I started making homemade laundry detergent last year. Even Jake can't say that it doesn't get the clothes as clean as any commercial cleaners! Occasionally I've gone back to Trader Joe's for some of their laundry detergent (phosphate-free, of course; phosphates are very harsh on the water supply), but what I love about this recipe is the sheer simpleness of it.
- 1 bar of Ivory soap (or Fels Napatha soap), finely grated
- 2 cups Borax
- 2 cups Washing Soda
Mix all together.
And done. 2 Tbs. to a warm or hot wash. Stir it up in the water a bit to break up soap clumps before adding clothes.
Frequently asked questions:
But why make your own laundry detergent?
1. Better for the environment. Not only are you not using harsh petrochemicals, but you actually don't need as much as the commercial detergents call for (unless you have a very soiled or very large load). So a little does in fact go a long way!
2. Cheaper--I haven't done the math precisely, but estimates on the internet are anywhere from $.05 to $.10 per load. The average commercial detergent is approximately $.20 per load. Not bad.
3. Time--It takes 5 minutes. Think of all the time you can save by not figuring out what detergent is on sale, what detergent has the new hot scent, etc!
What about the information that says that Borax and Washing Soda are toxic?
Well, yes--don't eat it. You will get sick. But they are certainly far better for you than the other chemicals in commercial detergents. Some people have experienced skin irritation if it comes in contact with the skin. Wear gloves if you'd like extra protection, otherwise just use a spoon to stir it up.
What about fabric softener?
Guess what?? The answer is another staple--vinegar. It does the trick. Add a half cup per load during the rinse cycle and dry on the line or in the dryer as normal. If it doesn't get soft enough, add 1/3 of a fabric dryer sheet to the dryer. You don't need any more than that!
Where do I buy Borax and Washing Soda?
Borax can be found in most supermarkets, Target, Walmart, etc. Washing Soda is a bit more difficult. I can't find it anywhere in Pittsburgh except a very small chain, Kuhn's. So check out at the smaller chains or independent grocers in your area. If you can't find it there, though, washing soda is also called "soda ash," a chemical used in the pool business.
Can I make liquid laundry detergent?
Absolutely. I just personally the powder is easier to do. But if you'd like more information, check out the following websites:
http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/
http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/04/09/making-your-own-laundry-detergent-a-detailed-visual-guide/
http://www.domesticcents.com/saving-money/homemade-laundry-detergent/
Ah ha, I found the link that I wanted to post before, and this is the perfect opportunity to insert it:
ReplyDeletehttp://healthychild.org/blog/comments/test_your_knowledge_of_cosmetics_safety_8_myths_debunked1/
It is the linked video entitled "Story of Cosmetics" that Britt and I watched.
Upon doing quick, incomplete research, I am concerned about the use of borax due to 1.) research showing its effect on development of the testes and 2.) boric acid solutions being "especially toxic to infants" according to Wikipedia.
ReplyDeleteIt might not be the best for children's clothes, particularly boys'!
Ben, your concerns are absolutely valid, but I guess it's all about picking your poison. It is recognized as a neurotoxin. Borax is toxic if ingested, especially for children. It can also be inhaled if in fine powder form. It can be irritating to skin as it's very alkaline, but can also penetrate unbroken skin, leading to possible borax poisoning. To create the boric acid solution which you mention, though, would require mixing the Borax you buy in the store with some strong acid, such as hydrochloric acid. Boric acid is used in herbicides, so proceed with caution there (i.e. don't let the babes roll around in treated weeds). Why anyone would use a boric acid solution for infant's clothes is beyond me. If worried about the use of Borax for children's clothes, take into consideration the washing process. If the washing machine has an efficient rinse cycle and you don't overload the machine and you don't use more detergent than necessary, any borax should be effectively rinsed out; certainly you could do an extra rinse cycle just to be sure.
ReplyDeleteAs to your first point, there's also plenty of chemicals in commercial detergent with equally harmful (or worse) effects. For one of I'm sure many papers on it, check out: http://mcs-america.org/SteinemannLaundryDetergentFabricSoftener.pdf. So if many commercial detergents have more than one of these toxins, and this one only has one, well...I'm gonna pick the borax.
But you could also use a totally Borax free detergent--Castile Soap! Just an 1/8 cup in the laundry can do the trick. I've never tried it, but have heard that it works. The reason why Borax is used so often in laundry detergent and other "green" cleaners (despite it's toxicity) is that it acts as a cleaning booster and helper to other ingredients. Perhaps it could be completely done without, though, in the laundry and general cleaning recipes. If you try it--let me know how it goes!
ReplyDeleteYeah, I am going to add a comment regarding the acute toxicity of borax (which is far different from boric acid as Alyssa mentioned). Clinical research finds that the LD50 for mammals is 2.6 g/kg. So what does this mean? Considering that NaCl (table salt) has an LD50 of 3.0 g/kg we can safely say that borax is no more acutely toxic than salt. Obviously one would want to minimize skin/lung contact with the pure powder as a precaution, but it is not toxic if you ingest a teaspoon as paranoid people would suggest-- it might kill a newborn but how that newborn would get a teaspoon of borax would be an entirely different story. Borax is poorly absorbed through intact skin so any trace amounts left after rinsing will not be a problem.
ReplyDelete