Non Toxic Laundry Detergent

[terez]

Okay, after years of suffering during Winter months of extra nausea and headaches, I have finally figured out that I had been reacting to laundry detergent. I had been able to deal with it when the windows were open, but when they're not, I'm almost nonfunctional. Most toxic to me is Cold Water Tide. I bought Trader Joe's thinking it was better. It's not as completely poisonous to me as the other, but it's not great to be only mildly nauseated.

Is there something there that any of you can recommend to me? Thanks!!!!

[CarolynF]

I make my own laundry detergent..It's very cheap and very easy to make.

Let me find the recipe for ya.

[metqa]

Waht about Soap Nuts?'

Sapindus
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Soap nuts)

Sapindus is a genus of about five to twelve species of shrubs and small trees in the Sapindaceae, native to warm temperate to tropical regions in both the Old World and New World. The genus includes both deciduous and evergreen species. Common names include soapberry and soapnut, both names referring to the use of the crushed seeds to make soap.

The leaves are alternate, 15-40 cm long, pinnate, with 14-30 leaflets, the terminal leaflet often absent. The flowers form in large panicles, each flower small, creamy white. The fruit, called a soap nut, is a small leathery-skinned drupe 1-2 cm diameter, yellow ripening blackish, containing one to three seeds.

Soap nuts contain saponin, a natural detergent which is used to clean clothes. Soap nuts have become popular as an environmentally friendly alternative to manufactured, chemical detergents . A few nuts can be placed in a cotton drawstring bag in with a washload and reused several times. Soap nuts are safe for washing silk, woolens and other delicate fabrics.

Soap nuts, especially are used medically as an expectorant, emetic, contraceptive, and for treatment of excessive salivation, epilepsy, chlorosis, and migraines. Studies show that saponin from soap nuts inhibits tumor cell growth. Soap nuts are among the list of herbs and minerals in Ayurveda. They are a popular ingredient in Ayurvedic shampoos and cleansers. They are used in Ayurvedic medicine as a treatment for eczema, psoriasis, and for removing freckles. Soap nuts have gentle insecticidal properties and are traditionally used for removing lice from the scalp.

Soap nuts are antimicrobial and are beneficial for septic systems and greywater. Soap nuts are used in the remediation of contaminated soil. They are used by jewelers, especially in India and Indonesia, to remove the tarnish from silver and other precious metals.

Sapindus species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) species including Endoclita malabaricus.

[CarolynF]

Here is the recipe:

Now that you have assembled all the needed ingredients here is the recipe:



Homemade Laundry Soap

1/3 bar Fels Naptha or other type of soap, as listed above

½ cup washing soda

½ 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 will gel. You use ½ cup per load.

[metqa]

if you go to this site you can get two sample size bag for $4.52 (the cost of shipping) to test them out. one bag of 4 shells can do 4 loads. You'd get the equiv of 8 loads to test it out.

Buy Tea Tree Oil, Soap Nuts, Scrub Pads, Muslin Bags, Eco Friendly Products

This site had a 8shell sample for only $1.99 (don't know if s/h added)
Buy SoapNuts and Oils | www.LaundryTree.com Oops nevermind, shipping is like $2.50 so same as the above in cost for same amount. Maybe 20 cents less.

[terez]

Wow!!!!! Thank you for all the help. I had seen references to soap nuts, but never knew what they were. I'll definitely be checking it out.

[Laura in Arizona]

I have made a powdered laundry soap that works well. It is similar to the liquid one that Carolyn mentioned. I am lazy though so this one is easier.

Homemade Laundry Soap (Powder)
2 parts grated Fels Naptha Soap
1 part Borax
1 part washing soda
Mix together. Use 1 to 3 Tbsp per load depending on size and dirtiness.

It is easy to grate the soap bar. Fels Naptha is a very hard, dry soap soap and you can just use a regular kitchen grater. All of the ingredients are available at most grocery stores. I also use scented vinegar as a rinse agent.

Scented Vinegar
1 gallon white distilled vinegar
15-20 drops essential oil
Add the essential oil to the vinegar and shake to mix. To use shake well then add to rinse cycle. I put in the fabric softener dispenser of my machine and it works well. It seems to help get rid of any soap residue and adds a light fragrance to my clothes.

[Lillianna]

Originally Posted by Laura in Arizona

Homemade Laundry Soap (Powder)
2 parts grated Fels Naptha Soap
1 part Borax
1 part washing soda
Mix together. Use 1 to 3 Tbsp per load depending on size and dirtiness.

This looks great; I'd like to try it....but what is washing soda and where could I buy it? Also, can you mix it up as a whole batch or do you have to prepare it for each wash load? Thanks!

[metqa]

I Never thought of adding essential oil to the vinegar, thanks.

[Songwriter]

No way would I make my own. I'd just buy it. Shaklee makes non toxic laundry products. They used to have a powder and also a liquid. There are many people who have skin problems that is nothing more than a problem with their laundry detergent getting particles stuck in the threads of their clothes. And perpetually irritating their skin. Anyway, check out Shaklee products, they do make some good products. I don't have any affiliation.

[Jayelgee]

I make my own laundry soap. Super easy and cheeeap! About 2 cents per load. I make my own fabric softener and dryer sheets too. My dryer sheets don't really help with static cling, but my clothes smell good and are oh so soft.

[Ma Bailey]

Originally Posted by CarolynF

Here is the recipe:

Now that you have assembled all the needed ingredients here is the recipe:



Homemade Laundry Soap

1/3 bar Fels Naptha or other type of soap, as listed above

½ cup washing soda

½ 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 will gel. You use ½ cup per load.

WOW! This is great. So much more inexpensive too. I use cold water to wash so the liquid will work better for me. Thanks CarolynF You ALL are AWESOME >^.,.^<

[Charski]

I've been using Costco's organic liquid laundry soap with good results. I used to get itchy rashes inside my elbows and sometimes elsewhere, and since ditching the dang fabric softener sheets and switching over to Costco's soap, my rashes have totally cleared up.

[terez]

A friend of mine recommended using Castile soap. Has anybody tried it?

[metqa]

I heard of a lady who used Dr.Bronners but I can't imagine how that'd work in a traditional washing machine.

[Grizzy]

I have allergies to chemicals and scents and have been using soap nuts for a few months now and love them. They are also organic and can go in the compost after you use them up. If I need stain removal I add borax or a bit of oxy clean to the load.

[CarolynF]

I ordered all my "homemade soap" ingredients on-line..With postage, etc. it was around $30 and I have made alot of detergent..and still have some left..

[SashimiMark]

I like the idea of the soap nuts. We use those spiky laundry balls instead o fabric softener.

[Jayelgee]

Originally Posted by terez

A friend of mine recommended using Castile soap. Has anybody tried it?

I use it. Kirks Original Coco Castile - made with coconut oil. I have no complaints with it. It's the first soap I've tried so I could try others at some point but the price is next to nothing and it works well.

[DiamondDeb]

Originally Posted by metqa

Waht about Soap Nuts?'

That was my first thought! I am going to see if I can get my health food store to carry them...

[DiamondDeb]

Originally Posted by SashimiMark

I like the idea of the soap nuts. We use those spiky laundry balls instead o fabric softener.

I've got the balls but haven't tried them yet. I'm still working on using up the last of my Downy.

[CindyC923]

Hi,

You can buy soap nuts from Mountain Rose Herbs also. I find their prices very reasonable. They also sell the small drawstring cloth bags to put them in. I use them in the laundry.

Cindy

Originally Posted by terez

Okay, after years of suffering during Winter months of extra nausea and headaches, I have finally figured out that I had been reacting to laundry detergent. I had been able to deal with it when the windows were open, but when they're not, I'm almost nonfunctional. Most toxic to me is Cold Water Tide. I bought Trader Joe's thinking it was better. It's not as completely poisonous to me as the other, but it's not great to be only mildly nauseated.

Is there something there that any of you can recommend to me? Thanks!!!!

[wcwendy]

I use an extra rinse and no fabric softener to prevent one of my kids from having eczema. I also use organic, environmentally-safe, no scent, or similar type of detergent. My sister used to make the detergent mentioned here and she liked it.

metqa, thanks for the info. I ordered a sample that should be here tomorrow.

[Criosa]

I use vinegar and a few drops of lavender or lemon essential oil for a rinse. It works amazingly well. No static cling either.

[terez]

How much vinegar do you use as a rinse agent, say, for a large load?

[metqa]

I use a whole or a half cup. depends on how much soap I used. and the load size

[pocahontas]

Originally Posted by SashimiMark

I like the idea of the soap nuts. We use those spiky laundry balls instead o fabric softener.

I have the balls too but they dont rid my clothes of static electricity. I may look into the soap nuts. Right now I am using organic laundry detergent, cant remember the brand but I was having problems with small skin irritations and rashes but thankfully they seem to be gone now.

[Criosa]

I use a 1/2 cup vinegar - that's what my dispenser holds.

[Laura in Arizona]

Originally Posted by Lillianna

This looks great; I'd like to try it....but what is washing soda and where could I buy it? Also, can you mix it up as a whole batch or do you have to prepare it for each wash load? Thanks!

My grocery store sells it. It is a powder and comes in a box. It should be with the laundry soaps along with the borax.

[metqa]

I took the whole gallon of vinegar to the laudromat. A lot of people looked at me strangely but then one woman looked up, saw the bottle, then smiled at me, like she was in on the secret.