Conventional Detergents
Soap Nut Shells
The next
time you find your self doing the laundry, take a second to breath in the
fresh, clean scent of just-washed linens to make doing laundry feel like less
of a dreaded task. This action is not recommended however if you’re using the typical
petroleum-derived laundry detergents with ingredients such as: Phthalates (these nasty boys cause a wide range of adverse
health problems including liver, kidney and lung damage not to mention
problems associated with the reproductive system and then there’s those minor sexual developmental abnormalities), tricolsan (an antibacterial and antifungal
agent) and synthetic fragrances found in
most conventional laundry detergents that you find in the ‘laundry aisle’ of your
local market (yep, that includes Tide, Gain, New Blue Cheer, etc.). Fact is; if one or more of these laundry
products are in the room, you’re lucky if you don’t have a coughing fit, or an
asthma attack; maybe worse.
Toxic chemicals that are ever
present in “store bought” laundry detergents may make your bed sheets smell
like they’ve been dried in a crisp sun drenched mountain breeze, but that
fragrance couldn’t be farther from anything resembling the truth, in fact, it’s
un-natural at best. With such laundry
products you not only risk skin irritants but encounter first hand carcinogens (a
substance capable of causing cancer) and hormone disruptors; in short, the
chemicals in conventional laundry detergents are best described as downright
dangerous.
Imagine
for a few seconds that distinct over-powering smell you experience as you walk through
the laundry detergent aisle in the market (Wal-Mart, Kroger, Myer’s, etc.).
That fragrance is actually a bunch of toxic chemicals ‘off-gassing’ into the shopping
space of your favorite store. And you guessed it, you can bet the very same
products are polluting the air throughout your home or if you’re lucky, just
your laundry room, every time you dump that conventional detergent into a load
of clothes to be washed.
The good news is, it’s not a necessary evil
to expose yourself and your family to those nasty chemicals. Theirs at least a
couple of alternatives that’s both safe and natural. First, you can easily make
your own laundry detergent inside your own abode. It’s a good bit cheaper and
you’ll know exactly what goes into the mix. Sorry, no unknown
bouquet of perplexing chemicals to be concerned about with this product. So go ahead; give your laundry routine an ‘eco-makeover’ with this do-it-yourself laundry detergent recipe.
bouquet of perplexing chemicals to be concerned about with this product. So go ahead; give your laundry routine an ‘eco-makeover’ with this do-it-yourself laundry detergent recipe.
Before
You Get Started, keep in mind that when it comes to making your own laundry
detergent, you can choose powder or liquid. However, Powder tends to be a bit
easier to use & create; you see you don’t have to use the stove to make it,
which also has the added bonus of saving on that monthly electric or gas bill.
But, if you prefer liquid detergents, feel free to go that route; there are
plenty of recipes that are absolutely free on-line, but here, a powder based
detergent is recommended!
The four simple ingredients
in this recipe will make you wonder why you ever thought you needed the
hundreds of ingredients in conventional laundry detergents to clean your
clothes with in the first place:
2 cups grated soap flakes (Ivory
soap bars work well)
3 cups washing soda (Arm
& Hammer brand works fine)
3 cups borax (Twenty Mule
Team brand will do)
1 cup sea salt (any brand works)
The above
listed ingredients must be thoroughly mixed in a plastic pail, etc. before use
and stored in a location that is convenient for your use when performing
laundry duties.
Directions for use: For
light loads, use 1 Tablespoon (1/2 oz.). For heavily soiled loads use 2
Tablespoons (1 oz.).
You
should take note that the “suds” are not included in this recipe, but if you
love suds or believe the myth that
they are necessary to get clothes clean; then just add a squirt or two of cheap
dish washing liquid (the cheapest you can find) to the wash water but you can
have success without suds.
The Second method for
avoiding the hazards of ‘chemically laced’ laundry detergent has been around
for a few years; believe it or not, it actually grows on trees in the temperate
zones of Asia, North America, and South American. You simply can’t get any more ‘eco-friendly’
when washing your clothes than this.
‘Soap Nut Shells’ or ‘Soap Berry Shells’ as they are sometimes called, have become
increasingly popular as a nontoxic laundry detergent in recent years. They have
been used to wash garments for thousands of years; in fact Soap Nut Shells were
first used by the native peoples of Asia, North America, and South American
more than 2,000 years ago. The key to success is to use the ‘shell’ of the
fruit absent the ‘nut’ or ‘pit’.
Soap nut shells derive from
five to twelve species of shrubs and small trees; native to warm tropical or
temperate regions in both the Old and New World. The most superior species (Sapinus Mukorossi)
grow east of the Himalayan Mountains in India where they are simply harvested,
de-seeded, and dried in the sun before being shipped to all corners of the
world. And yep, they WORK — really,
really well!
Soap Nut
Shells are the only 100% chemical free, odor removing, fragrance free,
eco-friendly, hypoallergenic, all-natural, biodegradable laundry detergent available
and as an added bonus they eliminate the need for a fabric softener in wash
water or the dryer. They’re USDA Certified as Organic and can be used in standard top
loading machines or HE washing machines.
These little miracle workers
are typically sold on-line by the pound at such places as E-Bay, Amazon, or NaturOli. The only ‘must have’ required for using them properly
is a small muslin bag (Laundry Pack) that’s typically included with each
purchase / order.
Directions:
Toss
a ½ (.50) ounce Laundry Pack of Soap Nut Shells into a warm water [Hot water will
actually reduce load count and may cause cleaned clothes to retain the natural
forming soap residue causing “clothes stiffness”] wash load (the normal life of
a laundry pack – 5 to 7 loads) . . . Number of loads will vary due to water
temperature, water ‘hardness’, washer type, cycle selection, etc. – With ‘HE’
machines, expect a minimum of 10 loads.
It’s somewhat significant
to keep in mind that the largest organ a human being has is the skin; it covers
and protect other important components that together form the body. Case in Point: Why would any sane
person, intentionally expose it (the skin) to the toxic residues that adhere to
the cloths you wash & wear every day?
Sources:
http://www.organicauthority.com/sanctuary/how-to-make-diy-powder-or-liquid-laundry-detergent.html
http://www.laundrytree.com/about-soapnuts.html
http://www.chemicalbodyburden.org/cs_phthalate.htm
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