Create a more environmentally friendly laundry routine

Want an environmentally friendly laundry and more money in your purse?

We are bombarded with so many laundry products promising us all sorts of things on such a regular basis that it is hard to imagine that there is an inexpensive, DIY alternative… But there is!

DIY Bleach (for soaking of cleaning)

*Recipe makes around 950 millilitres
INGREDIENTS
• 2 cups of hydrogen peroxide (3 percent solution)
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice OR ½ teaspoon of citric acid
• 2 cups of water
• 10 drops of Lemon essential oil

INSTRUCTIONS
Store in dark or covered bottles, as exposure to light will weaken the solution. Lasts up to 1 month in a clear bottle, 2-3 months in a dark bottle.
*Tip – Add ½ cup of white vinegar and 4-6 drops of Tea Tree essential oil to the wash cycle to naturally brighten your whites.

DIY Fabric Softener

INGREDIENTS
• 1.8 kilos of Epsom salt
• 40 drops Lavender essential oil
• 30 drops Tea Tree essential oil
• 20 drops Lemon essential oil

INSTRUCTIONS
Pour Epsom salt into a large glass or stainless steel bowl. Add essential oils and stir well to combine. Store in a glass jar. Use 1/2 cup for medium to large loads and 1/4 cup for small loads.

HOW TO USE
Add to rinse cycle

Homemade Dryer Balls

MATERIALS
• 100 percent wool yarn or other 100 percent animal yarn
• Essential Oil of your choosing
• Pantyhose (up-cycle pantyhose with runs in them)

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Take the end of the yarn and wrap it around your middle and index finger 10 times. Remove it from the fingers and wrap 2–3 times around the middle (it should look like a bow). This will be the start of your ball.
2. Continue tightly wrapping the yarn around the start, working toward making a round shape. Once your ball is roughly the size of a tennis ball, cut the yarn and tuck the ends into the sides of the ball and repeat this process until you have created four or more balls of yarn.
3. Cut one leg off the pantyhose. Place one ball into the bottom of the leg and tie a knot right above the ball to secure it in place. Repeat until all the balls have been added and secured.
4. Once the balls are tightly secured in the pantyhose, put them in the washer (can be with a load of dirty laundry) and wash on the hottest setting. This will allow the yarn to felt. Felting will make the yarn fuse together, resulting in a solid ball. Once washed, dry the balls thoroughly in the dryer at the highest heat setting.
5. After the balls are completely dry, remove them from the pantyhose and they’re ready for use! Before drying your next load of laundry, add your favourite essential oil to 4–6 dryer balls, toss them in the dryer, and enjoy the smell in your environmentally friendly laundry!

Essential Oils in The Washing Machine Or Dryer

*Natural, safe and effective
• Add 4 drops of Lemon essential oil to a water bottle to pre-treat some stains.
• Add 2 drops to the rinse cycle for lasting benefits:
 Add Citrus Bliss to your towels for an uplifting scent after each shower.
 Add Wild Orange to your workout clothes for an energising scent during your next workout.
 Add Purify to your dish towels for added purifying benefits.
 Add Tea Tree for its cleansing properties.
• Add 2-4 drops of Lavender to unscented dryer sheets or a clean washcloth and further infuse a fresh scent into your environmentally friendly laundry.

Homemade Laundry Detergent

INGREDIENTS
• 1 cup Coconut Soap Flakes
• 1/2 cup Bi Carbonate Soda
• 1/2 cup Oxygen Bleach
• 1/2 cup Washing Soda
• 20 drops of essential oils, either just one, or mixed, you can choose!

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Place all the dry ingredients in a blender or small electric coffee grinder. Blend on high for one minute to ensure all ingredients are combined into a powder.
2. Add essential oils and blend to combine if desired.
3. Store in a sealed glass jar out of sunlight.

HOW TO USE
Put 2-3 tbsp of the homemade laundry detergent in your washing machine dispenser, or in a tub of water to hand wash.
If hand washing, use warm or cold water and let the mixture dissolve completely before adding clothes.
Safe for front and top loading machines. Dissolve first if using in a top loading machine.

For more handy DIY tips with essential oils around the house, you can check our weekly posts on Facebook.

Or check out more recipes on our blog page HERE.

REFERENCES