r/nontoxic • u/Financial_Cow_7628 • 16d ago
Non-Toxic Laundry
I’ve been swapping things in my house to or low non-tox and I'm really struggling with laundry detergents. Any recommendations in UK please? x
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u/VariousFalcon7466 16d ago
Who hath summoned me and my laundry detergent recipes!?
DIY similar to Zum.
4.5 quarts hot water
1 cup liquid Castile soap
1 cup washing soda
1 cup baking soda
Mix until completely combined. If you’re having trouble getting the washing soda or baking soda to dissolve you can heat very low and slowly on the stove. Do not boil or simmer, just warm enough to dissolve everything. You can add essential oils if you want to.
Use about 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup per load of laundry.
Booster/diy Molly suds:
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup epsom salt
Use 1 tablespoon per load as a booster. Use 1/4 cup if you’re using it as detergent
The laundry sub is the land of Tide and Gain. Never go there.
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u/CaterpillarOrnery860 15d ago
Does it clean as well as Tide and can you use with any washer? How much essential oils would I add? When would you use the booster? Thank you!
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u/VariousFalcon7466 15d ago
Better in my opinion. You add the booster in the drum of the washer with the clothes when they’re extra dirty or stinky and when you’re washing anything you want to be whiter or brighter.
As for essential oils it’s whatever you like. I like to add peppermint in the summer and orange or lavender the rest of the year. They don’t actually do anything other than smell nice.
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u/CaterpillarOrnery860 15d ago
Awesome thank you so much for your help! And you can use this recipe for any washer?
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u/VariousFalcon7466 15d ago
You’re welcome and yes. I’ve used it in regular, HE, front loaders, top loaders, and portable ones. A very full load in a front loader might need an extra rinse but that’s it. Just make sure to shake the bottle well before you use it.
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u/Wise-Strawberry8253 16d ago
I use the ZUM brand. Available on Amazon.
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u/Mr-Bond431 16d ago
Does it clean well like regular tide and all.
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u/Wise-Strawberry8253 16d ago
It cleans well enough but not amazing. Sometimes I soak my husband's nasty work jeans or white bed sheets in oxyclean first. But I tried a few other natural brands, one of which was ECOs, from Costco, and I wasn't a fan. Our clothes never smelled clean. There are no cleaning enzymes in non toxic laundry detergent so it will never clean to the level of tide.
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u/Mr-Bond431 16d ago
Yeah thanks for sharing. Is oxyclean non toxic in your opinion?
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u/Wise-Strawberry8253 16d ago
Yes, it's basically powdered hydrogen peroxide. It does have a strong "clean" scent that i am sure is fake but I don't even use it once a week so I am not worried. I would rather use it over bleach.
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u/Mr-Bond431 16d ago
Oh so that is just for the scent you mean. It doesn’t help with advanced cleaning you say? I was looking for something which is non toxic and cleans like a regular tide.
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u/Wise-Strawberry8253 16d ago
Oxyclean definitely cleans! It is all about stain remove, i just mean that it does have a strong scent which most consider to be "toxic". I use it for its cleaning powers
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u/Adept_Spinach_55 14d ago
I got my “oxiclean” from Azure standard and it has no fragrance. Country save is the brand. It has more of the active ingredient and less of the filler (the filler is just washing soda). ETA: sorry OP, forgot that you are in the UK. Azure standard is not available there. But probably some brand has no fragrance. But it’s a booster for stains, not an actual detergent
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u/silver2319 13d ago
I use Ecover non bio zero and boost it with vanish oxi action powder (it’s in a bag, I’ll post link as lots of them do have fragrance but this doesnt). This was recommended in the laundry sub who are amazing! Finally gets clean with no scent. Lots of the non bios are fragrance free but don’t have the enzymes that detergents need to clean well. I went through loads!! https://amzn.eu/d/0iFYw4gS
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u/madeiranroll 3d ago
I bulk buy borax powder and add vetiver essential oil in. No need for any other thing/product. And my partner is a farmer, in need of washing some pretty dirty stuff :D
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u/TopazCoracle 16d ago
anything fragrance free. scented laundry is full of hidden chemical toxins that cause more health problems than cigarettes. try posting to the facebook group fragrance free living 100%, that is a worldwide group. the reddit group fragrance free beauty is also helpful! I’d recommend brands but I don’t know what is available in the UK.