Difficulté
Très facile
Durée
2 jour(s)
Coût
0 EUR (€)
Description
A free laundry recipe that doesn't need heating, keeps for several months and even acts as a fertiliser! This base can also be used to clean floors and dishes.
Introduction
Ah laundry detergent, those famous adverts and the very smelly detergent dispenser! It can sometimes be a headache to find the detergent that's right for you (suitable for your clothes/sensitive skin, perfumed but not too much, with ingredients that aren't too allergenic or bad for the environment...). The problem is that the ingredients listed on detergents and cleaning products are very limited: you'll often find "contains ionic and anionic agents", but it's hard to find anything more vague than that! Especially as commercial detergents are often expensive, and organic or ecological detergents are no more transparent about their composition (even if some claim to contain 100% natural or plant-based detergents). In any case, buying commercial detergents means producing a lot of waste, especially if you use plastic bottles, tablets or cans. In this tutorial, I'll show you a quick, easy and economical way to make your own 100% biodegradable washing powder!
Advantages: Single-ingredient, can be made without heating, natural fertiliser, no odour and doesn't obstruct drains, free because you can use a "waste product" from wood fires. Unlimited conservation thanks to the basic pH.
Disadvantages: not suitable for delicate laundry, tends to make white laundry dull in the long term (can be made up with percarbonate), for the garden be careful because pH basic.
The large majority of detergents used are based on products containing sodium as the active agent, which once released into the environment is not only alkalinising (increases the pH) but also salinising in the long term. One of the great advantages of ash detergents is that the active ingredient is potash (the ionic form of potassium, the K in the famous N-P-K tryptic of agricultural fertilisation). Even if the discharge from your washing water continues to be alkalinising, it will fertilise your environment with an element that is often forgotten by gardeners and is harder to provide than nitrogen !
How does it work ? After stirring, the liquid is loaded with potassium salts. In the washing machine, when it comes into contact with the grease on the dirty clothes, this potash is transformed into soap. Basically, the more grease there is, the better it washes !
Matériaux
- Ash
- Water
Outils
- Tami (to remove pieces of charcoal and residue)
- Bucket/bowl/large container
- Cloth for filtering
- Stick or rod for mixing
- Empty jug or bottle
Étape 1 - Screening
Once the ash has been collected, take the time to screen it over a bucket to eliminate anything that is not ash and could float ( charcoal, wood) or sink ( metal from the crates etc).
Be careful, the fine dust from the ash can irritate the eyes and lungs. You can wear a mask and goggles if you feel uncomfortable. For your own comfort, try to stand outside in a place sheltered from the wind.
Étape 2 - Maceration
Pour into a large bucket or bin with a lid (to prevent rain and other outside elements from falling in).
- 1 part sieved ash
- 2 parts water
Stir well and leave to macerate for at least 48 hours, stirring occasionally if possible. You can forget about this maceration for several days/weeks/months, as it will continue to concentrate until it stabilises.
Étape 3 - Filtration
This step is not necessary - you can just use the macerating bucket and take the volume of detergent you need from the surface, making sure you let the ash settle to the bottom.
If you want to filter, take a clean cloth, gloves and a bucket. After filtering in a large bucket/pan, it's easier to transfer the detergent into a bottle/jug with a funnel.
The colour can vary according to the filtering: transparent or yellow/brown. Simply allow to settle and remove any remaining charcoal before mixing with water.
Étape 4 - Use and conservation
Ash detergent has a very high pH (basic), making it impossible for it to ferment. It can therefore be kept for over a year without needing to be kept in a fresh place, but exposure to the shade won't do it any harm.
How to use :
Notes et références
Little tips:
- Pour le linge blanc il est possible d'ajouter une poignée de percarbonate (avec des gants!!) dans le tambour de la machine. L'effet blanchissant se fait à partir de 40°C.
- Pour économiser de la lessive (jusqu’à 50%) tout en lavant mieux par brassage vous pouvez utiliser des balles de lavages. Plutôt que d’en acheter, vous pouvez utiliser des balles de tennis, ou toute autre balle "molle" qui résistera à un lavage en machine. Attention pour la santé de votre machine et le bruit on évitera les balles de golf !
- Si vous avez une eau très dure et/ou que vous trouvez que votre lessive de cendre ne lave pas assez bien vous pouvez ajouter 1 poignée de bicarbonate par litre de lessive.
- En adoucissant vous pouvez utiliser du vinaigre blanc dans le compartiment adapté
- Si vous souhaitez pafumer votre linge, vous pouvez soit utiliser une "eau de linge", spray à base d'hydrolat ou d'infusion de plante, ou mettre quelques gouttes d'huiles essentielles dans la lessive (mais ce serait un peu du gachi pour ces concentrés médicinaux)
- Pour les tâches tenaces n'hésitez pas à les traiter au plus vite, avant de mettre en lessive pour plus d'efficacité.
- Sang : rincer rapidement à l'eau FROIDE, si urgence déposer de la salive (les enzymes éliminent la tache) ou frotter avec du bicarbonate
- Fruits et légumes, gazon : racler le surplus, rincer à l'eau froide puis appliquer du vinaigre. Laisser agir 15-30 min puis laver au savon de Marseille
- Boue : laisser sécher puis frotter l'excès. Laver ensuite au savon et si tenace ajouter un peu de vinaigre blanc ou de citron sur la tache avant de mettre en machine
- Suie, charbon, mazout : frotter avec un corps gras (huile, beurre) et éponger le plus d'excédent possible, puis frotter au savon noir ou de Marseille
- Gras/huile : appliquer de l'amidon (farine, maïzena), de la terre de sommière ou de l'argile pour absorber le surplus puis laver au savon noir/de Marseille
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