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Soapwort Laundry Detergent Recipe for Delicates & Regular Wash

September 9, 2016 By: Anna9 Comments

Soapwort Laundry Detergent recipe

Are you afraid to wash your hand washables?  Not feeling the Woolite these days?  I don’t blame you.  This product received a D rating on Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning.  What if I told you there is an herb that is a natural soap and gentle on your clothing?  Yep, we talked about it previously in this article.  Just in case you missed it, welcome to soapwort–nature’s gentle cleaner!  And I have you covered with a a soapwort laundry detergent  recipe for both delicate and regular clothing.

 

Just to make sure the recipes I saw online worked, I tried washing one of my delicate shirts in soapwort.

The results?

Soapwort Laundry Detergent Recipe

The colors didn’t run.

I didn’t detect any odor under the underarms.

I didn’t have any stains so I can’t vouch for its stain removal ability.

There isn’t any detectable smell or fragrance with the soapwort so it is great for people sensitive to smells.

So, want the recipe?

I knew you would.

The Soapwort Laundry Detergent Recipes:

If you can find it fresh, use the leaves,  flowers, and roots to make soap.  The roots are the most powerful.   However, if you can’t find it, you can buy it HERE.

I used both dried and fresh to see if there was a difference in the lather.  There wasn’t.

For Hand Washables:

1/2 cup dried or 1 cup of fresh soapwort

1 quart of distilled water.

Soapwort Laundry Detergent recipe

1.   Add the soapwort to a pot with the distilled water.

2.  Bring it to a boil and then simmer for 15 minutes.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17304" src="http://www.green-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/soapwort1-1.png" alt="Soapwort Laundry Detergent Recipe" width="640" height="960" />

3.  Strain the soapwort. (Squeeze out all the water so you remove all the saponins .)   The  flowers will turn a washed out color.  The liquid will be brown.  I didn’t have any soap suds until I stirred the mixture.  (When you wash your pot, there will be soap suds residue. See below.)

Soapwort Laundry Detergent recipe

4.  Here is the tricky part.  I just added about a quarter cup to the water, then inserted my shirt to soak.  The suds dissipate immediately so don’t worry.  Soapwort will still do its cleaning magic.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-17304" src="http://www.green-talk.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/soapwort1-1.png" alt="Soapwort Laundry Detergent Recipe" width="640" height="960" />

Store the rest in the refrigerator and use within the week.  Alternatively, you can add vinegar to the mixture to prolong its shelf life.  This recipe added 2/3rd cup to an ordinary laundry detergent bottle.

As I mentioned above, my shirt didn’t have any odor.  Liquid soapwort doesn’t really have a smell.

For Regular Wash

1 cup dried to 2 cups fresh

1 Quart of Distilled Water.

Follow the same instructions.

Join the Conversation.

Have you ever use soapwort laundry detergent?

Similar Posts:

  • Soapwort: Mother Earth’s Natural Cleaning Herb
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  • DIY Rose Water Will Become a Staple in Your House. Trust Me.
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About Anna

Anna Hackman is the editor of Green Talk, and owner of The Naked Botanical and a avid (okay obsessed) gardener. She also loves video and podcasting and hosts Green Talk TV and Green Talk Radio. Her most important role is being a mother of four boys.

Chat with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest , and Google+.

Comments

  1. 1

    Renee Kohley says

    September 11, 2016 at 1:05 pm

    I have never heard of soapwort! Thank you for this great, detailed tutorial!

    Reply
    • 2

      Anna@Green Talk says

      September 12, 2016 at 10:57 am

      Renee, I bet you have some in your area.

      Reply
  2. 3

    Megan Stevens says

    September 12, 2016 at 9:54 am

    Really cool, Anna! Pinning. Love this quote: “Not feeling the Woolite these days? I don’t blame you. This product received a D rating on Environmental Working Group’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning.” 🙂 Thanks for teaching us!

    Reply
    • 4

      Anna@Green Talk says

      September 12, 2016 at 10:54 am

      Thanks Megan!

      Reply
  3. 5

    Ariana says

    September 13, 2016 at 10:16 am

    This is great! I’ve never used soapwort, but I did use the laundry nuts for a while and I think they worked well. I’m so tired of all the extra junk in laundry detergents!

    Reply
  4. 6

    Karissa says

    September 13, 2016 at 10:22 am

    Hmm this is totally new to me, very cool!

    Reply
  5. 7

    linda spiker says

    September 13, 2016 at 11:35 am

    Great step by step!

    Reply
  6. 8

    Carol@studiobotanica says

    September 13, 2016 at 11:43 am

    Thanks for the tutorial! I’ve never grown it and will add that to the garden next Spring!!
    I am a great fan of all things botanical in life, making our lives better.. so you know how much I appreciate you and your teachings, Anna!

    Reply
  7. 9

    Emily @ Recipes to Nourish says

    September 13, 2016 at 11:27 pm

    This is so cool! I’ve never heard of soapwort before.

    Reply

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