and essential oil and stir until everything is dissolved. Pour into a container with approx 6L of water (I put half into each of 2 jugs with about 3L of water for both), and you're good to go.
I have used it, and it works great! I put in 4 tbsp (or about 1/8 c I believe) for an average size load. You need to shake or stir the mixture before each use. The only thing I find annoying is that it separates and becomes somewhat hard and clumpy. In the future I think I will mix up only the dry ingredients and use just 1-2 tbsp of the dry mix for a load. Another bonus is how cheap it is! The supplies I purchased to make it will last forever.
For any of you who are concerned about the use of borax, since I know this has been in the media lately, I will admit that I am still comfortable using it. If you're interested, I encourage you to check out this article at Crunchy Betty about the conclusions she has come to. She has an opinion very similar to my own on the topic (which is that it's not a big deal).
What cleaners do you buy natural or make at home?
So Grace, for future you are just going to use borax and washing soda? Is that what I am understanding? I am glad to know your input before I make mine :)
ReplyDeleteI am going to use borax, washing soda, and grated soap. Though I will probably grind the grated soap in my Magic Bullet as well so it is finer.
ReplyDeleteStopping by from young and crafty. I am impressed with your initiative to make less toxic products. I hope you do more of these, so that I can learn about what works and if you like the final products. I am also your newest follower.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to hear if the dry version works ok for you in cold wash loads. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI use the dry version and it works wonderful in cold loads!!! I am amazed at how clean my clothes come out and how fresh smelling they are!!! I use one cup borax, one cup washing soda, and one grated bar soap... oh and some drops of essential oil!
ReplyDeleteIf you read the ingredients list on the "washing soda" they are the same as normal baking soda. It's slightly cheaper and just as affective to use baking soda.
ReplyDelete