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I plan on making these with the kids and talk about the effects of some
commercial products on the environment and about being more self-reliant by
making our own cleaning stuff. I haven't tried this yet but I'm gathering
the ingredients now and will be trying it soon. The washing powder is
supposed to last a family of 4 for a year. I think the kids will have a
blast grating the soap!

Kris

Wash Day Blues
Materials or Ingredients:

Simple Washing Powder:
16 cups of baking soda
12 cups of borax
8 cups grated castile or glycerin soap flakes
3 tablespoon lavender, lemon or grapefruit essential oil

Bleach/Brighter Substitute:
1 cup hydrogen peroxide
1/4 cup lemon juice
12 cups of water

Instructions or Directions:

Simple Washing Powder:
Combine baking soda, borax, and soap flakes. Add essential oil and mix with a
wire whisk. Use 1/8 cup of powder per load. This recipe makes enough powder
to last a family of four for one year.

Bleach/Brighter Substitute:
Mix and store in a labeled plastic jug. Add 2 cups per load.

Contact Info:

800-272-2193
www.naturalhomemagazine.com
E-Mail: naturalhome@...

Product Name:

"Natural Home Magazine"

Product Info:

Natural Home Magazine
Publisher Contact: Robyn Griggs Lawrence
Purchase: 201 E. Fourth St., Loveland, CO 80537

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Does anyone know what Borax is chemically? Is it acid or alkaline? Why
would this homemade washing powder be better for the environment than a
commercial product?
(I'm asking as one who would like to be gentler on the environment but is
rather ignorant on a lot of details!)
Mary Ellen
Gain weight... Stay Active... Get Smarter...
New Year's Resolutions are EASY for Babies!
<Hi and Lois>

Samantha Stopple

--- megates@... wrote:
> Does anyone know what Borax is chemically? Is it
> acid or alkaline? Why
> would this homemade washing powder be better for the
> environment than a
> commercial product?

Here are two links to some info online about borax:

http://csf.colorado.edu/perma/sustnw/frugal-ed/1196.html

http://www.minerals.net/mineral/borates/borax/borax.htm

One possibility is we use less. I like using borax for
my occaisional sanitizing cleansing becasue I have
become very sensative to the smells of other cleaners.

I don't even like the citris smells added to some
'natural cleaners'

Anything natural or man made can be a pollutant when
dumped in sufficient numbers. That can include the
leftovers from juicing apples that would get dumped
illegally in the waterways near my old home. So
somthing that seems as benign as apples can become
toxic.

There are no easy answers. Use less is my motto.

Peace,
Samantha


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In a message dated 1/22/01 2:58:48 PM Pacific Standard Time, megates@...
writes:

<< Does anyone know what Borax is chemically? Is it acid or alkaline? Why
would this homemade washing powder be better for the environment than a
commercial product?
(I'm asking as one who would like to be gentler on the environment but is
rather ignorant on a lot of details!)
Mary Ellen >>

Mary Ellen

I don't know all of the answers but I have read that commercial laundry soaps
have a lot of filler which can be just about anything. I think just putting
less "stuff" in the water shed it part of the solution. I know phosphates
are a concern as well but can't claim to know that borax is less harmful.

Kris