Citric acid and percarbonate: the "good" superheroes of our laundry!
Who doesn't love the smell of fresh laundry ? That heady smell that "tastes clean" and reminds us of our childhood...
Yet behind that smell there are often harmful substances that we would do better to eliminate from our lives and replace with others for cleaner but healthier laundry!
Did you know, for example, that fabric softener is not so "good" for the environment or even less for our health and for our puppies?
How does fabric softener work on clothes? In practice it creates a "slimy" film that remains on the clothes giving the impression of softness. But this product is made up of toxic substances that can create health problems especially for the little ones: from skin irritations to dermatitis, allergies, up to asthma... or worse!
Why choose citric acid instead of fabric softener?
How to do then? Banish fabric softener and welcome citric acid! Citric acid (Citric Acid Monohydrate) is a natural compound found in citrus fruits. We commonly find it in the form of a white powder with a slight fruity smell. It is an ecological substance with low environmental impact.
Citric acid is a great alternative to today's harsh fabric softeners , known to cause skin allergies and serious ecosystem damage. Citric acid softens clothes because it neutralizes the alkalinity of the wash caused by the detergent! Just make a 15-20% solution with 1 liter of water (depending on the "hardness" of the water) and you're done! The fabric softener also keeps our washing machine clean because it has an anti-mildew function .
And not only! Citric acid has a thousand other uses: descaler, window cleaning, rinse aid, conditioner... But let's see some recipes in detail.
Preparation of 15% solution citric acid softener
Pour 150 g of citric acid into the 1 liter bottle. Add 850 ml of demineralised (distilled) water. You can decide to use 30 drops of organic essential oil-based perfume (increase or decrease the dose of perfume according to your tastes).
How to use: Pour the citric acid-based fabric softener into the fabric softener tray of the washing machine. Recommended doses in ml for a laundry of 4-5 kg.
- Soft and medium water 100ml of citric acid based fabric softener (2 measuring caps).
- Hard water 150ml citric acid based fabric softener (3 measuring caps)
Preparation of the rinse aid based on citric acid solution at 15%
Pour 150 g of citric acid into the 1 liter bottle. Add 850 ml of demineralised water. You can decide to use 30 drops of organic essential oil-based perfume (increase or decrease the dose of perfume according to your tastes).
How to use: Pour the citric acid-based rinse aid directly into the rinse aid dispenser of the dishwasher. Set the dosage indicator to maximum.
Preparation of the citric acid-based descaler spray
Pour 150 g of citric acid into the 1 liter bottle. Add 850 ml of demineralised water. You can decide to use 30 drops of organic essential oil-based perfume (increase or decrease the dose of perfume according to your tastes).
How to use: Pour a few drops of product directly onto a damp cloth or sponge and rub the surfaces to be cleaned. Alternatively, equip the bottle with the citric acid-based descaler solution with a spray bottle, spray onto the surface to be cleaned, rub with a damp cloth or sponge and rinse.
Not recommended for use on marble, stones and wood!
Where to find it? Here is our selection ready for delivery:
Sodium percarbonate for laundry
Ok, I convinced you to throw the dear old fabric softener in the bucket, but what to choose to sanitize and whiten your laundry? Sodium percarbonate is an eco-friendly whitening and sanitizing substance. It is the alternative par excellence to bleach , a toxic and polluting substance. Percarbonate helps restore shine to garments and eliminate stains. How? Percarbonate is sodium carbonate on which a molecule of hydrogen peroxide is crystallized. With temperatures from 40°C the two molecules decompose releasing oxygen which has precisely the stain removing effect.
How to whiten laundry with percarbonate?
Add two tablespoons of percarbonate to the bowl together with the laundry detergent, or directly to the washing machine drum. Wash from 40°C upwards.
Hand on blots
Spread a small amount of percarbonate directly on the stain, moisten with warm water and let it act for 10 minutes. Then proceed to normal washing.
In the dishwasher
Half a teaspoon can also be used in addition to the dishwasher powder to sanitize the dishes and make the inside of the machine clean and shiny.
Where to find it? Here is our selection ready for delivery:
Doing your own small part can be tiring at first, but it can be hugely rewarding and have a huge impact on improving the condition of our poor planet Earth!
Brava! Grazie delle ricette.
Anna Linda on