Let’s start this blog with a 100% natural and zero waste recipe.
Ivy is full of saponin, a natural surfactant with detergent and foaming properties.
Ingredients – For 1 liter of product :
- 50 freshly cut climbing ivy leaves (60-70 if they are small)
Choose the largest leaves to give the ivy time to regenerate. - 1L of water
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
Utensils
- a measuring cup
- a pot
- a pantyhose or strainer
- a tablespoon
- a funnel
- a glass recycling bottle (or old washing powder bottle)
- a label
Preparation
- After picking the leaves, rinse them with cold water to remove impurities.
- Cut or crumple the leaves coarsely to release the saponin.
- Put them in the pot (or in a pantyhose in the pot).
- Fill the pot with 1L of water, cover and boil for 15 minutes.
- Take off the heat and let infuse for at least 12 hours (keep covered).
- Pour the liquid – by filtering it using the pantyhose or strainer and funnel – into the pot. Add the baking soda and shake the bottle to mix.
- Label and keep in the fridge.
- Don’t forget to dispose of the used ivy leaves in the compost.
Use
Shake the bottle a little before each use. For the dosage, use a little more than your usual detergent.
The detergent is dark but don’t worry, it doesn’t stain!
If your light-coloured laundry ever dulls, add percarbonate (stain remover and bleach) to the detergent tray. Be careful, it is only active from 40°.
The detergent can be kept for 1 month in the fridge.
