| Author | Content |
enya_34
Madison, WI
January 29, 2008
2:53 PM Post #4469918
| I am trying to eliminate synthetic chemicals from my household. One area I have not found a good alternative yet is dish washing. I'd like to hear from those who did a bit of research and found an inexpensive, sustainable and easy to use solution. I'd also be grateful to learn about harmful substances to watch for. |
CascadeMom
Cascade Mtns, WA
(Zone 6a)
January 29, 2008
10:28 PM Post #4471822
| I use this basic recipe and it works great.
I don't have a dishwashing machine so this is for hand washing dishes.
1 bar Ivory soap
grate and put in saucepan add about 2Cups water and warm- stir until completely dissolved.
In large bucket add 2 gallons HOT tap water
Add soap mixture to bucket and stir in...
1 cup washing soda (not baking soda) or PH UP from pool store. also known as sodium carbonate or soda ash.
Stir until complete dissolved, and then stir occasionally while it cools.
It will gel or thicken as it cools.
Store in old plasitic or glass containers.
Some people say to add a few drops of DAWN dish detergent but I haven't found it necessary.
|
mellielong
Lutz, FL
(Zone 9b)
January 30, 2008
7:09 PM Post #4475294
| Yup, the UF Cooperative Extension calls that "soap jelly". Check out this article for lots of recipes for alternative cleansers. [HYPERLINK@edis.ifas.ufl.edu]
Melanie |
CascadeMom
Cascade Mtns, WA
(Zone 6a)
January 30, 2008
8:15 PM Post #4475611
| Soap Jelly ... I like it ;)
Thanks for the link. |
mellielong
Lutz, FL
(Zone 9b)
January 30, 2008
8:27 PM Post #4475670
| You're welcome! |
sallyg
Anne Arundel Co., MD
(Zone 7a)
January 30, 2008
9:31 PM Post #4476019
| I read, then re read and realized you're making 2 gallons of cleaner from one bar of Ivory and some soda- that has to be incredibly cheap! That would last me forever. |
CascadeMom
Cascade Mtns, WA
(Zone 6a)
January 30, 2008
9:39 PM Post #4476049
| :) you got it~! plus it eleminates the packaging and plastic bottles and the gas for transporting it and you to the store.
Dilute it , add vinegar and you can clean the whole house on pennies!!!
|
godsplace
Toledo, IA
(Zone 4a)
January 31, 2008
4:23 PM Post #4479316
| HI ----look at a hulda clark book how to cure all diseases----orthe cure for all cancers---this is one for dishwashing---take twenty mule team borax and--take one gallon jug and put 1/8 cup fill with cold tap water and shake several different times---then pour off into another container like a spring water bottle for drinking with popup top--it will never suds tho also if you use it for shampoo rinse when showering rinse very good -you should leave your scalp slightly acid--or you can rinse with citric acid not ascorbic acid vitamin c take the citric acid and put 1/4 tsp in a pint of water and use for rinse-for long hair use a quart ---some people said it makes their hair curlier or reddens it -if you think so put a 1/8 teaspoon of citric acid crystals instead--stevo--if you have a fax machine i could fax the rest to you--but if you are really interested in cleaning out your home maby you could find cure for cancer by hulda clark in a used book store--it really leaves no stone unturned--stevo |
CascadeMom
Cascade Mtns, WA
(Zone 6a)
January 31, 2008
4:34 PM Post #4479366
| Interesting... I'll see if our library has the book.
But for hair rinse I fill an old squeeze bottle with 1tbs vinegar to 2cups water.
Just a squirt or two does it.
softens the water, removes shampoos residue, and any deposits from hard water.
simple basic easy and cheap. |
mellielong
Lutz, FL
(Zone 9b)
January 31, 2008
6:07 PM Post #4479706
| You know, the environmentalists and sustainable folks should really start pressing the financial advantages to being green. I know people are getting more sensitive to the price of gas; maybe it would work for household cleaners as well? Oprah should have a show - "Clean your house for less than $20", LOL! |
Bec_No_Va
DC metro, VA
(Zone 7a)
January 31, 2008
8:56 PM Post #4480329
| Just started using Mrs. Myers cleaning supplies and the dish soap is really nice - cleans, pleasant smell and "green" :-) |
sallyg
Anne Arundel Co., MD
(Zone 7a)
January 31, 2008
9:03 PM Post #4480364
| Hi, Bec- is it cheap tho? or pricey? seemed like the stuff I looked at at my natural store was pricey.
I have not done much comparison shopping for natural products.
|
Bec_No_Va
DC metro, VA
(Zone 7a)
January 31, 2008
11:24 PM Post #4480951
| In between - and smells oh so good!
[HYPERLINK@www.mrsmeyers.com]
|
enya_34
Madison, WI
February 1, 2008
4:45 PM Post #4483197
| CascadeMom,
I'll definitely try your jelly! I do have a dishwasher, but find that doing
a few dishes by hand actually goes fast :) And since I stopped frying,
it's no problem to do pans too.
Melanie,
Thank you for the link. It's just the right starter for me at this point,
very practical and short.
|
asterismos
Boone, NC
February 1, 2008
5:15 PM Post #4483322
| I use homesoap (brand name; can be found in health food stores or search online) to wash my dishes in the sink by hand. You can use homesoap to wash just about everything in your home and this is what boaters use to wash their boats as it does not pollute. I use 1 part castille soap, 2 parts water, 2 parts vinegar, drops of tea tree essential oil and fresh lemon juice to wash my dishes in the dishwasher. |
mellielong
Lutz, FL
(Zone 9b)
February 1, 2008
5:55 PM Post #4483447
| Glad the article helped! The UF Cooperative extension is my go-to source for things I don't know. Well, that and DG! The people here are amazing and always willing to share their knowledge. |
