If you would like an alternative to liquid detergent, here is a recipe for washing powder, perfect for households with access to hard water and for washing absorbent fabrics (menstrual pantsdiapers, washable cotton pads).
This article is brought to you by Odile Niederhauser, founder of Madame Pepperpote. Based in Geneva, Madame Pepperpote helps you tidy up and organize your home, so you can stop hoarding, rediscover simple happiness and live better with less.
Water hardness, a factor to be taken into account when cleaning
Water hardness is the expression of its calcium and magnesium content. It varies according to the soil it flows through, and is expressed in French degrees (°F). 1° F is equivalent to 10 mg of calcium carbonate (limestone) per liter of water. Up to 15° F, water is considered “soft”. Above 30°F, it becomes “very hard” (source : www.eaupotable.ch)
Two adjoining regions may have different levels of hardness, depending on where the water is drawn from. Take, for example, the Geneva commune of Chêne-Bougeries, where the water – which comes from the Genevois aquifer in the Arve sector – has a hardness varying between 18° and 22°F. If you travel less than 2 kilometers, the water in the network comes from the lake and its hardness drops to 12°F…!
When water is rich in limescale, it’s good for the taste, but not so good for the household! In fact, the harder the water, the more you have to maintain your household appliances, which can lead to limescale build-up. When it comes to washing, this means using a higher dose of detergent to neutralize the calcium. Or… use a homemade detergent adapted to this situation!
The washing powder presented in this article is more suitable for washing menstrual pantiesmenstrual cloth diapers or washable cottons. In short, for all fabrics whose function is to absorb.
With a liquid detergent based on Marseille soap, for example, a glycerine deposit can build up, making the fabric less absorbent over time.
Recipe for washing powder
The recipe is very simple, but requires careful preparation to ensure the safety of your mucous membranes. It contains a volatile surfactant, which is why you need to cover your respiratory tract, and mix the ingredients in a well-ventilated or even open space, such as a terrace or balcony.
The washing powder recipe contains only 1 surfactant and alkaline ingredients.
The surfactant used here may not be as natural as artisanal soap, but if we want good results with hard water, it has to be “powerful” to overcome limescale.
We therefore use a synthetic surfactant: Sodium Coco Sulfate (SCS). During washing, it traps germs in its foam and has an aseptic effect after rinsing with clear water.
For alkaline ingredients, we use :
From baking sodafor its stain-removing and deodorizing properties
From soda crystals to soften the water, improve impregnation of textile fibers and rinse the SCS thoroughly
There are as many recipes as there are eco-friendly accounts on the Internet!
Here are the proportions recommended by Madame Pepperpotetested and approved by Les Paillettes Vertes :
For 500 grams of detergent :
150 gr SCS
150 g baking soda
150 g soda crystals
50 g sodium percarbonate
Mix everything together (handle with care) and store the powder in an airtight jar. Two tablespoons per wash is the recommended dose, in the detergent compartment or in a dosing ball directly in the drum. This recipe can also be used for hand washing in the sink.
And if you’re washing white or light-colored clothes, don’t hesitate to add a tablespoon of sodium percarbonate directly into the drum, as long as the machine is set to 40°C minimum (below that, the percarbonate won’t react).
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