Detergents can be bought in countless variants – liquid, as a powder or ready. But despite their practical functions, not all detergent ingredients are harmless to the environment and health. For example, detergents contribute to the growing plastic waste and the fragrances it contains can often trigger allergic reactions. Therefore, some people choose to produce their own detergent without unnecessary additives. How does it work?
Washers and cleaning agents are indispensable from our everyday life. Whether in the household or in industry – they are used every day to ensure cleanliness and hygiene. 600,000 tons of detergents and around 250,000 tons of fabric softener are used annually. As a result, almost 565,000 tons of chemicals from the households ended up in wastewater in 2017. However, despite their omnipresence, the potential endangerment of the environment and health is often underestimated by their use.
Because despite the extensive preparation of the waste water, some substances in the detergent cannot be degradable. Mainly these are fragrances and fillers as well as antibacterial preservatives. They remain in the water and at the end we strain our soils and generally the environment. The rest of the washing -active substances and additives must be removed from the wastewater in the sewage treatment plants. But also detergent residues in clothing can have consequences: fragrances in particular can be a health burden for us humans, since they are second in the most common trigger of contact allergies – right behind Nickel.
Homemade detergent saves unnecessary additives
If you want to be sure that only the necessary washing -active ingredients in the detergent are, you can also make the cleaner yourself. This can be a good alternative, especially for allergy sufferers and people with sensitive skin. Vegan people can also be so safe that there are no animal components in the detergent. It also saves plastic and packaging waste.
Such a self -made detergent consists of only four to five ingredients: (vegan) core soap, soda, washing soda and citric acid – with white laundry. If you want, you can add gall soap for stubborn stains or a few drops of essential lavender or lemon oils for a pleasant smell. Dishwash salt can also be added as a water hardener.
Recipe for washing powder
The quantity of the ingredients always varies something depending on the recipe, but it does not matter to the exact number of grams. As a rule, around 100 grams of core soap are crushed for around 400 to 500 grams of washing powder – for example with a rasp. There are also around 150 grams of washing soda and soda. With white laundry, 100 grams of citric acid can be added as powder because this acid has a bleaching effect.
For washing powder, these ingredients only have to be mixed together and then stored in an airtight container. If the detergent is to receive a fragrance, the essential oils must be placed separately from the powder into the machine’s detergent compartment.
Recipe for liquid detergent
Liquid detergents can also be produced, but it is a little more complex. For this, core soap is also crushed, for two liters of detergent around 30 grams. Together with 40 grams of washing soda, it is put in a pot. We can omit soda with liquid detergent. The mixture is then boiled with two liters of water and stirred until core soap and soda have completely dissolved. Then the mixture has to cool down.
Depending on the core soap used, the consistency of the finished detergent can differ. If it is too firm, you can stir in the mass again after cooling and add a little water in an emergency. If you want, a few drops of essential oils or four tablespoons of citric acid can now be added – you should note that soda and citric acid in combination are also happy to foam. The detergent is ready.
Other sustainable alternatives
Washnuts such as chestnuts can also be a sustainable alternative to conventional detergents. From them, detergent can also be produced from smaller -scale. Washnuts can also be added to the washing machine drum to the laundry. However, they are usually only suitable for very easy dirt – Stiftung Warentest even rated them as “poor”.
And there is also a simple alternative for the fabric softener: a dash of vinegar can replace it: the neutralizes smells and ensures softer water – and thus also softer clothing.