I recently was sent two different links about laundry detergent: one about how
Americans use too much laundry detergent and one that suggested using
no detergent and/or making one’s own detergent . How does this fit into my ultimate goal of reducing my use of single-use plastic? Just look down the laundry soap aisle at the grocery store and check out the wall of plastic bottles. The odd thing is that they are all exactly alike except for the color. The labels on the back of the bottles are exactly alike, too, but this is off the subject.
The Wall Street Journal article,
“The Great American Soap Overdose” suggests that Americans use way too much laundry detergent and tend to think that more detergent equals cleaner clothes. The modern trend in detergents is concentrated products. In other words, you need to use less volume of detergent per wash load. The manufacturers like Proctor & Gamble call this good for the environment because they put it in a smaller bottle - therefore less plastic. I don’t get this. If it is a more concentrated product and in the same large bottle, it
would use less plastic. One big bottle equals more loads of laundry, but they put it in a smaller bottle which means they are still using a lot of plastic. See my blog
“Size Does Matter” describing why it is mathematically better to buy larger sizes.
The more concentrated product means that accurate measurement is more crucial. With the new front loading washers that use less water, less energy, and less detergent, it is important to be precise in measuring. Too much detergent (and the wrong kind) can ruin your new expensive washer. You must make sure that your detergent is safe for those machines and err on the side of too little rather than too much. Seventh Generation's co-founder, Jeffery Hollender, says "You don't even need soap to wash most loads," he says. Water is a good solvent and the agitation of the machine will clean most clothers. Wow! I never considered using NO detergent.
Realistically, most of us are going to continue using laundry detergent. Water does not clean heavy dirt or oily grime, so we need some additional help.
The Green Guide recommends detergents that contain: 1. plant-based enzymes or ethanol rather than solvents, 2. compounds like sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate rather than phosphates, and 3. plant essential oils for scents rather than synthetic fragrances. According to the EPA nonylphenol ethoxylates or NPEs have been proven to be harmful to marine life and should not be in your detergent.
The Green Baby Guide recommends Biokleen detergent because it is cheap (about $.139 per load), it cleans well, and it is eco-friendly. Of course, the price of a detergent varies with the size, if it is on sale, and where it is purchased. Generally, Green Baby found Biokleen to be cheaper than Trader Joe’s, Ecover, and 7th Generation.
Usually the greener detergents require that you use less than normal. If you have a front loading washer, you must use less. Try using even less than they recommend or try making your own. That is the cheapest way to go. I have several friends who make their own, but I have not tried it. I plan on doing just that now that I know that they are fine for front loading washers.
Here is a recipe for homemade detergent that is the cheapest laundry soap of all
Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar or other cheap bar soap
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax
- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.
-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)
-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.
-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.
-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)
-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)
The average household dose around 600 loads of laundry per year. It’s a chore you can’t get away from unless you don’t wear clothes at all. Choose a green detergent and use less of it, You will help the environment by reducing the amount of toxic chemicals released into the water and you will use less plastic.
The Wall Street Journal article, “The Great American Soap Overdose” suggests that Americans use way too much laundry detergent and tend to think that more detergent equals cleaner clothes. The modern trend in detergents is concentrated products. In other words, you need to use less volume of detergent per wash load. The manufacturers like Proctor & Gamble call this good for the environment because they put it in a smaller bottle - therefore less plastic. I don’t get this. If it is a more concentrated product and in the same large bottle, it would use less plastic. One big bottle equals more loads of laundry, but they put it in a smaller bottle which means they are still using a lot of plastic. See my blog “Size Does Matter” describing why it is mathematically better to buy larger sizes.
The more concentrated product means that accurate measurement is more crucial. With the new front loading washers that use less water, less energy, and less detergent, it is important to be precise in measuring. Too much detergent (and the wrong kind) can ruin your new expensive washer. You must make sure that your detergent is safe for those machines and err on the side of too little rather than too much. Seventh Generation's co-founder, Jeffery Hollender, says "You don't even need soap to wash most loads," he says. Water is a good solvent and the agitation of the machine will clean most clothers. Wow! I never considered using NO detergent.
Realistically, most of us are going to continue using laundry detergent. Water does not clean heavy dirt or oily grime, so we need some additional help. The Green Guide recommends detergents that contain: 1. plant-based enzymes or ethanol rather than solvents, 2. compounds like sodium carbonate or sodium bicarbonate rather than phosphates, and 3. plant essential oils for scents rather than synthetic fragrances. According to the EPA nonylphenol ethoxylates or NPEs have been proven to be harmful to marine life and should not be in your detergent. The Green Baby Guide recommends Biokleen detergent because it is cheap (about $.139 per load), it cleans well, and it is eco-friendly. Of course, the price of a detergent varies with the size, if it is on sale, and where it is purchased. Generally, Green Baby found Biokleen to be cheaper than Trader Joe’s, Ecover, and 7th Generation.
Usually the greener detergents require that you use less than normal. If you have a front loading washer, you must use less. Try using even less than they recommend or try making your own. That is the cheapest way to go. I have several friends who make their own, but I have not tried it. I plan on doing just that now that I know that they are fine for front loading washers.
Here is a recipe for homemade detergent that is the cheapest laundry soap of all
Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap
4 Cups - hot tap water
1 Fels-Naptha soap bar or other cheap bar soap
1 Cup - Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
½ Cup Borax
- Grate bar of soap and add to saucepan with water. Stir continually over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
-Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full of hot tap water. Add melted soap, washing soda and Borax. Stir well until all powder is dissolved. Fill bucket to top with more hot water. Stir, cover and let sit overnight to thicken.
-Stir and fill a used, clean, laundry soap dispenser half full with soap and then fill rest of way with water. Shake before each use. (will gel)
-Optional: You can add 10-15 drops of essential oil per 2 gallons. Add once soap has cooled. Ideas: lavender, rosemary, tea tree oil.
-Yield: Liquid soap recipe makes 10 gallons.
-Top Load Machine- 5/8 Cup per load (Approx. 180 loads)
-Front Load Machines- ¼ Cup per load (Approx. 640 loads)
The average household dose around 600 loads of laundry per year. It’s a chore you can’t get away from unless you don’t wear clothes at all. Choose a green detergent and use less of it, You will help the environment by reducing the amount of toxic chemicals released into the water and you will use less plastic.