Alternatives to washing powder???

fs82n

"You can get them lots of places, and they usually cost around £30-35."

Not sure if this is helpful or not but I've just found some at just under £25 www.eddiesessentials.com - pretty sure they are exactly the same as described above

Site links to them on ebay - free delivery too !! :beer:

Cazzdevil

I didn't find the soapnuts any good, they made my washing smell funny and couldn't get out all of the muck from our mountain biking clothes.

Now I use 3 tablespoons of soda crystals and 15ml washing liquid. Works out really cheap but sadly not chemical free.

The soapnuts page (www.inasoapnutshell.com or something like that) offer a free sample - send off for it and give them a try.

alibo

All I use now is the wash-it laundry balls from Lakeland with half a cup of washing soda, far better then regular detergent, DH tends to feed his shirt a well as himself and was always left with grease stains on his work shirts, now not a sign of any stains at all

weemissy

fs82n wrote: »

"You can get them lots of places, and they usually cost around £30-35."

Not sure if this is helpful or not but I've just found some at just under £25 www.eddiesessentials.com - pretty sure they are exactly the same as described above

Site links to them on ebay - free delivery too !! :beer:

just been on your link and bought them - saved £10, cant wait to try them - hope they work!

weemissy

right, have received my ecoballs and was all ready to go, but when i read the instructions it looks as if you've got to use them below 60. I wash my bedding and towels at 60, so does anyone else use them at 60 and have the balls survived?

missychrissy

I use my eco balls at 60 and my balls are fine.

I bought my eco balls for £5 each about 3 years ago from a mail order co called Blackwall. I'm not sure if they still exist as I havn't neede to buy anymore since

The Dolly balls are £5.99 at the moment in Aldi. I use eco balls together with them.

cdodd

Cazzdevil wrote: »

The soapnuts page (www.inasoapnutshell.com or something like that) offer a free sample - send off for it and give them a try.

the site also says that the soap nuts can be used in the dishwasher?!

jackieb

I don't use balls but I do use Ecover liquid for all my son's washing. He has bad excema and was told to use this by his dermatologist. I've had the bottle since November and it's still not finished. You don't need to use much and if you get it when it's on offer you can get it for about £4. I do quite a bit of laundry for him too as his clothes and bedding are always covered in dead skin, blood and creams.

The dermatologist also advised against fabric conditioner - even the Ecover brand. I thought his clothes would be horrible and hard as I must admit that I used to probably use too much of the stuff as I loved the smell. I honestly can't feel any difference to my son's washing, with no fabric softener, and everyone else's (I still use some fabric softener as I do like the smell )

After reading this back i'm wondering why I just don't wash everyone's clothes with the Ecover!

anguk

jackieb wrote: »

I don't use balls but I do use Ecover liquid for all my son's washing. He has bad excema and was told to use this by his dermatologist. I've had the bottle since November and it's still not finished. You don't need to use much and if you get it when it's on offer you can get it for about £4. I do quite a bit of laundry for him too as his clothes and bedding are always covered in dead skin, blood and creams.

The dermatologist also advised against fabric conditioner - even the Ecover brand. I thought his clothes would be horrible and hard as I must admit that I used to probably use too much of the stuff as I loved the smell. I honestly can't feel any difference to my son's washing, with no fabric softener, and everyone else's (I still use some fabric softener as I do like the smell )

After reading this back i'm wondering why I just don't wash everyone's clothes with the Ecover!

Have you ever tried Ecos laundry liquid by Earth friendly? It's completely natural and has a built-in soy based fabric softener, it smells lovely too.

I tried Ecover but just didn't like the smell and I wasn't happy with the way it cleaned the clothes. I got a trial size of the Ecos stuff and was converted straight away, it is dearer than Ecover but you only use a very small amount. The only problem I've found is it's not as easy to buy as Ecover, I've never found anywhere locally to buy it so have to get it online.

http://www.greenbrands.co.uk/

jackieb

anguk wrote: »

Have you ever tried Ecos laundry liquid by Earth friendly? It's completely natural and has a built-in soy based fabric softener, it smells lovely too.

I tried Ecover but just didn't like the smell and I wasn't happy with the way it cleaned the clothes. I got a trial size of the Ecos stuff and was converted straight away, it is dearer than Ecover but you only use a very small amount. The only problem I've found is it's not as easy to buy as Ecover, I've never found anywhere locally to buy it so have to get it online.

http://www.greenbrands.co.uk/

I'll have to try that. I agree that the smell's not the best, but hanging them outside seems to get rid of most of the smell. I hope it would be okay for my son's skin as well - it sounds good.

Did you try the fragrance-free version?