kiwi
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dishwasher powderHi all
I know dishwashers aren't exactly very downsizery but thought I could redeem myself a bit by making my own powder to put in - I already use white vinegar for rinse aid but have been looking around for a powder recipe - found one using washing soda and borax but have been struggling to find this here, has anyone got any other ideas, am also looking at making washing up liquid too
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sally_in_wales
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I often use grated soap and washing powder, but must admit I alternate it with bought powder. Home made softsoap (use potassium hydroxide rather than sodium hydroxide as the lye) is a perfectly good dish soap, but again, I do vary as to whether I use it often or just occasionally.
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wellington womble
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Where can I get potassium hydroxide, Sally? and wuould all the wotsit values and amounts stay the same as with soduim hydroxide?
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sally_in_wales
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I get mine from the Soap Kitchen, and it does use slightly different maths, so you need to crunch your recipe using the lye calculator here (or a similar one) http://www.thesage.com/calcs/lyecalc.html
Making soft soap is a slightly different process than cold process hard soap, you have to cook it slowly over the course of an hour or so, and you end up with a thick soap paste that you can easily dilute for washing up, laundry etc. Its very useful stuff though, also used by spome gardeners as a relatively eco friendly pesticide (literally washes bugs off things)
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kiwi
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Hi all
well I have just used about a tablespoon of washing soda crystals, a sprinkling of bicarb. soda and some white vinegar in the rinse aid thingy and have fabulously clean dishes ( I did use a hotter setting than usual though just in case ) but that aside I am well impressed.
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moggins
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Have a look in a larger Boots for Borax, I swore blue murder that my Boots didn't sell it but found it a couple of weeks ago shoved in a corner with some other cleaning stuff.
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moongoddess
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For washing up liquid, you could try liquid castille with a few drops of lemon or orange essential oil. Or what about soapnuts?
Alternatively, forsake the bubbles, rinse or soak everything straight away, so that nothing can dry on and just sprinkle a little bicarbonate of soda or lemon juice on the greasy areas. I hardly ever use washing up liquid and just use water and elbow grease. Only the really greasy things need a 'degreaser' such as lemon juice or bicarb.
Best place to buy borax is direct from dri-pak (I'm ASSuming you are in the UK?) it's £10-something for 2kg including delivery.
HTH
mg
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moongoddess
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Ahhhh, nope, you're in NZ - sorry about that. Probably not much use on the Dri-Pak tip then
mg
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nettie
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Yep, Boots do Borax, (and soap flakes for those that want them)
Washing soda can be bought from Tesco (grr) but I have seen it in Wilkinson's too.
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