tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820700679068317192.post2610814027434584293..comments2019-12-21T08:46:34.749+13:00Comments on The Virtuous Circle: DIY Cleaning Products ep.2Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820700679068317192.post-33441101177331021942011-08-03T20:07:57.641+12:002011-08-03T20:07:57.641+12:00Personally, I'm of the opinion that perhaps we...Personally, I'm of the opinion that perhaps we should try a small batch without the borax and see whether it works ok. The washing powder recipe on Greengoddess.co.nz doesn't contain borax so surely it would work without?Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00635355004569617341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820700679068317192.post-45433250631603946092011-08-03T19:10:23.565+12:002011-08-03T19:10:23.565+12:00Hi Heather, I'm pretty sure (but I could be wr...Hi Heather, I'm pretty sure (but I could be wrong) that washing soda and borax do more than just soften the water. But yes Borax isn't the best for the environment and health, and you can leave it out if you want. However the recipe only has 50g in 7.5L so it's not a big deal. With a nearly one year old and the job I do, we need all the stain removing power we can get!Kelvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15612927741856212800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820700679068317192.post-64263055118569978642011-08-03T16:32:09.391+12:002011-08-03T16:32:09.391+12:00Just a thought: I see that both washing soda and b...Just a thought: I see that both washing soda and borax appear in your recipe. These chemicals both 'soften' hard water. If the water has lots of minerals in it (i.e. it is 'hard') then these minerals 'bind' to the soap molecules meaning lots of the soap is tied up with that and can't actually clean anythig. Both washing soda and borax 'soften' the water and leave the soap to do its job.<br /><br />However, Auckland's water is really pretty soft and so you don't need both. We've washed our clothes with just grated soap and washing soda for a year or so with no problems, although admittedly we don't have children!<br /><br />And if you're going to take out either the washing soda or the borax from your recipe, I think the clear environmental choice is the borax. Borax is pretty troublesome stuff. A bit like palm oil, borax is (relatively) harmless to the consumer and harmless in the environment, but it's produced in a pretty non-ideal way.<br /><br />Borax is mined. For me, mining is always a danger flag (although it's completely impossible to remove all mined products from your life!).<br /><br />Firstly, anything that you mine is, by definition, non-renewable. This is more of a problem the more scarce a substance is: iron is technically non-renewable, but it'd take us millenia to run out and anyway it's easily recyclable! But boron's only found in a couple of places on the planet and will run out one day, plus it's very hard to recycle something you dissolve in water and send down the sewer.<br /><br />Secondly, all mining except open-cast mining is pretty dangerous, and open-cast mining (which I think they use for boron) is pretty bad for the local enviroment. I like to ask myself if it is really worth someone having to go down a mine in order for me to have XYZ.<br /><br />If you find that the detergent doesn't remove really tough stains once you've removed the borax, maybe you can use two recipes: an everyday one without borax, and a tough stains one for when you really need it.<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />--Heather :-)Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17588832912375311757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820700679068317192.post-73360589122067849402011-08-01T18:26:24.574+12:002011-08-01T18:26:24.574+12:00I'm definitely going to start using home made ...I'm definitely going to start using home made and eco friendly cleaning stuff, as well as being better for the environment, I'm sure it is better for us - not breathing it in, not getting it on our skin etc!<br />I've started using organic shampoo too, and love it! :)2 dogs + 1 cat + 2 humanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05033421713148262316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820700679068317192.post-76958620725259194102011-08-01T17:13:51.691+12:002011-08-01T17:13:51.691+12:00Thanks Rebekah!! Is it exciting once you get start...Thanks Rebekah!! Is it exciting once you get started huh? <br />We have tried soapnuts, though I can't say I'm convinced they do a particularly great job, though perhaps we haven't persisted enough. I do love that once you've used them, you can just pop them in the compost. Maybe we'll give them another go!<br /><br />Kel has been 'no poo' for well over a year now and I've been 'no poo' for a couple of months.I was doing the straight just rinsing with water every day, but I've found that my hair really benefits from a baking soda/cider vinegar wash every week. Great that you've found something that works for you! I was an avid Pantene user, but aside from the $$, it has some potentially nasty crap in it!<br />We did a post on going shampoo free here: http://thevirtuouscircle.blogspot.com/2011/05/going-shampoo-free.html <br />and Heather put a comment with some great other ideas too :)Janehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00635355004569617341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-820700679068317192.post-54094303453254749892011-08-01T16:23:33.396+12:002011-08-01T16:23:33.396+12:00This is a great post!! I've been researching t...This is a great post!! I've been researching this myself lately (But I'm based in Sydney)<br />Here's a couple of little things to add to your awesome list:<br /><br />TOILET CLEANER: White vinegar instead of using toilet duck.<br /><br />OVEN CLEANER: Bicarb soda and salt.<br /><br />CLOTHES & NAPPIES: My friends here are using and highly recommend "Soap Nuts" which naturally grow on trees! In OZ, you can get these off Ebay, but I'm not sure where they are shipped from (ie: maybe not local?). I googled and found a NZ site: http://www.soapnuts.co.nz/ with more info if you're interested.<br /><br />SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER:<br />Furthermore, another HUGE is replacing your commercial shampoo and conditioner! There's a lot of people who believe in going "No-Poo" (short for No Shampoo). Some people go completely without and swear that their hair and scalp are MUCH more healthy, but others make their own using various recipes (search online). A simple one is bicarb soda, apple cider vinegar & coconut oil. Personally, I haven't been brave enough (yet) to go "no poo" but, I stopped using the expensive crap and have been using an organic all-natural shampoo that uses ecologically sound packaging (made from plant oils). My hair feels MUCH less oily and less frizzy than it has for years!!<br /><br />Sorry, this is a long post! I was getting excited with all the ideas! LOLRebekahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09820962872757403494noreply@blogger.com