eco-friendly laundry recipe

Each month we're going to be sharing some of our favourite eco-friendly recipes for your home and your health in a series called 'Take Care of Mother Earth'. In using healthy and ethically sourced ingredients that are great for your skin, we also want to make sure we're taking part in what is good for the planet as well.

If you suffer from Psoriasis or sensitive skin, something as simple as switching to a gentler, more natural laundry detergent can make a huge difference. Sometimes scented products can aggravate psoriasis and when clothes are washed in detergents with dyes and artificial scents, these can cling to the clothing in turn aggravating your skin when you put them on. Liquid detergents may be preferable to solid ones as they dissolve better and detergent particles may be less likely to stick to clothing.

Making your own laundry liquid is a great way to steer away from these artificial dyes and other chemicals, and is a much more environmentally friendly substance to be adding to your water each week. If you have a little extra time this weekend then give this recipe a shot! This recipe will make about 4.5 litres of laundry liquid which will last you for weeks or months worth of laundry. I suggest storing the final product in a reuseable container so that you can even further reduce your waste.

Antipsoriasis Laundry Liquid

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Liquid Castille Soap

1 cup Washing Soda

1 cup baking soda

4.5 litres hot water

1 tsp lavender

1/2 teaspoon bergamot

makes 4.5 litres and will keep for at least a year.

Method:

First stir the washing soda into a little of the hot water in a pail until it's dissolved. Then add the baking soda and stir until dissolved. Mix in the liquid soap and stir gently to avoid too much frothing up.

When all of these ingredients are dissolved, add the essential oils and the rest of the water. Stir gently, then funnel into storage bottles. If you don't have liquid soap, you can add 3/4-1 cup pure vegetable soap flakes, dissolving it in a little boiling water before mixing in.

Shake well to remix before each use, or the ingredients will separate while standing.

Add 1/4-1/3 cup per load of washing to the compartment or drum.

Recipe from: "The Herbal Handbook for Home and Body" by Pip Waller

We'd love to hear what you think! Leave a comment below and let us know if you like the recipe or if you have any other favourite ways of making laundry soap!