29 June 2011

Going Green: With 4 Simple Ingredients


Today, I'm here to talk to you about a little thing some folks in my family call "consumer anarchy." That is, removing yourself from the system that says you have to have this new product to be happy, clean, important, or stylish. One of the little ways that John and I "stick it to the man" is through detergents. When I hoist a detergent cup above my head and pour homemade laundry soap into it, it has the same emotional effect on me as, say, hoisting a Molotov cocktail above my head, ready burn down a corrupt institution. It just feels good.

If you want to be a part of my group club gang independent gathering of like-minded individuals, you'll need 4 things:

Borax- $2.98
Arm & Hammer Washing Soda- $2.99
1 Gallon Distilled Vinegar- $2.50
Fels Naptha- $1.98

So far I have found 3 ways to use the above four ingredients to save a little time, a lot of money, and an environmental hassle....

Homemade Dishwasher Detergent
1 cup borax
1 cup washing soda
Vinegar (to prevent residue)  

Mix the powders together well and place in plastic container. Use 2 tbsp per load and a little vinegar in the rinse to cut the residue. You just saved $6.00!


Homemade Swiffer Wet-Jet Cleaner:
1 cup white distilled vinegar
7-8 drops essential oils (if you want a scent)
Water

In an empty (and clean) old gallon jug pour 1 cup vinegar and the essential oil. Fill to the top with water. Close with lid and shake well. Open the old Swiffer Wet-Jet  and rinse out. Fill with new vinegar cleaner and pop into the Swiffer.  Keep the gallon in the cabinet to refill whenever it runs out again. Be sure to shake the Swiffer well before cleaning (to mix the the ingredients that tend to separate as they sit.) You just saved yourself $5.00! 



Homemade Laundry Detergent: 

Out of respect for the author's wishes I will not reproduce the recipe here, but you can find it here. You will need only the ingredients I listed above. We made 2 gallons of it this past weekend and it works great! The cost of making it at home is less than $1.00, and it took me all of 15 minutes to make. If you don't go home and make this you just lack sense. Next time your store-bought detergent runs out, keep the old container, make this, and then fill up the old Tide wash with the hand-made stuff! You saved upwards of $15.00!

29 comments:

  1. Does the laundry detergent work in front loaders? I know they ask for specific types (so it doesn't sud up as much). Just curious :)

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  2. This detergent is actually a very low sudsing soap, so it should be fine. The website with the recipe has a Q&A about it...you may wanna look there.

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  3. what an awesome DIY for the detergent!!! i never even thought about this!!!!!!!

    PS...i gave my sister your tip about the Indian restaurant! She said she is going to totally check it out :)

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  4. This is a really good idea - especially considering how incredibly expensive detergent is!

    And now I have an image of standing outside a laundry detergent factory, waving a jug of homemade laundry soap over your head! You tell 'em.

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  5. i'm a little nervous to make my own laundry detergent! but maybe i'll muster up some courage and give it a go. i've been looking into simple, homemade cleaners and such made with stuff from the kitchen, and i'm realizing that baking soda is very versatile! just yesterday i read about putting it in your hair. i tried it this morning and now my hair is silky smooth :)

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  6. Emily- I promise, the recipe is super easy and doesn't make a mess to make it. Also, congrats on going "no 'poo." Yet another way to "up the anarchy." I've thought about it a number of times but haven't mustered the courage. Let me know how it works out for you and I may just give in!

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  7. Fantastic post, Hannah :) Great information! I've been reading a lot about this lately... may have to finally take the plunge. (Especially with the swiffer wet jet replacement... I think this would be a much safer alternative for my kitties!)

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  8. What a great post - i think once we are in the new house i'll be starting this
    Thanks for the advice Hannah!!!!!

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  9. dang. at first i thought that was lemonade and i was wondering why you were pouring it into that container.

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  10. What a great idea... perfect way to save

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  11. Ohhh! I am loving the wet jet recipe. Great idea, Hannah. Thanks for sharing :)

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  12. wow! I am going to have to try this!

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  13. I need to do this- I'm just such a sucker for the smell of laundry detergent-

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  14. Very interesting! Her website said it works in HE machines...that's what we have, but it's not front loading...that's what front loading ones are...right?

    We are actually using the SAME laundry detergent I bought in September, after we got married and got our washer/dryer. My goal is to see if we can use one bottle a year. That would be impressive, but I'm getting low. Maybe I'll try this out!!

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  15. These are great - love it! Thank you for sharing. And that is so awesome that we have the same wedding anniversary!

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  16. I love learning stuff like this!!! Thanks for sharing these "recipes." I want to try them out!

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  17. I'm intrigued by this idea! Especially the homemade dishwasher detergent. I grumble every time we have to buy some. And you know I buy the cheapest@

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  18. yay for environmentally friendly cleaning supplies! my great-grandma used to make her own lye soap. she'd stir it for hours at a time in the basement. but that's seriously old school...

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  19. oh, another tip is to use vinegar and newspaper to clean windows, instead of windex and paper towels. :o)

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  20. I must try this! I have a whole cabinet full of different cleaning products that's taking up prime real estate in my small apartment

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  21. Reads like the Anarchist's Cookbook.

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  22. this is so great! i will have to try this once i run out of whatever i'm using around the apartment right now. i already use vinegar and baking soda to clean with like a madwoman. i have a HUGE addiction to salt and vinegar chips and get my kick must smell the vinegar while cleaning. so weird, but i don't need to actually consume chips now~

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  23. i love this. you win all the way around!

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  24. what a great post, i have such trouble going green, this was super helpful

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  25. fantastic! :D
    I love going green! My Aunt uses a vinegar mix with cleaning a lot of the time! UHM, what is borax though! Never heard of it!

    http://annawalker1992.blogspot.com/

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  26. OMG you are so clever! Why the heck am I buying this stuff when I can make it?! Thanks for being an inspiration!

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  27. I just ran out of swiffer cleaner- I'll have to give this a shot! Thanks for sharing!

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