Selfsufficientish.com

I use a Wash-It Laundry Ball instead of laundry powder. I got it from Lakeland Limited:
http://www.lakelandlimited.co.uk/product.aspx/!5718

It's a plastic ball that contains little pellets that somehow clean your clothes without detergent. My mum got one for use at her cottage in Ireland which has a soakaway because it is better than putting lots of detergent down the soakaway. They work great. I find it helps to use Ecover Laundry Bleach when you are doing a whites load:
http://www.ecover.com/gb/en/Products/La ... del+UK.htm

It also comes with a little stain zapping stick that helps for the odd thing that just doesn't get clean. I read a review of them by a woman who agreed the clothes looked clean but she still didn't like them because "the clothes didn't smell fresh". I think she means the clothes didn't stink of perfume, but I actually see that as a benefit, not a drawback.

I also use Reusable Dryer Balls from Lakeland:
http://www.lakelandlimited.co.uk/product.aspx/!20332

They're funny shaped balls that you put in your tumber dryer and they soften your clothes without fabric softener. Apparently they're made of different hardnesses of plastic and the specially shaped knobbles sort of rub the stiffness out of fabrics. When you first buy them they smell strongly of lavender and so do your clothes, but it wears off pretty quickly (which is a plus for me - I don't like scented clothes).

Both these products save money because I don't spend £5 on laundry powder and fabric softener every week, and they save the planet by reducing the amound of chemicals that go down the drain, not to mention all the packaging. The Wash-It ball is good for about 100 washes and then you need to get a new one. The Dryer Balls are good forever.

If someone can invent a reusable ball for the dishwasher I'll be over the moon.

Hi Chickpea

I'm alternating between the lakeland ball thingy and soapnuts, with ecover once in a while for really mucky stuff...

You can apparently use soapnuts in the dishwasher too but I haven't tried it as yet - still using ecover for that... tried a faith in nature dishwasher liquid but it leaves a greasy film on the plates and glasses so I'm not very impressed with that.

I do use vinegar as a rinse aid though - my 12 year old opened the dw the other day and asked why it smelt like a chip shop lol... but the smell does disappear really quickly.

This is what I use most of the time (otherwise it's Ecover):

Washing powder

6oz soap flakes
2 cups borax
2 cups washing soda

Mix together and keep in a cool dry place. use a cupful per wash.

Washing up liquid

1/4 cup soap flakes - I used grated homemade soap
2 cups hot water
1/4 cup glycerine
1/2 tsp essential oil of choice eg lemon

Put flakes and hto water intoa bowl, stir to dissolve. Cool to lukewarm.
Stir in glycerine and essential oil and eave to cool. As teh mixture cools it forms a loose gel; stir with a fork to break it up, and, using a funnel, pour into bottle. 2 - 3 tsp per sink of hot water.

Mine comes out quite gloopy, but I'm used to it now. To thin it, I would probably add a bit of vinegar .

Hope this is of interest.

Ooh, are you a soaper, too Luath? My sister got me a book about soapmaking for Christmas and I was quickly hooked. I love making soaps with food ingredients in - strawberry and banana, honey and oatmeal, chamomile tea, goat's milk. I don't know why but they really appeal to me.

Yes, I've been making soap for about a year now, much to my daughter's horror ie "Will you never be buying soap again, then, Mother?" "no, not now I can make this - look at this!!!!" "Oh god, the last enuous links with the human race are fading fast...................."



I tend to use the basic recipe in Melinda Coss's book, and change the oils and extras according to what I have in. I'm due to make some today when I turn the Rayburn up. Need to cram in as much hot stuff as possible into a short space of time

It's scarily addictive isn't it? The Melinda Coss book was the one my sister bought me, but now I love "The Soapmaker's Companion" by Susan Miller Cavitch just as much although the batch sizes are much bigger. Cavitch is closer to my "earthy" instincts, whereas Coss is a bit more dainty, and more inclined to use artificial ingredients (although that's a bit of an overgeneralisation). There's another book I like but I can't find it right now that has some great recipes for bath bombs and massage bars as well as soaps, but she tends to have ingredients like 10ml rose absolute and other ridiculous things like that. Sounds OK but it works out at £10 per bar or something.

Still not ventured into the land of soapmaking.... it's on my list!! £10 a bar... I'll put up with lavender instead LOL....

Luath...

How long does the dishwashing liquid last for?? How expensive is glycerine - I assume you get it from a chemist, or are there other places to get soapmaking stuff?

It goes quite far and lasts well, as it's quite gloopy, so I tend to use less than the liquid ones. The quantities above fill about 3/4 of a small ecover bottle. There will be few or no bubbles, so don't be surprised at that. It's the best I've used for cutting through grease though, and teh dishes are squeaky clean. Once I've finished my bulk order of Ecover (e3 bottles left) I will probably stick to the homemade.
I used a Supercook glycerine, on the baking sundreis shelf in teh supermarket; health food shops and chemists stock it too. Best place is in the chemist, where a larger bottle is much cheaper - worth getting if you are going to make this in any quantity, or over time.
Other soap stuff - the caustic soda eg I get from the ironmonger/hardware shop, or DIY place. The rest of the stuff I usually have in - fat/s, oils, petals, etc.

Gotta plug the "soap Naturally" book - There is even a soap naturally website!

Nev

I liked the website Nev, loads to keep me busy!
thanks for the tip off!

kind thoughts
Deb

Thanks Luath

I've got half a small bottle of ecover left and it will take a while to get through that.. but will definitely have a shot of making my own. Not worried about the lack of bubbles... although will have to ensure that DP realises that there aren't supposed to be any or he'll use a bottle at a time lol.

Nev... brilliant website cheers mate.

No worries - pleased to be of service *tips hat*

Nev

What a gent!!!

Peddle powered washing machine!

To go with your eco washing powders.

http://www.cyclean.biz/mainmenu.html