NATURAL LAUNDRY SOAP RECIPE

This does more than clean your clothes, it gives you that feel good factor that you are using natural mineral compounds which are green environmentally friendly ingredients, what's more you are giving your family a healthier environment to grow in.

So quick and simple to make and uses just 3 ingredients and five minutes of your time, making the powder recipe will yield 40 washes for 0.17p/0.12c a wash and making the liquid recipe you will yield 169 washes for 0.04p/0.06c.

Ingredients

(makes 40 washes)

Washing Powder

140g bar of Dr Bronners magic soap scented

6 cups of washing soda crystals

6 cups borax substitute

6 tsp bicarbonate soda

Ingredients 

(makes 169 washes)

Washing Liquid

140g bar of Dr Bronners magic soap scented

2 ltrs water

18 ltrs water

1 cup borax substitute

1 cup soda crystals

Washing Powder

Grate or blitz in a food processor the bar of soap, add the soda crystals, borax substitute and if using the bicarbonate soda, mix well and store in a air tight container, 1/4 cup per wash, if a heavy load 1/8 cup.  I used the bicarbonate of soda as an anti-caking agent and just to give that extra kick of cleaning oxygen bubbles.

Washing Liquid

Grate or blitz in a food processor the bar of soap place in a sauce pan with the two litres of water and gently heat just to melt the soap, remove from the heat.  In a large 25ltr container or saucepan add the 18 ltrs of hot tap water, stir in the borax and soda crystals until completely dissolved.  Pour in the reserved soap mix and mix well, cover and leave all day or over night, then stir well to emulsify into a smooth liquid and pour into smaller containers for ease of use when needed.  I use glass kilner jars, 1/2 cup per wash.

BORAX and BORAX SUBSTITUTE 

I am just going to jump straight in and say Borax!  

In my research about cleaner healthier living for my family I found Wellness Mama and Crunchybetty.com's research very clear, concise, through and helpful.

 There is often some confusion between Boric acid which is NOT borax and borax.  Borax is a natural chemical that is on the low end of the toxicity scale, this I am very comfortable with (you will have to make your own mind up) when considering the alternative use of manufactured chemical cleaning products that contain phenols, sulfates, chemical fragrances and petroleum among many.  

Borax is a complete natural mined product, that can be turned into the toxic Boric acid chemical by adding sulphur or hydrochloric acid and heat, this is BORIC ACID  and is found occurring naturally around erupting volcano's, it is also found in seawater. Boric acid has a PH 5.0, where as Borax has a PH 9.3 alkaline.

Borax is no longer available in the EU and UK because of concerns of high levels in the soil that may affect crop farming, a borax substitute is now available as a replacement option and this is a natural mined mineral compound that is less harsh than borax.

Borax can not be absorbed through the skin from use in laundry soaps and it is not harmful to the environment. However borax is only acutely toxic in the same manner as salt if ingested in very moderate quantities, it is also linked to reproductive problems in animals, borax is also a mild irritant to skin and eyes.  Boron is an essential mineral that we absorbed from eating soil grown vegetables, our bodies need boron for bone building, immune and brain function.

I have chosen not to use borax substitute in my dishwasher detergent as a personal choice.

For my family I am just heading back in time where my grandparents made do and mended, they made their own cleaning products, up-cycled old newspapers for cleaning windows and wrapping up kitchen waste for the compost, re-used glass containers, among many things, not only is this lifestyle greener for the environment and your family's long term health, you also lower your outgoings.