Detergents are not exactly cheap. In addition, they also contain ingredients that can cause skin irritation in more sensitive individuals. If you want an effective product that doesn’t cost hundreds of crowns, is also gentle and you can also wash children’s clothes in it, make it yourself. It takes about 20 minutes of your time and the same applies here as when cooking food. The fewer ingredients, the better.
Effective, gentle and cheap
You will only need 2 cups of baking soda, 2 cups of washing soda, 2 cups of borax and 1 cup of soap flakes.
Baking soda neutralizes all odors that have stuck to clothes. Borax in turn, it is extremely alkaline and removes greasy stains from clothes. It also copes with colored stains from mustard or tomato sauce. And for your white clothes, you will certainly appreciate its bleaching abilities. Natural soap is a great cleanser without harmful toxins and washing soda again softens the water. It also fights stubborn stains, grease and prevents the formation of excess foam in the washing machine.
About 1/3 cup of this mixture is enough for one load of laundry. Of course, you can also add about 30 drops of pure essential oil to it for more fragrance. Lavender, lemon, rose, mint or tea tree oil are best for laundry.
All these ingredients need to be mixed and stored in an airtight, preferably glass, container so that the powder does not clump. If it would still harden with moisture, you’d better throw it away. It could dissolve poorly in the washing machine and leave soapy lumps on the laundry.
Do you prefer liquid?
If you prefer liquid detergent, you can make that too. Again, all you need is soap, baking soda and borax. Dissolve soap flakes or grated natural soap, such as castile soap, in 3 liters of water on the stove. In another pot or bowl, mix ½ cup of borax with 2 quarts of cold water, and in the last, dissolve ½ cup of baking soda in 2 quarts of water. Finally, mix the contents of all 3 pots or bowls together and add cold water for a final 12 liters of preparation. Let the mixture rest for about 24 hours, stirring occasionally. ½ cup of this liquid is enough to wash 1 washing machine.
Both methods are incredibly cost-effective and your clothes will likely last longer. It will not be exposed to aggressive chemicals.
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