NATURAL LAUNDRY

Since I moved to Pakistan I've had and been using a semi-automatic washing machine. Yes,the kind my mom used to own back in the communist era (eye roll) but I'm not going to upgrade just for the sake of it; until or unless it breaks down and cannot be fixed I'm stuck with it and, thankfully, it does the job quite well, it just requires more of my time and attention.

All this time and attention has actually made me more aware of exactly how much chemically contaminated water we flush down the drain and it's not nothing, I tell you. We've become so accustomed to use detergents for every cleaning purpose in our households that we can barely imagine the daily routine without it.

Luckily, imagination has very little to do with a more sustainable alternative. There are several laundry product substitutes that are effective and yet gentle on the delicate aquatic biome balance.

Here is a peek at my general laundry practices:

1. NATURAL LAUNDRY SOAP

I've been making my own laundry soap from coconut oil for years now. Coconut oil makes a firm, foamy and highly cleansing soap bar. Heather from Mommypotamus shows you how to make it in just a few simple steps here.If you're new to soapmaking, check out my Natural Soap Making 101 tutorial to get you started and then try your hand at making your own laundry soap here.

2. NATURAL DETERGENT

Just 3 simple ingredients to make an effective detergent that is suitable for automatic, high efficiency washing machines as well. You won't see much foaming with this detergent but when you'll see the results you won't even miss it. I find it essential to wash clothes with warm/hot water, especially when using this natural detergent alternative. Higher temperature not only helps the detergent dissolve better but it also lowers the surface tension of the water which will allow the water to penetrate the fabric as well soften fat based contaminants, making it easier for them to break apart when force is applied.

I adapted this recipe from Katie's site, wellnessmama and it's been working really well. The clothes smell fresh and...clean, that's the best word I can describe the lack of any residual smell with. When I first started using this natural alternative my doubts kept compelling me to sniff the dirtiest clothes after having washed them just to reassure myself of its effectiveness and I'm 100% persuaded.

Ingredients for a 500 g batch:

-150 g grated coconut laudry soap

-150 g washing soda

-200 g borax

-30-60 drops essential oils(optional)*

Just mix all the the ingredients and store in a large container. I use abt 1/2-3/4 cup per load but it really depends on the type of laundry we're dealing with.

* Please be very mindful of your essential oil use as essential oils are very high impact on the environment and should be used with restraint and respect.

3. NATURAL FABRIC CONDITIONER

Vinegar is an amazing fabric softener. It also helps reduce soap residue(especially if your water is hard), it sets the colour of dyed fabric and it revives the colour in dulled clothing, it deodorises and reduces static cling. What else can you ask for?

Use as you would a liquid fabric softener. Optionally you may add essential oil for fragrance as well.

4. SPECIAL CARE

Regardless whether you own an automatic washing machine or not you will all relate to the fact that some clothes need extra muscle power when it comes to cleaning them thoroughly.

4.A. BLEACHING/STAINS

Hydrogen peroxide is a safe alternative to bleach for stain removal and white brightening. It easily breaks down to water and oxygen and hence does not affect the natural balance of the environment. Hydrogen peroxide works wonders on organic origin stains(i.e. blood, food, urine etc.); dab directly on stained areas, leave to soak into the fabric, then wash.For brightening whites as well as coloured clothes soak them in a tub (10 ltrs.) of hot water to which you add abt. 1 cup of hydrogen peroxyde and then wash as usual.

4.B. HEAVY DUTY ITEMS

Socks, shirt collars, kitchen towels etc. need a bit of pre-wash attention on your part. You can either use your handmade coconut laundry soap to rub it on the fabric and pre-wash/brush the stained areas by hand or boil them in a pot with the natural detergent alternative before washing them with the rest of the laundry.

Needless to say I don't bother pre-brushing when I can get away as easily as placing a pot on the stove.And it works!

BONUS:HANDKERCHIEFS

Using handkerchiefs has by and large been replaced with the use of paper tissues nowadays. Not only are these tissues disposable but most of the time we don't even bother to use them more than once even if very little of it has been stained and the better part of the paper tissue is still clean and unused. How wasteful and disrespectful towards nature's hard work. It seems like such a long lost dream when our parents used to use handkerchiefs and the thought of doing the same intimidates many of us mostly due to one or both of the following reasons:

-it seems confusing to use and reuse it

-it seems undesirable to wash once it's fulfilled its purpose (aka filled with dried snot)

As far as the first point is concerned I was planning on making a short picture guide on how to easily and practically use and reuse handkerchiefs until they're "filled up to the brim" (let me know if you're interested) but as far as washing them, I have one simple magical solution: boil them in salty water and you'll see the mucus magically disappear. Not only that but boiling them will also disinfect and avoid risk of cross contamination, especially during flu season. Wash and rinse as usual after boiling.Easy peasy, and not at all yucky.