Laundry Detergent Ingredients

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Laundry Detergent Ingredients

Subject: laundry detergent....bad ingredients, safe ingredients etc.
Date: Thu, 03 May 2001
From: Art Ludwig

Jana Zendik from Mill Spring, North Carolina writes
regarding cleaning detergent for use with greywater
systems.
> Hello...I live on an Arts Commune and I am the laundry
> girl extrordinaire....we are installing a grey water
> system and I need to know the "no, no" ingredients of
> laundry and dish soaps....such as, is baking soda O.K.?
> or is it too much sodium ? questions like that. Thank
> you for your time.

Jana,
I remember the Zendiks coming through Lothlorien when I was going to Berkeley. I ran into one of you all somewhere else recently but I can't seem to remember where at the moment...

Anyway, sodium, chlorine and boron are the no-no's. Most do-it-yourself cleaners rely on baking soda or borax, which are truly disastrous for plants. There is info on one plant and soil biocompatible cleaner at http://bio-pac.com/biopac/oasis.htm
and much more on this topic in our The New Create an Oasis with Grey Water (book)and the Builder's Grey Water Guide (book).
Take care,
Art