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March 1, 2022
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Natural Ivy Laundry Detergent
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Disclaimer: This section contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission when you purchase through links on my site at no additional cost to you.
English Ivy
English Ivy (Hedera helix) is an evergreen, which means it retains its leaves throughout the year. You may often see this as ground cover, or traveling up the sides of buildings. Additionally, you can also find the fake ivy draped in teenage girls’ bedrooms all across America. Many may see this plant as a nuisance, and it is even considered to be invasive in many areas of the United States.
Regardless of your personal opinion about the plant, it has some useful properties. English ivy is rich in saponin. Saponin, also known as triterpene glycosides, are a group of chemicals found in plants. When agitated in water, they create a foam with detergent like properties.
Get Into Nature!
Ditch the expensive, chemical laden detergents found in stores, strap on your boots, and head into nature to forage for some English ivy leaves! It is very important that you properly identify the leaves before you pick them. If you are unsure of how to identify the plant, use a plant guide to assist you. English Ivy leaves are waxy, and have bright green veins in them. When picking your leaves, be sure to pick big, healthy leaves. Stay away from using damaged or brown leaves.
I would recommend wearing gloves while you are foraging if you have extra sensitive skin. I like to buy mine in bulk so I always have some on hand (pun intended)! When you are out foraging, I recommend having something to gather all of your leaves in. This apron is perfect to put on and collect leaves with. You could also wear this when harvesting vegetables from your garden or to carry your gardening tools in! Whenever I am using essential oils, I like to make sure they are certified organic. You can get a great deal when you buy an entire set of oils.
Here is what you will need:
- 60 Ivy Leaves
- 1 Liter of Water
- 1 Pair of Gloves (For Sensitive Skin)
- Basket or Apron for Foraged Leaves
- Colander
- Large Pot
- Essential Oils (Optional)
- Vinegar (Optional)
Natural Ivy Laundry Detergent
This detergent is made right from nature!
Materials
- 60 Ivy Leaves
- 1 Liter of Water
- 1 Pair of Gloves (for sensitive skin)
- Basket for foraged leaves
- Colander
- Large Pot
- Essential Oils (optional)
- Vinegar (optional)
Instructions
- Head outside to locate and properly identify English Ivy. You will want to be sure that the ivy you are picking has not been chemically treated. (If you have sensitive skin, you may want to consider wearing a pair of gloves when picking the leaves so the sap does not irritate your skin)
- Collect 60 leaves and place them in your basket or foraging container
- Once home, use a colander to rinse off the leaves
- Cut up the leaves to release the saponin and place in large pot with 1 liter of water
- Place the pot on the stove and bring the water to a boil for about 15 minutes
- Let the decoction sit over night or for at least 12 hours
- Squeeze any liquid out of the leaves and strain through paper towel or cheese cloth into a jar
- If desired, add essential oils
- Add a half of cup of the detergent to your laundry
Video
Notes
The detergent can be stored in an airtight container for about 7-10 days. To extend the life of the detergent, store it in the fridge. Additionally, you can add a 1:5 ratio of vinegar to make it keep a bit longer.
By making this laundry detergent, not only are you getting the benefit of being out in nature and using natural resources, but it is free! And you have the satisfaction of knowing that you are not using harsh chemicals or plastic containers used in store bought detergents.
I hope you give it a try!
ABOUT AUTHOR
Rebecca
Hello, I am Rebecca! I am so glad you are here on this journey with me! Here, I am sharing my passions including gardening, cooking, baking, crafting, natural living and so much more! In addition to the content  I share on my YouTube page, I also write a blog.
It took a long time for the things I am passionate about to awaken within me. Now that they have, I am eager to share them with others.
Among the many things I am passionate about, gardening is one of them. In addition to gardening, I also enjoy different areas of art, crafting, photography and home project DIY.
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