Eliminating Plastics: Cleaning Edition

Things covered in this issue: Dishwasher Detergent, Dish Soap, Sponges, Laundry Detergent, Laundry Softener

Dishwasher Detergent:

Many of you have probably never even thought about what you use for detergent in your dishwasher. Most dishwashers themselves are made of plastic, but there are some stainless steel varieties. If you want to continue using your dishwasher regardless of what it’s made out of, using a more natural alternative to store bought dish soap is a great idea. Not only does this home made dishwasher soap save you a lot of money, but it is also not in a plastic bottle.

The recipe:

1 large glass jar (for storage)

1 ½ cups--20 Mule Team Borax (found in the laundry section at most stores)

1 ½ cups—Baking Soda

1 cup—Table Salt

(Mix all together and use ¼ cup per dishwasher load)

Video on how to make.

Dish Soap:

Perhaps you do your dishes by hand. The dish soap that is typically found at stores not only comes in plastic but has all sorts of artificial colors and scents added to it. It’s quite simple to make your own dish soap. First you will need a jar/container of some sort to store the soap in (I have put some links below for stainless steal containers that will not break if you drop them into the sink/hit them with a pan, etc). Below the links is a recipe for making soap

Stainless steel soap dispensers:

• Soap Dispenser 1

• Soap Dispenser 2 with Sponge Holder

• Soap Dispenser 3

• Soap Dispenser 4

Several Dish Soap Recipes Found Here.

Dish Sponges:

Many people use dish sponges to wash their dishes (or wipe them off before putting them in the dishwasher). Most of these sponges are made of plastic. There are many alternatives to these potentially harmful sponges. This is not to mention the fact that since most sponges are made of plastic they don’t decompose well (or at all) Dish rags are always a choice. They are relatively easy to make yourself (from old towels you cut to rag size, or by crocheting them). They can also be purchased online. Several companies also have natural sponges available for washing dishes. I have included links to both these sponges and home made dish rags.

Non-Plastic Sponges:

• Agave natural fiber dish sponge

• Twist Clean Eco-Friendly Biodegradable Naked Sponge

• Twist Loofah Dish Scrubber

• Agave Dish Scrubber

Home Made Dish Rags:

• Crochet Dish Cloths

• Crochet Dish Cloths (2)

• Crochet Dish Cloths (3)

• White Crochet Dish cloth (easy to bleach/clean)

• Make your own dish cloths here.

Laundry Detergent:

Just like dishwasher soap and dish soap, laundry detergent comes in a plastic container and often complete with artificial colors, scents, and additives. Making your own is a cost effective alternative that gets you away from plastic. This recipe also works for HE front load washers. It is low suds which is what the “specially made” detergents for these washers are.

• What you need: 1 – 55 ounce box of Arm & Hammer® Super Washing Soda1 – 76 ounce box of 20 Mule Team® Borax (The same you used for dishwasher detergent)
• 1 – 10 pack of 4.5 ounce bars of Ivory® Bar Soap (**note** you can use cheaper soap, I actually had this on hand already. Use whatever tickles your fancy – Other brands of commonly used bar soaps include Pure & Natural®, Fels-Naptha® and/or ZOTE®. Both ZOTE® and Fels-Naptha® are made for and sold as “laundry bar soap.”)

Here’s How

Be sure to store it in a glass jar!

Fabric Softener

The best alternative I have found to store-bought laundry detergent is vinegar. Whenever I tell people this I get a similar response, something to the effect of “Eww, don’t your clothes smell?” or “You end up smelling like an Easter egg though don’t you?” The answer to both of these objections/questions is no. I add approximately a cup of white vinegar to each load I wash (add with detergent, I pour right onto the clothes) and they leave the dryer (or drying rack) with no static and soft as can be.

Store/buy your vinegar in a glass jar.