What can replace the washing powder in an automatic washing machine?

DIY laundry detergent recipes

There are dozens of methods for making a detergent composition at home. The simplest ones are passed down from generation to generation and are constantly used as an alternative to store goods.

Some instructions include aromatic esters, while others focus on whitening and brightening results. Common to all methods is low cost, safety, efficiency.

The order of making the mixture will always be the same:

1. A suitable container is taken. The soap is rubbed on a fine grater.
2. The required ingredients are added to the bowl one by one. Soda is first added to dishes with soap crumbs, then borax and salt. Oily esters are added at the very end.
3. The whole list of elements mixes well. The finished mass is placed in an airtight mold.

The list of ingredients needed to make a liquid cleaner includes:

• water - 1.5 liters;
• soap - half a piece;
• soda ash - 200 g;
• borax - 100 g;
• essential oil - 12-14 drops.

Instructions for preparing the gel:

1. The soap is rubbed with very fine shavings and placed in a pot of hot water.
2. The container is heated over medium heat. The composition languishes until it becomes uniform.
3. Soda and borax (pre-soaked) are added to the mixture. The resulting consistency mixes well. Liquid is topped up if necessary.
4. After complete cooling, aromatic oils are added to the mass.
5. The finished product is poured into a mold, covered with a lid and left in a cool place for 8-10 hours.

The composition for washing baby's clothes has a more gentle structure.

Instead of 72% laundry soap, hypoallergenic baby soap is used. Borax is excluded from the consistency. Soda ash can be replaced with baking soda.

The step-by-step preparation is the same as in the previous recipe for a regular gel. To prevent colds and fungal infections in babies, tea tree, eucalyptus or mint oils are added to the washing structure.

To make a more concentrated pasty mass, simple ingredients are needed: distilled or running water, soap, borax, soda.

The procedure for making the mixture is as follows:

1. The soap is rubbed and placed in the cooking container, filled with cold water.
2. The pan is put on fire and heated until the soap shavings are completely dissolved.
3. Soda and borax are reported in the composition. All ingredients are mixed and simmered until the resulting consistency increases several times.
4. The mass is covered and left to cool.

If the mixture is too thick, you can add a little boiling water, stir and remove for 24 hours in the cold.

The tasks of any air conditioner include:

• make clothes softer and more pleasant;
• rid the fabric of the effect of "electrification";
• facilitate easy ironing of linen.

These functions are easily handled by ordinary vinegar essence. Making a homemade softener is easy enough. 1.5 tablespoons of 9% vinegar are dissolved in 500 ml of warm water, then the same amount of baking soda is gradually added.

Simple recipe

If you are dealing with stubborn dirt, you can try making detergent for washing lightly soiled laundry in an automatic washing machine. You need to take 200 g of borax and 200 g baking soda, mix these powders and pour into a dry, hermetically sealed container. As soon as the time comes to wash, using a measuring container, you will need to collect about 30 g of powder for 2 kg of laundry, pour this powder into a glass, then top up the glass to the brim with hot water and stir the contents with a spoon.

After that, the simplest washing solution can be poured into the powder drawer and the favorite washing program can be started. When using this powder, it is better not to wash things in cold water, but boiling water is useless! The optimal temperature regime is 40-60 C.

Multi-ingredient recipe

Slightly more effective, but certainly absolutely safe for clothes and the washing machine, the following recipe for homemade powder seems to be. It can not be considered a full-fledged replacement for store-bought powder, but in some cases it copes with its task very well. We take the following ingredients:

1. 200 g of baking soda;
2. 200 g borax;
3. 200 g table salt;
4. 100 ml wine vinegar.

All of the above ingredients can be mixed except for wine vinegar. We pour the vinegar into a separate container and put it next to the jar, into which the mixture of baking soda, borax and table salt was previously poured. We will use the tool like this.

• Using a measuring container, measure out 40 g of powder, and 2 teaspoons of vinegar for every 2 kg of laundry.
• Pour the powder into the main wash compartment.
• Pour the vinegar into the rinse aid compartment.
• We put not too dirty colored items in the drum and start the wash.

Is it possible to wash snow-white items or heavily fading colored items with this powder? Practice shows that this is not necessary. We carried out appropriate tests and in one wash out of three, we ruined a white item. The quality of washing colored items with homemade powder also does not reach the level of factory powder, but sometimes it is quite possible to wash with such a detergent. Precisely "wash sometimes", and not replace the usual powder with homemade.

How to improve the effectiveness of home remedies?

Experienced housewives, not without reason, argue that if you wash correctly, then you will not need any expensive washing powders. Their advice is very simple, but at the same time, many have forgotten about them, getting used to the conveniences that automatic washing machines create.

• Before putting things in the drum of the washing machine, soak them in a basin of water for 10-15 minutes. Pre-dissolve a little homemade powder in water. In this short time, the powder will pick up dirt. Then the clothes can be wrung out, put into the washing machine and the washing program can be started.
• Before washing, you can distribute clothes not only by the type of fabric and color, but also by the type of dirt. For example, soak things stained with blood in cold water, and treat things with red wine stains with ammonia mixed with hydrogen peroxide. After that, the stains are easily removed, even with the use of homemade powder.
• Assess how dirty the item is before washing. If the item is very dirty, put it aside and wash it, then separately with an expensive powder.

In conclusion, we note that no home remedy can completely replace ordinary powder for washing machines. However, alternating ordinary powder with homemade one can save a lot by washing in an automatic washing machine. It remains only to prepare such a powder yourself. Good luck!

And a little about prevention

• Use just as much powder, bleach and conditioner as you really need (see the manufacturer's instructions). After all, excess detergents do not enhance the result, but simply settle and accumulate inside the washing machine.
• Always remove small items from pockets so that they do not clog the drain filter.
• Try not to delay starting the machine if you have already thrown dirty things into the drum. Well, take out clean things immediately after washing and send them to dry.
• Try to keep the machine open at all times to prevent the build-up of mold due to high humidity.

What components can replace purchased powders

It is clear that the environmental friendliness of the detergent is extremely important, but its main function is to make our things clean and smell good. What can replace chemical powders.

• The simplest soap. If you ask your grandmothers what they used to wash dirty laundry, they will tell you that they used mostly regular laundry soap. Laundry soap containing 72% alkali will not only perfectly cope with all kinds of dirt, but also disinfect linen well, as it has antibacterial properties. In addition, it is made from natural ingredients.
• Borax or sodium tetraborate is a mineral substance. This powder can be bought at any pharmacy for a cheap price. Borax not only perfectly washes, but also perfectly disinfects laundry. Therefore, it is indispensable for making homemade powders, that is, at home, especially for washing children's clothes.
• Soda. Both food grade and calcined are suitable. This is a good bleaching agent, which also removes unpleasant odors from clothes, and softens the water, which makes the wash better.
• Vinegar and citric acid have the same water softening properties. Due to the fact that acids kill bacteria and fungi, their use is indispensable in eliminating unpleasant odors, including the damp smell of mold.
• Additional components include any natural essential oils that will replace the role of fragrances. Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful bleach containing mainly atomic oxygen and is a powerful disinfectant and safe for health. Dry mustard powder is a good disinfectant and washes things well. Suitable, however, only for hand washing. Salt is capable of enhancing the washing action of the main components, when the laundry is soaked in salt, it makes it stronger, kills the micro-pathogenic environment and eliminates bad odors.

Tip: Before you start making your home laundry detergent, decide which ingredients work best for you. For example, to whiten clothes, feel free to use bleaching agents and vice versa, you cannot use peroxide to wash colored clothes. Vinegar, on the other hand, has a very good effect on the preservation of the color of the fabric.

Natural homemade laundry recipes

The homemade mixture contains inexpensive and safe substances. Knowledge of the features of simple elements allows you to make a high-quality and effective detergent composition.

Soda ash is the main component of the popular Calgon anti-scale product. The advertised product for an automatic machine is not cheap. Buying a natural softener saves you money and doesn't overpay for the brand.

There are several ways to make a natural laundry detergent, and the ingredients are not very different.

Dry powders

To prepare a free-flowing powder for washing cotton and linen fabrics, you will need:

• laundry soap (72%) - 150 g;
• baking soda - 500 g;
• soda ash - 400 g;
• salt - 2 tbsp. l.

Add a few drops of essential oil to add flavor to your garments.

It is advisable to use natural dark soap for the preparation of washing powder

Lightly dry the laundry soap and grind on a grater, then add the rest of the ingredients to it and mix thoroughly. Add the essential oil at the very end, and then stir the mixture again.

To use the powder in an automatic machine, the soap must be grated finely, otherwise its grains may remain on the clothes Ingredients are mixed by hand or using a blender

To wash silk or wool clothes, use the following recipe:

• laundry soap - 150 g;
• salt - 500 g;
• citric acid - 3 tbsp. l.

Citric acid provides favorable conditions for washing wool and silk, and also gives freshness to clothes

You can substitute baking soda for salt, but this recipe is not suitable for colored fabrics. The cooking process does not differ from the previous one: grind the soap on a grater, add salt, citric acid, mix the powder thoroughly and use it as directed.

Salt during washing retains color, does not allow things to fade

To wash clothes made of artificial fabrics, prepare the following powder:

• laundry soap - 150 g;
• baking soda - 700 g;
• soda ash - 200 g.

Grind the laundry soap on a grater, mix it with the rest of the ingredients.

Most of the soda ash is replaced by baking soda in a detergent for fabrics made from man-made fibers.

For children's clothes, a washing powder prepared according to this recipe is suitable:

• laundry soap - 150 g;
• baking soda - 500 g;
• borax - 200 g;
• tea tree essential oil - 5-7 drops.

Borax (sodium tetraborate) has antifungal and antibacterial effect, perfect for washing children's clothes

You can use dry mustard as a washing powder - it is suitable for use in automatic machines, removes dirt and makes clothes fresh. If you need to remove stubborn stains, first apply mustard to it and then add 50g to the machine.

Liquid Powder

To make a liquid laundry detergent, you need the following ingredients:

• laundry soap - 1 piece;
• water - 20 liters;
• borax - 0.5 cups;
• soda ash - 1 glass;
• essential oil - 30 drops.

Grate the laundry soap and transfer to a saucepan, then add enough water to completely cover the shavings. Place a saucepan over medium heat and cook until smooth. Fill a bucket halfway with boiling water, add borax, soda and dissolved soap to it.

Immediately after cooling, the liquid product must be poured into containers, tightly closed with lids and placed in a cold place.

Why are industrial powders dangerous?

To understand what harm industrial synthetic detergents can cause, it is enough to read their composition on the packaging. What do we most often find there.

• Substances marked A - surfactants, and more specifically - anionic surfactants. With their help, during washing and soaking of linen, various types of dirt, as well as grease, are eliminated. They form well lather. Their disadvantage is that the A-surfactant molecules are not completely rinsed out of the tissue fibers.They easily penetrate the body upon contact with washed clothes, which causes skin irritation, allergies and other undesirable processes. In addition, they are able to accumulate over time in the tissues of the body and internal organs, which slows down metabolism, affects a decrease in immunity, and the worst thing is that it is impossible to remove them completely from the body.
• Although sodium sulfates are considered relatively safe for humans, they can enhance the negative effects of surfactants. Basically, they are used as a filler, that is, to add volume to the powder and, accordingly, to reduce the cost of the detergent.
• Substances such as enzymes are capable of breaking down even stubborn stains, however, with frequent washing, they significantly damage the fabric, destroying the structure of the fibers. As a rule, things subsequently wear out quickly, become covered with pellets and even break.
• Whitening agents impart optical whiteness to the laundry. Their role is to settle on the surface structure of the tissue and reflect light. As a result, they not only penetrate the skin into the human body, but also accumulate in it, which leads to its slow poisoning.
• Fragrances (fragrances) make the washed clothes pleasant to smell. Side effects - can cause headaches, allergies, and provoke asthmatic manifestations.
• Phthalates are substances that retain perfume in the fibers of matter. They are able to penetrate into the bloodstream, through the skin and the respiratory system. They tend to accumulate in the body, which, according to recent research by scientists, can lead to impotence and infertility.
• Phosphates are the most dangerous substances. They are added to water softening powders to improve washing performance. Moreover, it is impossible to completely get rid of them even with the most careful and long-term rinsing regime. Penetrating into the body, over time it is poisoned, as they are toxic to the liver, kidneys and other organs. Phosphates have a bad effect on metabolic processes, lead to an exacerbation of chronic diseases and can even change the composition of the blood.

IMPORTANT! All the above data indicate that industrial powders are extremely dangerous for human health, and even more so for children.

Home remedies for laundry

• Laundry soap is suitable for washing natural materials and baby clothes. Choose a bar of the first category with a 72% fat content. It effectively removes stains and dirt, whitens laundry and softens fabric fibers. For an effective result, mix 20 ml of grated soap shavings with a teaspoon of soda, but soda is not used for black and fading laundry. It leaves white marks and streaks on clothing and can also cause discoloration;
• The baking soda is suitable for washing cotton and linen items. It washes effectively thick and rough fabrics, but is not suitable for wool or silk. Otherwise, the materials will become stiff and wear out in a short time. Wash cotton and linen at 60-90 degrees;
• Ash is suitable for washing and bleaching clothes. Use only plant-based products, preferably hardwoods such as birch or aspen. To wash white laundry, sprinkle the ashes in a gauze cloth, wrap and tie a bag, which you put in a container of water and dirty clothes. Place the container on the stove and boil. Cool solution, wash and rinse in clean water. Universal ash suitable for bleaching synthetics, natural cotton and linen;
• Hydrogen peroxide and ammonia will also replace chemical bleaching agents. Dissolve two tablespoons of peroxide and a tablespoon of ammonia into ten liters of water. Mix and put things in the prepared solution. Leave on for a few hours and rinse. As a result, the clothes will return freshness and whiteness;
• For bleaching, you can use a solution of potassium permanganate and a soap solution from shavings of household or antibacterial soap. Combine both mixtures and put two or three white items in there to be bleached.Leave it on overnight and then rinse. As a result, you will get a snow-white fabric without stains and dirt;
• Dry mustard is a suitable solution for wool and silk, for children's clothes. It preserves the freshness and softness of such things, acts softly and accurately, is well washed out of the fabric and does not cause negative reactions. But not suitable for cotton products. For washing in a machine, use 50 grams of mustard powder and a temperature of up to forty degrees. For stubborn stains and dirt, pre-apply a mixture of water and mustard. Leave it on for ten minutes and wash. With the manual method, add twenty grams of dry mustard per liter of water and leave it for two hours. Drain the liquid and mix the sediment with hot water;
• Soap root is also suitable for wool and silk. In addition, it is ideal for washing large amounts of laundry. For water procedures, pour 50 grams of chopped water with two glasses of boiled water and leave for a day. We put the resulting mixture on a small fire and keep it for an hour. Then we cool and filter. After water procedures, we rinse the linen in warm water. For wool, you can add two teaspoons of ammonia to make the fabric soft and pleasant to the touch;
• Beans are an unexpected but very effective product when washing woolen items. Pour two hundred grams of grains with a liter of water and cook. Use ready-made beans for cooking. The broth must be cooled and filtered, poured into a container with hot water and beat until foam forms. Wash your clothes and then rinse them in cold water. For a final rinse to soften things, put a tablespoon of vinegar in a quart of water;
• Table salt effectively washes linen and chintz, while retaining the color and brightness of things even after repeated washings, has a gentle and delicate effect. The product is used to remove small stains and light dirt. The washing solution is prepared with a tablespoon of salt per liter of water. Stir the salt so that it dissolves immediately. Leave the composition for an hour, and then soak things for an hour too. Then lightly wash the garments and rinse in clean water.

If you are an advocate of using gels and liquid detergents, use a bar of laundry, antibacterial, or tar soap. Grate the piece, then pour the soap shavings with water in a volume of ten liters and set to cook until a homogeneous mixture is formed. Add another ten liters of water, add a glass of baking soda and half a glass of borax.

Laundry soap

The advantages of using laundry soap for washing are the following effects:

• disinfectant;
• whitening;
• elimination of stains of organic origin.

The product does not damage the fabric. After using it, the linen becomes clean and pleasant to the touch. However, when washing colored items, it can cause them to lose their color brightness. Laundry soap is not effective for inorganic stains. Against complex pollution, this folk remedy is not effective enough.

To wash things with laundry soap, you must first grate it on a fine grater. The presence of large pieces in the total mass is unacceptable. Soap stains will remain on things. Fine soapy shavings are poured with warm water, mixed thoroughly. The soap should be completely dissolved. The resulting substance is poured directly into the drum of the washing machine, having previously loaded dirty things there.

Soap shavings are preferable for hand washing

It should be used with caution in the car. The product tends to adhere to the inner surfaces of the household appliance, enveloping them

This threatens the removal of the washing machine from working condition. Breakage can be prevented by thoroughly cleaning the interior of the equipment from soap deposits after each use of this folk remedy.

How much powder do you need for washing?

The recommended dosage of detergent is indicated on the package, but experience shows that the indicated amount can be safely halved. The quality of washing will not suffer from this at all, but the consumption of powder will be noticeably reduced. It turns out that for a regular wash we fall asleep 1 tbsp / spoon for 2 kilograms of dry linen. If the laundry is really heavily soiled, then add 1 tbsp / spoon of the product per 1 kilogram. If the powder says "compact", then the funds are needed half as much. Do not pour more, even if it seems to you that it is too little. Powder "compact" is not as loose as usual and excess powder will remain wet in the compartment, and the laundry will have to be rinsed again.

By the same principle, you can calculate the amount of air conditioner - we look at what is indicated on the package and divide it in half. It is best to first dilute the concentrate in water in a 1: 3 ratio (one part conditioner to three parts water).

The best powders for washing machines, according to buyers, from the most famous brands:

Manufacturer table and features of powder types

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