Laundry Detergents
 

I have been suspicious of laundry detergents for some time. They contain a lot of bad chemicals that are probably not all removed during the rinse cycle. The little investigation I've done has left me still wondering what the best options are.

I figured you folks on this forum might be able to shed some light on the subject for me. There are magnets and ionic-transfer balls that purport to lessen the surface tension of the water and provide a safe, inexpensive method of cleaning. If these products work as they say, then they are a good alternative. I have my doubts however.

So what say you here? Any experience with these or a gentle type of detergent that is not full of toxins?

No link or anything, but I remember maybe a year ago reading an issue of consumer reports where they said all of those balls, magnets, we're a comPlete scam and did nothing.

Yes, total scam!

Then there is the old "tried and true!"

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mcIHsgfukQ...y_a_Stream.jpg


And use some soaproot ( Chlorogalum) as detergent! Or use yucca-root as the Indians in the southwest did.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soaproot


http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...ilies/grin.gif

i have rebelled against the need for laundry soap for a long time.

but i have to admit, it does help remove dirt.


i think it's possible you can get BO out of the clothes without soap, but for major stains, which i seem quite prone to, i need that soap.

i actually had a major argument with my father about this once. he was a chemical engineer.

Bo can be removed on sunny days outside, the fresh air and UV light from the sun takes care of that. Pillows taken out side into the sunlight and left all day and turned once and a while works. People say airing out, which is true, but it is the sunlight that does the major job.

But major pain in the ass in all other weather than sunny.

The ammount of detergeat that they tell you to use is wrong.....you only need about 1/3.........the best buy are the ones at the dollar store.......I always wash my clothes twice, once with the soap a a second time without the soap.

What I do, do the washing cycle and then stop the machine and let it sit for 1/2 hour........this will break dow all the dirt and junk in the material.....then turn it back on from the start (in the same water) and let it wash one more time, let it run thrue the complete cycle and the start the machine from the beggining and do the complete cycle once again without stopping.

First post of the day..........good morning to one and all.

Good Health Food Stores carry Seventh Generation Brand & Watkins Brand.
No perfumes, dyes, chemicals etc. Look up recipes using Borax & essential oils, etc

That's what i'm talking about. just air it out.

I've been thinking on making a run to the health food store. Years back, I used to add borax to the wash and
it seemed to be helpfull.

My washing machine has never done an adequate job of rinsing. Time for a new one. I suppose a thread about
washing machines is in order.

I use a small quantity of "20 Mule Team Borax", which is becoming harder to find. I put commercial liquid laundry detergent in a small squeeze bottle to put a dab on stains, thus using much less than recommended.

During hunting season I use the borax alone since it has no odor.

I'm partial to these things now. You can also cut them in half, doubling the amount of sheets per purchase.

3in1_spring_oasis.jpg
Purex Complete 3-in-1® Laundry Sheets are a load’s worth of detergent, softener and anti-static, all in one powerful sheet. Simply drop laundry sheet into washer, the detergent is released during the wash cycle. Once wash is complete, transfer the laundry sheet with clothes to dryer. The stripe is heat activated by the dryer to soften and remove static. It’s that simple. No more heavy bottles. No more messes. It’s Laundry. Simplified.®
New Repel Stain Blocker™ technology helps protect against dirt and stains.

When I was travelling around in the eastern Europe, middle east and Southeast Asia ages ago, i carried a very small back pack (less than 10 pounds in the end), carrying with me a few T-shirts, underwear shorts sweater and pants, I just used to rinse the dirty clothes in cold water sinks scrubbing them mechanically with the hands, sometimes with some handsoap (if available by the sink), airdry it in the sun. The clothes became reasonably clean, and didn't smell disturbingly at least, and it was just a couple of minutes of work a day...

borax
baking soda
soda ash
and a few bars of pure coconut soap

I don't have the quantity handy but all the ingredients are equal

I found soda ash usually available cheap at pool stores is now mixed with chemicals, same with bulk baking soda at pool supplies but if you can find it works great and the only smell is from the grated bar soap.

That's similar to my recipe.

washing soda
borax
baking soda
Grated bar soap, which is also homemade. The last batch was lavender and rosemary.

BTW, A pinch or two of the detergent in a muslin pouch replaces dryer sheets.

I've just started making my own. I made my first batch into liquid. I've read that you can use the same recipe I did but omit the water for "powder" laundry detergent. I've been using it for about 2 weeks now. The jury is still out on the verdict tho. Seems to clean the easy stuff. I haven't had anything majorly dirty yet. Only thing I didn't like about the one I used, it ended up solidifying to a soft mozzarella consistency instead of staying truely liquid. It might be that I used Ivory soap instead of Fels Naptha.

There are so many recipes on how to do it. If you don't like one, try another! The one I used cost me a total of 1.80 for 2.5 gallons. Compared to ~13 bucks for 1.5 gallons of Walmart brand liquid.

This is the recipe I used : http://www.thefamilyhomestead.com/laundrysoap.htm

This is ONE of the "powder" recipes : http://www.instructables.com/id/Home...gent/?ALLSTEPS

And here are alot of recipes for other household items... http://www.homemadelaundrydetergent....ndry+detergent

I refuse to pay for added water in my products when I can avoid it: laundry soap, dishwasher soap, juice, etc. I always get it dry or concentrated when I can.

Borax
baking soda
and Fels Naptha for the super crappy auto workshop clothes.http://www.felsnaptha.com/

I use:

1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda
2 cups grated soap (real soap)
combine evenly

1-2 tablespoons of the above mixture for each load of laundry. Gets clothes super clean. Super cheap.

Funny how when you're educated in some area (like in your dad's case) you end up not being able to look at something from a different perspective very easily.