Having been inspired by reading various “Simple Living” blogs, I have decided to have a go at making my own washing powder. The ingredients are below:
CONCENTRATED LAUNDRY POWDER –
4 cups grated laundry or homemade soap (2 150g bars) or soap flakes (Lux)
2 cups borax
2 cups washing soda
Mix all the ingredients thoroughly and store in a plastic container with a lid.
Use 2 tablespoons per wash. This powder will not make suds, this is perfectly okay.
The only item that gave me some grief was the Borax and that’s because I didn’t look in Tescos first! If anyone is interested, it is in the Green Cleaning washing powder section. Boots had run out (shelves at the back near the Pharmacy bit) and no other Pharmacy keeps it in stock anymore….perhaps it will soon make a come back in the same way as soda bicarbonate and vinegar have for cleaning the way Granny used to! I couldn’t see Lux flakes anywhere, but the soap wins as far as cost is concerned.
I have started with half the quantity which has given me enough powder for 14 washes and I have costed it at about 90p in total.
An update will follow when I have done a few washes! Here is also a liquid wash alternative and loads of other inspiring “recipes” on the link below.
I now use the vinegar option as a fabric softener; just a glug in the conditioner dispenser and it works fine with NO smell lingering on the clothes. I use white vinegar but malt is okay, just avoid the fancy ones!!!!! It also helps the machine innards as we live in a very hard water area.
http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2007/08/various-recipes-for-green-cleaning.html
I have taken some photos for the visual learners amongst us and also because I probably need to get out more…..
