Can washing laundry be frugal AND eco friendly?
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- Опубліковано 18 жов 2024
- Here are some things I have tried to wash my laundry that are both frugal and eco friendly. So, which worked the best?
Here is my affiliate link for Earthbreeze (I will earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase): earthbreezeuk....
The Dripak website is just brilliant for information on eco friendly and cheap ways of cleaning pretty much anything in the home: www.dri-pak.co.uk
The Ecoegg site: www.ecoegg.com
(By the way, Amazon prices on these are currently ridiculously expensive! I found better deals on eBay, directly from Ecoegg, or you could try your local zero waste shop)
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For ideas on how to live a more frugal and simple life, you can find me in the following places:
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Hi. I've been using the eco egg for last couple of months. Wilkinson sell them and the refills at a very good price, very happy with the results. Great channel thankyou. x
Great video Jane, I've been on a mission over the years to try and make my laundry routine more eco friendly. I tried soap nuts many years ago but couldn't get on with them either, I've had dryer balls for many years too but still need to work on using my tumble dryer less in the Autumn/Winter. I've also really wanted to try the True Earth laundry strips but before I got a chance, Amazon hiked the price on them and I can't afford them at the moment. I'd love to give the others a chance though, they look virtually the same but are a lot cheaper! Just a side note on soda crystals and citric acid for anyone who doesn't know, soda crystals can be used to clean & deodorise your washing machine if you run it on the hottest cycle once a month and citric acid is fantastic if you live in a hard water area and get a lot of limescale in your kettle - just boil the water and once it comes to the boil add the citric acid, leave it simmering/ standing for a few minutes and rinse, it removes all the limescale and your tea and coffee taste much better 🙂
I use the citric acid on my kettle as well and confirm it really works. It’s good to shine up taps too!
I use a dehumidifier too!
I use homemade laundry detergent, I tried the gloop method and didn’t like it so I now use the grated soap and washing soda blitzed in my food processor and chuck it directly into the drum. I have refill facilities forEcover and Bio D in our village shop so really yucky stuff can have a proper wash.
I make my own soap from coconut oil which I buy in bulk in a plastic bag and a cardboard box (it lasts me several years) and I make soap for personal hygiene and a different recipe for laundry soap
I used to love making soap but haven’t done it for ages. It’s a nice hobby and useful too
I also make my own laundry detergent exactly like you do, except my laundry bars are made with coconut oil and rice bran oil. I sometimes add eucalyptus essential oil to the melted oils. After curing the bars, like you I grate the soap then blitz equal weights of grated soap and washing soda together. The process is a little labour intensive but there are no nasty chemicals. Also you need to know that it is low sudsing but a great laundry detergent. I also use a different recipe for my body soaps.
I use the homemade laundry liquid. I cup grated pure soap, 1/2 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup borax. Place in a 10L bucket. Pour over some boiling water and use a hand blender to dissolve the ingredients. Turn on the cold tap and fill the bucket. I use the hand mixer to give it a really good mix. I pour into old 2L vinegar plastic bottles and leave some head space. The gloop, as you call it does separate and you need to shake before each wash. I have been using this for 15 years now. I pour some undiluted gloop onto stains and rub in and leave for 10 minutes before washing. We were on the farm when I started using this liquid. I have never had an issue with it. I do use a laundry soak for whites every couple of months.
I think maybe soaking the whites is key and a good idea to rub it on the stains first as well.
I've only found your channel today and am finding it very interesting. This one on laundry especially so as I want to be greener with the washing and you've saved me a lot of experimentation. I use a ceiling airer to dry my washing in the winter, and have done since my children were small. We were a farming family of five. I did a load of washing every day: each morning I took down the washing from the day before (which had dried over night) and replaced it with the current day's washing. We did have an Aga in the kitchen which helped. I always keep an upstairs window open a crack, so I never get condensation.
I would love a ceiling airer! We don’t really have anywhere suitable though. Thanks for watching
Great video, I’ve used white vinegar as fabric softener and it’s good
Yes it does work but I found the citric acid even better
Ecoeggs opened during washing, it was a mess. Really like your content :)
Oh no! I have never had that happen, thanks for watching
Thank you Jane x I never thought that I am lugging mainly water home from the supermarket!! I've tried so many ways to save on washing/laundry , I've made my own soap ect . . I can only get on with persil YIKES. . But I use half the directed amount , by default while staying in a cottage with a washing machine I didn't use any softener and I found to my delight I actually prefer the smell and feel of laundry without softener!! I probably could of bought a bungalow withall the money I've spent o, laundry!! I am making a MASSIVE effort to dry things without using the dryer and I also think lots of things can be worn more than once before it's washed. . and why would anyone iron anything that doesn't need ironing. .
With you on the ironing! Not my favourite job and I do as little as I can
I am awaiting delivery of my first Earth breeze pack. I am glad you have them a good review. I like dry clothes or use the airer. I have my dryer away.
I hope you like it!
I think the soap nuts really need at least warm water to work well. I find in cold water they don't work well. Also, some people make a liquid soap out of them, but haven't tried that yet. Thanks for the ecospin while trying to be frugal!
Great video Jane. I've tried making gloop and DIY powder, giving up eventually because it was too time consuming. Now I use soap nuts and pre treat stains with either laundry soap or small squirt of concentrated dish washing liquid that lasts a long time. I have solar on the roof so use the long wash cycles to clean the clothes. For whites, I use per carbonate (nappy soaker). I love the smell of clothes dried on the line and always dry outside and finish them inside when needed.
I haven’t heard of the nappy soak - I will check that out!
@@ShoestringJane Its a per carbonate based product. I was able to buy pure per carbonate in bulk but my supplier stopped stocking forcing me to switch to nappy soaker product with about 32% per carbonate.
I use an eco egg last for ages xx
I use Smol washing capsules. They are eco friendly. Personal I am pleased with the results. Plus I didn't think it was too expensive.
Hi, I've stopped my Smol subscription. I found that if you don't hang the clothes up straight away they smell 😔
Yes, I have seen those. Not tried them yet!
I had a similar experience with the smell unfortunately. I do like the smol dishwasher tablets though.
Try the white ecoegg on a 40 degree wash works well.
I got a red wine stain out with earthbreeze, thank you Jane
That’s interesting! Glad it worked so well
I have used the ecoegg for years for coloured and dark washes and found the same that it was a good product for these washes and saved a lot of money but did not match normal washing liquid for whites so went back to liquid for white washes. I looked into soap nuts but reviews saying they were not good for your washing machine long term so have not tried these. I have been seeing reviews for the earth breeze sheets or similar brands for a while and have been toying with the idea of trying these so have decided to take the plunge and give them a go via your link. Looking forward to trying these out now. Thanks for the reviews.
I hope you like the product! Definitely make them more frugal by cutting them in half, though.
I have had an eco ball for years. Incredibly economic and environmentally less problematic but it's not up to heavy cleaning. It's great for 30 degree washes. I'm not hard wearing on my clothes so it does the job but it's not great if you need to give something a really good clean. I don't know what the good alts are that are cheaper. I have a hang up about washing anything above 30! I don't know there's a good alternative solution that doesn't come with plastic in the packaging or isn't putting nasties into the water. It's a tricky one.
I really think products like Ecobreeze are the way to go from a sustainability point of view, but I still use my Ecoegg too and agree with what you have said.
I use Simply Eco laundry sheets which are very similar. I used ecover before but didn't like the packaging or now their ethics.
I find the egg is good