Natural and Homemade Cleaners

I stopped getting hives on my arms after I switched to Moon Works laundry soap years ago. They're a small company that cares about what goes into their products. The nonscented version doesn't bother my nose. You only need to use 2 tbsp. in the wash. It doesn't lather much and also rinses easily.

I did a lot of research on natural laundry products after my daughter had strange allergic reactions that led to hives. Found out that there is no regulation on using the word "green" or "natural" in detergents and cleaners and that many of the products labeled that way are not really natural. Also, just because an ingredient is natural doesn't mean that you would want it to be left on fabrics that will be in contact with your skin for long periods of time.
We have been using Selestial Soap, a new natural laundry detergent. The ingredients are all natural, but just as important, the non-sudsing formulation rinses cleanly without leaving behind a residue on fabrics that can irritate skin, attract dirt and grime or affect the fabric's breathability. Many natural cleaners still contain sodium laureth sulfate (SLS) - a controversial ingredient that is sometimes listed as coconut oil derivative on ingredient lists. Selestial Soap does not contain SLS.

I just wanted to share my bad experience with bleach. I was using a 1:10 solution for everything. I thought it removed stains, killed germs and left a nice smell. I also washed my hands in it before I baked for other people. I know I should have known better. My fingers started going numb after awhile and I developed a sharp pain in one, I think from the bleach. I stopped using it and they are healing but I actually crave it or its cleaning effect. I've got a greener cleaner now that uses ethanol. Does anyone have experience with that. I'm working on working toward the really natural cleansers. Thanks for all the recipes.

According to http://www.greenfootsteps.com/washing-soda.html, it is considered safe because it breaks down quickly.

According to Arm & Hammer, it is an all natural product. http://www.thelaundrybasket.com/Questions_Comments/Questions_Comments_Super_Washing_Soda/questions_comments_super_washi.html

I'm sure it is much like Borax, which is mined right out of the ground in Boron, CA. Washing Soda is a simple Sodium Carbonate--in otherwords, it's only 1 chemical compound, not a mixture of many things with many different impacts on the environment.

One other thought: I have a great deal of trouble believing that anything as caustic as washing soda is actually any safer or healthier for us or the planet. Can anyone supply hard information one way or the other??? And how do I use it with a washing machine; ie, is it necessary to throughly wash it from the clothing before putting it in the machine??? I'm not ready to start hand-washing everything yet (it's a goal, but right now there are too many other necessary projects to make the time), and cannot afford to replace my washer should the cleaning agents I use damage parts (as I have been told washing soda will).

Vinegar leaves a light smell; I find it pleasant as it is reminiscent of good homemade Italian dressing. I also find it fades quickly, though this may be due to the fact that I live in a drafty cabin with five litter pans.

Can anyone tell me where else I might try to obtain washing soda?? The only cleaner I have yet to green is my laundry stain remover. I have been told that washing soda will remove stains that vinegar, peroxide, borax, lemon juice, and strong sunlight leave behind, but have been unable to find it at my natural foods store, Harp's Grocery, Target, or WalMart (which pretty throughly exhausts the known shopping possibilities of Northwest Arkansas). Until I find it, I'm stuck with the good old Shout Stick, as my husband will not accept sending our kids to school with stains on their clothing or wearing stained clothing himself and I cannot afford to replace the numerous articles of clothing that would otherwise be ruined on a frequent enough basis to keep them in clothes, even at thrift shop prices.

I'm all for this stuff, but doesn't the Vinegar leave a smell? I smoke so I guess the smell would help dissipate the tobacco smell right? Now I just have to convince the cleaning lady to use this stuff instead of the store bought junk ;-)
Going shopping for soap nuts and EOs on google.

You can do a Google search on Soap Nuts and find an abundance of information and many sources for their purchase.
Wikipedia says that "soap nuts contain saponin, a natural detergent which is used to clean clothes. Soap nuts, especially Sapindus mukorossi, have become popular as an environmentally friendly alternative to manufactured, chemical detergents . A few nuts can be placed in a cotton drawstring bag in with a washload and reused several times. Soap nuts are safe for washing silk, woolens and other delicate fabrics".
I just recently found out about these too and plan to purchase some soon.

What are soap nuts and where would I get them?

Thanks for the help.

Peace

Well, if the materials are still toxic, and can still cause skin irritation, why use them if they are less effective?

I've replaced all the harmful and toxic packaged chemicals in our home with soap nuts, vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice.

I use the soap nuts in the laundry, to wash the car, in the dishwasher, as hand soap, as shampoo, a bath soak, and I mix a combination of soap nuts tea (easy to make yourself), with vinegar and water to clean counters, stove, car windows, glass doors, and about anything else I can think of. My dishes sparkle, my silverware and glasses are spotless, and my house is clean and chemical free!

They are natural, chemical free, non-toxic, hypoallergenic,unscented, safe for sensitive skin, babies, and pets. They remove residue that's built up in your laundry and on dishes and the harvesting is 100% zero carbon. They are compostable and 100% bio-degradable and there is not packaging to recycle. No need for dryer sheets, fabric softener either.

I actually enjoy cleaning and laundry now that I know I'm not polluting my family's environment inside the house or the planet outside my house. What a great feeling.

I've replaced all the harmful and toxic packaged chemicals in our home with soap nuts, vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice.

I use the soap nuts in the laundry, to wash the car, in the dishwasher, as hand soap, as shampoo, a bath soak, and I mix a combination of soap nuts tea (easy to make yourself), with vinegar and water to clean counters, stove, car windows, glass doors, and about anything else I can think of. My dishes sparkle, my silverware and glasses are spotless, and my house is clean and chemical free!

They are natural, chemical free, non-toxic, hypoallergenic,unscented, safe for sensitive skin, babies, and pets. They remove residue that's built up in your laundry and on dishes and the harvesting is 100% zero carbon. They are compostable and 100% bio-degradable and there is not packaging to recycle. No need for dryer sheets, fabric softener either.

I actually enjoy cleaning and laundry now that I know I'm not polluting my family's environment inside the house or the planet outside my house. What a great feeling.

I make most of my cleaning products. My All Purpose Cleaner is vinegar and water with either Tea Tree Oil or Eucalyptus oil for their disenfecting properties. If I am going to be cleaning stains, I will add Hydrogen Peroxide as a bleach substitute. So many Essential Oils not only smell good but have antibacterial properties.

My Laundry Powder is (I think) fantastic:

One bar of Castille Soap (4 0z.) Grated
1 Cup Borax
1 Cup washing Soda
Esential Oils

Grate the soap (I use my food processor to save my knuckles)
Add the Borax, then the Washing Powder. Then add your EOs to you liking and continue mixing until all ingrediants look like they are evenly distributed. If you make this in a food processor, it takes out all of that mixing and even distributes the oils better. Use about 2 TBSP per load of laundry. This is such an inexpesive recipe!

Fabric Softener:

I have a recycled Downy ball. I fill it to the fill line with white vinegar and add Essential Oils for the aroma. You don't have to but it is so nice if you do! I get my white vinegar in gallons and have a quart glass jar so I can premix my vinger and EO's and leave it by the washer. I try to line dry everything to save on energy and this softerner works well even when you do line dry.

I love getting in the kitchen and figuring out how to make something that I like to use! It is so much better for the planet as everything is natural, organic, and biodegradable! Not to mention the money that is saved!

I use natural cleaners in our household as I am very sensitive to inhaled chemicals and my skin reacts to cleansers like Comet, etc. Who wants that?!

My favorite cleaners are vinegar, baking soda, and rubbing alcohol. We have a glass-top electric range (these are notoriously hard to clean) that we keep in great shape with soda and vinegar, which works much better than the expensive chemicals we could buy formulated for these stoves (how silly!). I also use vinegar as a laundry booster instead of bleach or those "oxy" cleansers.

Patience is important--but just let things sit for a little bit and the cleanup is easy! I much prefer this to toxins...for me, my partner, and our doggy!

My wife and I do 95% of our cleaning with Vinegar and baking soda. Our house is wonderfully clean, we save a ton of money and we feel better about cleaning around our kids