Allavare Natural laundry powder (4 ingredients!)

Allavare is a beautiful little brand, which keeps things simple. By only offering three products. And although you can buy them separately, it makes sense to buy the affordable starter bundle which gives enough laundry powder and oxygen bleach for 60 washes, a stain removal bar and a laundry guide to stain removal.

Most laundry detergents are packed with chemicals, harm aquatic life, irritate skin, are tested on animals and sold in plastic packaging. Here are some better choices. Also read the post on how to remove stains naturally (using oxygen bleach or natural stain removers). Never use chlorine bleach (nor mix any kind of bleach with vinegar, it causes toxic gases).

Launder at higher temperatures for babies, pet bedding and weak immunity. For synthetic fabrics, use a microfiber filter, to stop microplastics leaching from machines, into the sea. For hand-washing, use a sink filter.

Then you can just top up as and when, either ordering one product or three, as one purchase or on subscription.

Each batch carefully mixed from natural ingredients, it’s unscented and in a recipe that has been used by generations to keep clothes clean. It only contains four ingredients:

• Coconut oil (to naturally clean and soften)
• Sodium carbonate (washing soda, to boost cleaning and soften water)
• Sodium percarbonate (a chlorine-free alternative to bleach, with lifts stains using the powder of oxygen)
• Sodium gluconate (a salt that prevents residue.

This laundry powder works in all kinds of water (hard or soft, just adjust the amounts). To use:

• Add 1 tablespoon to the washing machine drum
• Dissolve in warm water, before washing by hand.

You don’t need fabric condition. If you use it, avoid for cloth nappies and period pads (and soft towels) as it may reduce absorbency. Also don’t use on children’s clothing or fire-retardant clothing, as fabric conditioners can increase flammability in tumble dryers. 

You can soften clothes, simply by adding half a cup of cleaning vinegar to the rinse cycle (it breaks down detergent build-up and neutralises odours, without leaving a flammable coating). Or if you don’t have any to hand, do the same with bicarbonate-of-soda (just add half a cup to the wash cycle).

Where to Recycle Laundry Products

If you have some toxic products that you no longer wish to use, don’t pour them down the sink, as this can harm waterways. You can recycle empty containers with household waste.

With bottles still containing product, your council should be able to collect via the hazardous waste department. The fact that this is where they should be taken, is good reason to switch to a more natural brand!