48 (77)

D

CD

->

CD

O.

CD'

D

5>°

70

CD

O

T5

CD

Co

7$

O

zr

CD

D

CP

Q

O

O

3

For white clothes, use 30g/1/4 cup washing soda (sodium carbonate) in place of bleach. Bleach is one of the most toxic substances for the environ-ment. Washing soda costs only a few pennies per wash load. and it is far less expensive than bleach. Along with the washing soda, add 55ml/1/H cup of white vinegar.

For dark clothes. use 55ml/1Ał cup of white vinegar and 30g/1/H cup of salt. Salt helps to restore faded colours, and to remove dirt and grime.

Instead of fabric softeners. which are expensive and fuli of synthetic fragrances. try adding TI0-225ml/1/2 -1 cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle of your machinę. This will help to rinse out the detergent completely and leave your clothes feeling soft. This is especially valuable when laundering cloth nappies as it will remove the soap residue which can cause nappy rash. and it also eliminates any lingering nappy odour.

The vinegar also balances the pH which will extend the life of your fabrics. The smell of vinegar dissipates upon drying and leaves the laundry smelling fresh.

If you wish to add fragrance to the laundry apply 2 or 3 drops of essential oil to a damp washcloth and place in the clothes dryer along with the wet laundry.

Lavender is a good choice both for its clean smell and disinfecting properties. You can also replace half of each measure of laundry detergent with baking soda to keep clothing fresh.

Bedlinen

To keep bedlinen sweet and fresh use the lavender linen water recipe on pp. 31. Altematively, grind lavender buds or dried scented geranium leaves or dried lemon verbena leaves in a coffee mili or blender.

When changing the linens on the beds. sprinkle a smali amount of this powder on the mattress (or mattress pad), then place the bottom sheet over and on the mattress.