Natural Cleaning Tips: Natural Laundry Detergent!
The following Natural Cleaning Tips will keep your laundry soft, safe and clean! A lot of conventional laundry detergents are made up of almost 70% washing soda. The difference in brands comes down to fragrance, colour and variations in chemicals.
I’ve always used too much detergent for each load of laundry I would wash. I learned this when I worked in a hotel in Resolute Bay, Nunavut. Shipping for necessities is expensive and living has to be comfortably frugal. When I did laundry, I was told to dispose of the measuring cup provided and use a tablespoon of detergent. I was doubtful, but the laundry always came out clean and smelling fresh!
Make your own Natural Laundry Detergent:This Natural Laundry Detergent is super easy and I find it very effective in washing my family’s clothes. 1 cup soap flakes 1 cup washing soda 1 cup borax Mix thoroughly and keep in a sealed container out of reach of children and pets. Do not inhale or breathe in the dust as it is a respiratory irritant. Do not ingest. Use 2 tbsp per load.
Conventional Fabric softener should not be used for every load of laundry. Once a month is actually enough to keep static at bay. Too much fabric softener will leave a waxy coat on your towels, actually making them ineffective at absorbing moisture. Baby’s sleeping wear should never be washed with fabric softener as it makes the material fluffier and more flammable. Use ¼ cup of vinegar instead of fabric softener. Add 1-2 drops of your favorite essential oil as well to add a wonderful scent to your fabrics with added antibacterial (lavender) and antiviral properties (eucalyptus).
Make your own dryer cloth by adding 1-2 drops of essential oil to a microfiber cloth. The same cloth can be used 2-3 times before adding more oil to the cloth!
During summer months, to get the best smelling laundry, hang your clothes out on the line after washing laundry with Natural Laundry Detergent. This is easy, affordable and rewarding when you smell the fresh air on your bed sheets especially!
For stubborn stains I apply either “One & Only” to the fabric and for my whites I use a mixture of equal parts Hydrogen Peroxide to water and apply to the stain. Always test an inconspicuous piece of fabric before use. The trick to stain removal is to treat them as soon as possible!
Freshen feather pillows in the dryer with either 2 dryer balls or tennis shoes on tumble dry or no heat for 10 minutes. Add a microfiber cloth with 1-2 drops of your favorite essential oil for a natural clean fragrance.
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I personally do not use commercial fabric softener or dryer sheets and have switched to using dryer balls. The two spiky, soft plastic balls are designed to bounce around in the dryer, lifting and separating the laundry so the air flows around it more efficiently, and massaging the fabric to soften it. The balls softened the fabric just as much as the dryer sheets did, but without leaving any residue behind.
Natural Cleaning Tip: