Green Tip of the Week: Clean Clothes at a Good Green Price

October 4, 2009

Question:  Should I buy those new “green” laundry detergents that cost so much?

Answer:   You don’t have to.  You can put together laundry detergent that’s just as “green” for much, much less.

Simple.   One small shopping trip, 15 minutes to mix, and you’re good for the semester.

First, buy the following at a large grocery store like Stop & Shop:
•    A box of Ivory Snow (flakes, not liquid).  54 ounces for $4.99**
•    A box of 20-mule-team Borax.  Over 4 pounds for $3.79
•    A big box of washing soda.  $2.79 for Arm & Hammer Washing Soda.
•    A box of quart-sized plastic bags with zip seals.  Not expensive.
(or a quart-sized plastic food storage container)
•    A ring of teaspoon-tablespoon measures.  Not expensive.
•    A measuring cup.  Not expensive.

**If you can’t find Ivory Snow, just get a few bars of Ivory soap – or Castille soap—and a cheese grater that includes the little holes.  Soap grates really fast.

Next, make your detergent:
Open one of the quart-sized plastic bags (or the plastic storage container)
Pour into it 2 cups of the Ivory Snow flakes.
Add 1 cup of the Borax.
Add 1 cup of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda.

Seal the bag and shake to mix, then put the teaspoon-tablespoon measures into the bag and re-seal.

That’s it. You’re ready.

You now have a quart (32 tablespoons) of good laundry detergent, just as “green” as any of those “green” brands on the market.  At 2 tablespoons per load (1 tablespoon for small loads), you have enough for 16 full loads of laundry.

To make more detergent, just return to your original boxes of Ivory Snow, Borax, and Washing Soda.  They will last a long time.

Caution:  Not for silk, wool, or vinyl.

WHY SHOULD I DO THIS?

1.    It’s simple.  It’s green.  It’s easy.

The site Green America has more advice about making “green” detergent from  inexpensive basic ingredients.

2.    Commercial laundry detergents routinely include harmful chemicals (harmful to our respiratory and endocrine systems), and these chemicals don’t biodegrade – they enter our water supply.

Notice:  The big companies that make detergents like Tide or All don’t list their ingredients on the box.  Aha!
Women’s Voices for the Earth has been pressuring these companies to list their ingredients, and the companies now offer fragrance-free and dye-free detergents.  But there are still other harmful chemicals that remain unlisted.  In the meantime, many people are hosting WVE green-cleaning parties to learn how to make their own safe household cleaners.  Party instructions are on the website.

3.    The new “green” laundry detergents usually cost $9.00 to $11.00 per jug.  You’re paying for the advertising, the trendy “green” label, and the packaging.

The new “green” detergents often do list their ingredients.  Such brands as Sun & Earth, Greenworks, Seventh Generation, Method, and Arm & Hammer Essentials are definitely an improvement over regular brands.
Here’s a review of six new “green” laundry detergents, by Grist.  Their surfactants are usually biodegradable.

Here’s a site that explains surfactants–the stuff that actually cleans.

So it’s fine to cut to the chase and make your laundry detergent yourself.

Be smart.  Go green.  Save money.

P.  S.  You want fabric softener?   Add a quarter cup of white vinegar.  Don’t worry,
your clothes won’t smell like vinegar.  They’ll smell like cloth, like themselves.

Questions?  Comments?  Experiences?