Clean your clothes without detergent

[PlayingWithFire]

Sorry - I just read all the other contributions - I should have done so first before writing - ignore me!

[Lyds]

[/b]In reply to the asthma question the answer is YES. It was not until both my children were diagnosed as asthmatic that I beganto change my way of thinking. Over the years I have outlawed aerosols, artificial colouring, all additives and processed food, strong detergents and cheap bath products. We also took up our carpets as they wore out and sanded and varnished the floor boards and opened up our chimney when the gas fire packed up.
All this has resulted in non-wheezy kids. They only show symptoms of asthma during their annual cold in jan/feb (we are allowed one cold each per year). My own asthma is a thing of the past and I expect my inhaleris years out of date!

My space baris playingup

[SUPEwoman]

Before I discovered this site, I bought some "Eco-balls". I'd already reduced my detergent use to as little as possible, but was still not happy about using it. One of the cons mentioned of using these balls was that the laundry didn't smell of anything once washed. Brilliant! I hate the artificial fragrances used in laundry products and always tried to avoid them.

I'm satisfied with my balls. I spot treat stains (as before) and everything goes through on the qickest wash. Every so often I use detergent on my whites but the coloureds are fine. My son works in a kitchen and his black uniform is covered with food and sauce at the end of a shift, these come out clean.

[2steps]

I have really reduced down the amount of detergent I use and use the shortest wash cycle but a while ago my washing machine broke. As we could afford to fix it I had to hand wash stuf fin the bath. I just filled the bath with water, put in the clothes, left them to soak. Me and my daughter walked all over them (which she thought was great fun) and then I emptied that water and rinsed teh clothes with fresh water. The hardest part was ringing the water out. Weather was bad so I had to dry most inside so no good if it was dripping. I was doing this for several months and got all the clothes clean ok.

Have also used no powder in the machine when I've run out

I like the idea of the balls

[SUPEwoman]

Yes, I've done that too with good results. Whilst on holiday this year my son phoned to say the door had dropped off the washer. Not wanting to go back with a mountain of dirty clothes and not wanting to pay out to have them laundered, I washed them in the bath in exactly the same way. Fortunately the weather was warm enough to drip dry everything outside as some items I didn't want to wring too hard and put lots of creases in.

I wouldn't like to do it this way long term though. Like most things self-sufficient and eco-friendly, they take time to complete. Fine if you're not out at work all day!

[2steps]

yes, thats very true. wouldn't want to have to do it all the time and through the winter it'd be hard going too. I'm lucky I work from home and can do my work anytime so it fits in well with anything else I need to do

[steve64]

Before I discovered this site, I bought some "Eco-balls" They work for me, and over the last 6 months we have only bought one small pack of washing powder, for whites and stubborn stains (kid’s clothes)
Just one point with most people showering or having a bath every day, most clothes don’t get that dirty! Especially if they ere only worn once. All they need is a posh rinse "Eco-balls" are Perfect for this.

[Shirley]

very good point Steve!

I've got a little eco ball thingy that I bought from Lakeland and it works really well. I'm about to try soapnuts - they have been discussed in great detail on another board and the general opinion is that they are the best thing since sliced bread... will have a go asap

I guess we could always trample our clothes when in the shower and save even more

[AnnetteR]

I've been washing clothes in a tub in my bathroom, using baking soda in place of detergents. My son and I don't get especially dirty so I don't know how well my methods work for stains, but I toss the clothes in and let them soak for a good while, occassionally stirring with a wood post, rinse, then rinse in a fresh tub that I reuse to wash another load. My clothes are clean to my eye and I love that they don't have an apparent odor.

[ina]

I guess we could always trample our clothes when in the shower and save even more

Must admit, I do that occasionally with my really dirty work clothes. Or soak them in the bath water - but then I don't have a bath very often. After that the eco balls are perfectly sufficient to get the stuff reasonably clean.

[den_the_cat]

eco balls are great, I've had a lakeland one for years which has way outlasted the stated number of washes and if I have something really dirty I'll use fairy laundry soap on the grubby bits. Occasionally whites start to look a bit grey and I stick a powder tablet in with the wash but not that often.

[eztiger]

I will be using vinger from now on. As a family of five we generate quite alot of washing. I always use the eco wash progrom to save water do you think if i only use vinger it should be on a full water cycle ( if u know wot i mean?) Sure svae money as well. soap powder is expensive.

[Wombat]

It will be intersting to hear how the vinegar works, cleaning agents are usually alkaline to emulsify the fatty (hydrophobic) soiling not acid.............worth a go to see how it works!

You will keep us informed won't you Eztiger?

Nev

[Stonehead]

Our ecoballs arrived with the postman today, but I've already discovered a problem. They might not need detergent, but the instructions explicitly say that they must be used on a full water cycle - not Evo or Water Save.

That's a major problem for us with our water rationing!


Stonehead

[Stonehead]

And another problem - I've just taken ou the first load of washing done with the ecoballs but the clothes are not clean.

Okay, I admit giving the ecoballs the toughest job first. The load included a boiler suit liberally splashed with mud, pig muck, diesel, creosote and limewash.

The diesel and creosote were given a rub with stain remover, and about 50 per cent came off. The limewash all came off.

However, only 70-80 per cent of the pig muck and general dirt came off. This is an issue as the pig muck and dirt can harbour e-coli and other nasties - even with the water temperature set to 60C, you have to get all the dirt off so that none of the bacteria are protected from the hot water.

Also, the muck and dirt that came off was evenly distributed around the other clothes in the load (just old shirts that I wear outside), so they came out slightly dirtier than when they went in.

I'm going to try the ecoballs with a less soiled load next, but I have to say this first load was a disappointment. What will add more interest to the next test is that we usually cold wash (except for heavy soiling with manure).

At the very least, heavily soiled loads are going to have to continue to be done with detergent of some sort. But it will be annoying if I find we have to use more water and higher temperatures to get the ecoballs to work!

Stonehead