Can laundry be washed with just tea tree oil?

npsmama

Just wondering if instead of detergent a few drops of tto in the machine would do the job just fine...after all, it kills germs doesn't it?

Churchmouse

Yes, it's a great natural germ-killer. Promotes healing of skin. Just never heard it has stain removing properties I can't see it working, sorry.

CLARABEL

well it depends on the wash. if you just want to freshen something, then tto is OK i guess, but otherwise, detergents remove grease by their nature, and that's usually waht's removed in a 'wash', so you can decide!!

clara.xx

bellsbells

You could possibly use it alongside the eco balls you can buy. I use those for my normal everyday washing, only switching to ecover if the load is very dirty.

jinny

bellsbells wrote: »

You could possibly use it alongside the eco balls you can buy. I use those for my normal everyday washing, only switching to ecover if the load is very dirty.

could you tell me about ecoballs please?

ravylesley

I'm not sure about this one because isnt the very fact that it is an oil an inhibitor to it working effectively in a washing machine?

Oils dont dissolve in water and merely lay on the surface in a fine layer or are distributed through the water in globules when it is agitated.By placing it into the washing machine arent you in danger of getting oil spotting on the clothes?A warmer wash cycle would be a better option for germ killing and cleaning the clothes wouldnt it?

Lesleyxx

Ben84

You really need a detergent of some type to wash out the general grim that collects in fabrics. For example, water is not very good at picking up oils, and it doesn't have a great capacity to hold on to dirt once it has come out the fibres either. Detergents help as they contain molecules that attach to both oil and water, thus allowing the oil based dirt to be washed out by water, and they contain ingredients (like phosphates) which allow more dirt to be held in the water.

As for killing germs, many detergents have no ability to kill germs. The oxygen releasing bleaches, intended to whiten rather that kill germs will have some unintentional effect on germs however, but I don't know how much effect they have as they're not included for this purpose. I think there are a few specialist products designed for germ killing, but I don't believe they're widely sold in shops as there's little demand for them.

Wee_Bargain_Hunter

Maybe it could be mixed with vinegar and used as fabric conditioner?

saversarn

Can I add a question here too?
I've just made some homemade laundry detergent with grated laundry soap, borax and soda crystals- do I throw it in the drum or the drawer?
And will any of this pick up oils?

Oooo:rolleyes: thats 3 questions!

npsmama

saversarn wrote: »

Can I add a question here too?
I've just made some homemade laundry detergent with grated laundry soap, borax and soda crystals- do I throw it in the drum or the drawer?
And will any of this pick up oils?

Oooo:rolleyes: thats 3 questions!

It's best to put it in the drum in my experience.

On the subject of tea tree oil...I did a was last night at 30C using only tto as i'd run out of everything else. It was a nappy wash as well as the beige trousers my toddler was wearing when he fell over in chicken poo (we keep hens).
The stains are gone from the trousers and the nappies seem clean.

Any thoughts?