Putting Green Cleaning Solutions to the Test

Last year as part of our Clean Rivers Campaign, we looked at how ‘a clean home shouldn’t mean a dirty river‘ and how phosphates in our dishwasher powder and laundry detergents can be unwittingly adding to pollution in our rivers.

Whilst researching phosphate-free cleaning products, we came across a washing detergent recipe made out of English Ivy!
Apparently, English Ivy leaves are rich in saponin, a natural detergent and foaming agent. When the leaves or cut or bruised, the saponin is released.

We can now report that we have put using Ivy leaves as a washing detergent to the test.

One of our members has a dog who is a mud magnet and loves digging! Mud is then walked into the house, resulting in a muddy doormat! (At least said dog does wipe her feet!)

So Ivy leaves were put to the test to wash the doormat. The leaves were rinsed, cut into small pieces (to release the saponin) and put into a washing net bag (the sort you put delicate/small items in. The doormat and ivy leaves were put in the washing machine on a cool wash. The photos below show the mat before and after washing – yes, it is the same mat!

Other ‘Green Cleaning’ suggestions include using bicarbonate of soda and eco washing up liquid on stains. This was recently put to the test on a turmeric stain on a t-shirt! A paste of bicarbonate of soda and eco washing up liquid was applied to the stain and left overnight. The next day, the stained t-shirt was placed over an up-turned bowl and then this was put out in the sunshine for the day. The t-shirt was washed and there was no sign of the turmeric stain!

Another member cleaned a very grubby and algae-stained wooden seat with a solution of white vinegar and a squirt of eco washing up liquid. This was applied to the wood and scrubbed with a brush and the results were good! Unfortunately, we don’t have photos of this.

Several of our members have recommended Nancy Birtwhistle’s books which have some great green cleaning recipes in.

We like this quote from EarthWatch: “Remember, if it goes down the sink, it ends up in your drink”. So we ask you all to be aware of the cleaning products that you use and their effect on the environment. Look at labels and ask yourself “is it costing the earth if I use it?” “What can I used instead?”

Please do share your ‘green cleaning’ tips with us in the comments.