Comments on Jenn A.'s review of Lavender Laundry Detergent
Biodegrades but really green?
I really like the way the liquid lavender detergent smells -- and it does a great job on my clothes. They smell fresh AND clean -- the soap is biodegradable.
The downside: liquid soap isn't as concentrated as most powdered soaps. It's mostly water -- think about the amount of fossil fuels being used to transport something that is mostly water.... not pretty.
And, of course, you're using a plastic (albeit recyclable) container. Powdered soap comes in cardboard. Powdered soap has it's own problems -- it can be difficult on septic systems.
Of course - you could easily make your own laundry detergent -- with ingredients common to most grocery stores. Here's a recipe:
Homemade Laundry Soap
1/3 bar Fels Naptha
1/2 cup Arm and Hammer washing soda
1/2 cup borax powder
You will also need a small bucket, about 2 gallon size
Grate the soap and put it in a sauce pan. Add 6 cups water and heat it until the soap melts. Add the washing soda and the borax and stir until it is dissolved. Remove from heat. Pour 4 cups hot water into the bucket. Now add your soap mixture and stir. Now add 1 gallon plus 6 cups of water and stir. Let the soap sit for about 24 hours and it and it will gel. You use 1/2 cup per load.
The finished soap will not be a solid gel. It will be more of a watery gel.
You should be able to find all these ingredients in the laundry isle of your local super market.
Make sure you get WASHING soda, NOT BAKING soda.
This recipe works well, and the only waste products are two cardboard boxes, and the paper wraper from the Fels Naptha soap bar.
More soap recipes: http://waltonfeed.com/old/soaphome.html
Jenn A.'s keywords: soap, laundry detergent, DIY
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