crochetmania.myfastforum.org :: Home-made laundry supplies: success mixtures

Serena · MANIA MOD

After trying several health-food store brands of laundry liquids and powders and ones that had to be ordered, I have settled on the following.

This may not work for everyone, but it fits my needs.

For stains or strong perspiration: pre-soak in baking soda-water. Or with a paste of baking soda and water on the stain.

For the machine: dissolve 2 - 4 T. Borax in water. Pour into machine before putting laundry into the machine. Mix 2-4 T. liquid castile soap in water, and pour into the machine, before putting laundry in. Stir while machine is filling. Then, put in the laundry. (Some use washing soda, but it is much stronger than Borax. I have some, but mostly use it for cleaning the toilet or severe stains.)

For the rinse cycle, pour in dissolved baking soda, 2 - 4 T in a cup of water. Baking soda neutralizes anything which is too acid or too alkaline. The clothes will be softer and smell nicer. Some use white vinegar in the rinse cycle.

I keep a plastic cup near the machine, for these chores.

I use Dr. Bronner's organic, liquid soap, usu. the Baby, Scent-free. Sometimes I use Vermont, but I prefer the Bronner's.

A good soak in vinegar will take out the smell of diesel fuel, kerosene, turpentine, gasoline, etc.

I wash in cold water and hang things to dry. If I'm concerned about something being especially clean, I hang it in the sun. I have a rack, and a couple of rods I use inside when the weather isn't nice, or there is too much pollen, or the neighbors are grilling or cutting grass.

This is soooooo much less expensive than Seventh Generation, or Planet, etc. And, obviously, ooodles healthier than the grocery-store brands.

Kahud48 · BOARD OWNER

I do stuff like this too. We are using ajax dish liquid right now for
washing cloths. It gets the grease and such out really great.

I use to do more basic back when my boys were little to save dollars.
Hubby and I need to get more back to the basics again, especially for our health and the environment.

Thanks for posting this Serena, and if you find more please post them,
I think this is a great thread that you have started here.

If any of you find things like this, please feel free to post them here.
I will try and find some of my old recipes and stuff I got packed away
on stuff like this and post what I have got

anoramaxsis

I have been using alot of things my mother and grandmother used. I love octagon soap.

Kahud48 · BOARD OWNER

I haven't used that one in years.
I didn't know they still made it.