'Washing powder is full of chemicals, makes your skin itch and doesn't leave clothes smelling fresh for very long, here we have a recipe for eco friendly lovers. It's simple and very easy to make. We have tried soap nuts, an eco egg and pure essential oils, the best so far have been soap nuts as they have a natural smell, the eco egg is ok but it doesn't make a huge difference to the washing.
The trouble is that these can get expensive so try out our homemade washing powder recipe and method, you will save money in the long run and benefit your health, win, win.
Ingredients
- Organic vegetable soap such as savon de marseille (250g)
- Soda crystals (250g)
- Bicarbonate of soda (250g)
- Lavender essential oil
- Lemon essential oil
- Grater
- Large bowl
- Large glass jar with lid
Method
To begin finely grate your soap into the large bowl, if prefered you can use castile soap. Grate the soap as fine as you can, otherwise it will build up in the washing machine drawer.
Add in the bicarb and soda crystals to the bowl and give it a good mix. Squash out any lumps. The bicarbonate of soda helps soap to work better and is a great deodorizer. Add in 10 drops of essential oils each, distribute them evenly into the mixture to avoid clumps forming. Mix again to combine well.
Pour the mixture into an airtight jar, the mixture is enough for up to 40 washes. To use simply add 1 tbsp of th powder to the detergent drawer in the washing machine. Instead of fabric softener use vinegar white with a few drops of essential oil. For tough to clean stains leave the clothes in a bowl of warm water with 1 tbsp of the powder for up to two hours.
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