Laundry Liquid

I'm very pleased with myself - I have made 10 Litres of Laundry Liquid at the cost of around $2, I'm very lucky my husband used to bring our Laundry Liquid back from the US (way cheaper over there) but I thought this would be even better and so we saved the super large containers that he brought back and refilled them!  I followed 2 very similar recipes one from http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/2007/08/various-recipes-for-green-cleaning.html and the other from http://www.wendylsgreengoddess.co.nz/Cleaning_Recipes.php  


Making your own Laundry Liquid is even do-able for the super busy - its quicker than whipping down to the supermarket to buy it, cost effective and kind to the earth - just have a go!  Check out both these websites, there are recipes for all sorts of cleaning and beauty substitutes, which they kindly share with us all for FREE!!!


Here is Rhonda's recipe from Down to Earth http://down---to---earth.blogspot.com/

Laundry Liquid - Makes 10 litres
You may add any essential oil of your choice to these homemade cleaners. Oils like tea tree, eucalyptus, lavender or rose are ideal but are not an essential ingredient. They are not necessary to the recipe but do not detract from the effectiveness by adding them. Use essential oil and not a fragrant oil.

Ingredients
1½ litres water

1 bar Sunlight or generic laundry soap or any similar pure laundry soap, grated on a cheese grater OR 1 cup of Lux flakes

½ cup washing soda – NOT baking or bicarb soda

½ cup borax

Tools

Saucepan
10 litre bucket
Slotted spoon or wooden spoon for mixing
Into a medium sized saucepan add 1½ litres of water and the soap. Over a medium heat, stir this until it is completely dissolved. Make sure the soap dissolves properly or the mixture will separate when cold.

Add the washing soda and borax. Stir until thickened, and remove from heat.

Pour this mixture into your 9-10 litre bucket then fill the bucket with hot water from the tap. Stir to combine all the ingredients. The laundry liquid will thicken up more as it cools. When cool, store in a plastic container. I use one of those 10 litre flat plastic box containers with a lid. Use ¼ cup of mixture per load or monitor to see what works well for you. I keep a ¼ cup measuring scoop in the box to measure the mixture into the washing machine.

This detergent will not make suds when you wash as it does not contain the chemicals that supermarket detergents add to make suds. You do not need suds to wash your clothes or for the detergent to be effective. The agitation of the washing machine does most of the washing. Additives loosen the dirt and grease. If you use the greywater from your laundry on your garden, leave out the borax.