This is one of those eco stories that people are either going to think is really cool and thrifty, or turn up their noses at.
Confession: I have not purchased laundry detergent in maybe 10 years or more. It’s not that I don’t like clean clothes, it’s just that it’s really easy to get a steady supply of laundry detergent for free.
How? By picking up an empty jug from someone’s curbside recycling bin in your neighborhood. Most of the time, the amount of detergent that’s left in the jug after it seems “empty” is actually quite a considerable quantity, as becomes apparent once you add a bit of water and shake it up. The leftover detergent, diluted in this manner, will sometimes be enough to wash several loads of laundry.
What ended up happening for me, though, is that I acquired multiple jugs full of diluted detergent but I have no hope of using up in this lifetime. It’s just too much! The smell of commercial detergent is super intense and I don’t even have enough laundry to use it all up.
And my skin allergies are starting to act up. So, it’s probably going to be Bronner’s and baking soda, essential oils etc. from now on for me. Or maybe soap-flakes (packaged in a cardboard box) if those still exist, those were very handy and seemed more gentle. And then the box can be composted.
I now additionally just have to put my foot down with myself, and refrain from feeling like I have to rescue all those “not really empty jugs” from people’s recycling, and add water and properly use up the product.
It’s just way more than one person could ever use. But, if you want to save money, try this weird trick. You’ll also be keeping countless of these thick sturdy plastic jugs out of landfill over your lifetime.
Saving 7 or 10 bucks a month, or however much this stuff costs — I literally have no idea anymore since I haven’t bought it in so many years — may not make a difference to most people.
But for some of us, who are (either voluntarily or involuntarily) living on a very low income, It makes a huge difference! Plus it’s just really really satisfying to not be having to buy this stuff, and not having to think about the endless piles of thick plastic containers which mostly probably don’t get recycled.
BTW there are reuses for these type of jugs; I have written about that too on this page and in my blog. My favorite dust pans were made by cutting up large-size detergent jugs.
You can also hang out in some of the many reuse and non-consumerist groups to get tips on finding reuses/upcycles.
PS. Despite the very precise instructions on the container of detergent how much you need to use, you actually can use a lot less if you want. Particularly helpful if you or your family have chemical sensitivities. We get to decide how much product we need to get our clothes clean. And, in case it’s not clear, I am not advocating for people to start using commercial detergent if they’re not already. I’m only posting this as a way to help people save money and reduce their footprint.
PPS. You can see this post with a photo here on my DEEP GREEN Facebook page.
BWTM (But Wait, There’s More!): And, Interesting story, an older gentleman from the Philippines once told me that he used to be one of the workers who were hired to wash the uniforms of the US Navy when a ship would come in. They washed in nothing but salt water! They literally immersed the uniforms in the sea, and then line dried them! The uniforms, linens, etc., came out all nice and white and crisp.
I actually do a version of this with some of my really grubby landscaping clothes and other outdoor clothes. I just run into the ocean for my dip with those clothes on. And when I get them home, I wring them out and hang them on the line. Or, just hang them on the line still dripping, which I call “ironing by clothesline.” No additional washing stage, no soap. I’ve only done that with my outdoor-labor clothes so far, but I’m going to try and experiment with some of my indoor clothes as well.