Guide by dooiy
Cleaning detergents
Safe money and the environment
Vinegar and bicarb are really great products for cleaning. They are...
Homemade laundry detergent
Safe money and make your own free liquid laundry detergent. The detergent is made from wood ash and works really well for coloured cloths. Add the fragrance that you love most.
| Done in | 15 minutes + waiting time |
|---|---|
| Skill level | easy |
What you need
- 2 Bucket or large bowls
- 4 Cups of sieved Wood Ash from a fire or a braai. The wood must be clean. There must be no other ingredients (such as plastic or briquettes, painted wood).
- Sieve
- Funnel
- Paper Kitchen Towel or coffee filter
- 9 cups of Clean Water
- Measuring Cup to measure the wood ash and water
- Optional: fragrance of choice
- Stick or large spoon to mix
- Mask to protect your lungs from ash dust
- Gloves to protect yourself from the aggressive soap
- Plastic Bottle 2 litre, for storing your detergent
How you make it
Sieve the Wood Ash
Sieve the ash into a clean bucket or bowl. After sieving you should have 4 cups of fine ash.
Wear a mask to protect your lungs from the dust. Wear gloves or don’t touch the ash to protect your skin.
Add water to the ash
Measure 9 cups of water. Pour the water onto the ash.
Stir the ash water
Use a stick or a large spoon.
Let the ash water sit for 24 hours
Stir it once in a while.
We put the ash-water mixture in a bottle so you can see how it settles. Let all the ash settle to the bottom of the bucket/bottle before you filter it.
Filter the ash water
Use the funnel and a double folded kitchen towel or a paper coffee filter for this. Fabrics could also be used but must be dense.
Pour the water into the filter carefully so that the ash does not get into the filter with it.
Optional: Add the fragrance of your choice
e.g. lemon
Your detergent is ready to use now!
The detergent is transparent and slightly yellow. There are no black pieces in it anymore. Label the bottle with today’s date.
Congratulations!
How you use it
Mix your detergent with water
Use between half a cup and a cup of the liquid for your laundry. Don’t be surprised: The water will be very soapy but does not develop foam. Foam is not necessary to clean cloths. Look at this!
Better use gloves for washing as the detergent might irritate your skin.
Use up the detergent within 2-3 months
If you don’t have a fridge or cannot keep it cool, use it up faster.
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